The center of gravity in Roman studies has shifted far from the upper echelons of government and administration in Rome or the Emperor's court to the provinces and the individual. The multi-disciplinary studies presented in this volume reflect the turn in Roman history to the identities of ethnic groups and even single individuals who lived in Rome's vast multinational empire. The purpose is less to discover another element in the Roman Empire's 'success' in governance than to illuminate the variety of individual experience in its own terms. The chapters here, reflecting a wide spectrum of professional expertise, range across the many cultures, languages, religions and literatures of the Roman Empire, with a special focus on the Jews as a test-case for the larger issues. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

‘I recommend this scholarly work for anyone interested in Roman studies and specifically curious about the diversity within the Roman Empire. The essays include a breadth of disciplines and perspectives and a wide range of topics that invites further investigation and study. The information was accessible, and even nonspecialists in certain fields or students simply interested in learning more will find something to appreciate and enjoy.’

Rubin and Yi James and McClain Source: The Review of Biblical Literature

‘… advances interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and inclusive approaches to the ancient Mediterranean world, notwithstanding the abundance of perspectives and methodologies that remain to be explored.’

Nandini Pandey Source: H-Soz-Kult