Colin Adams
Biographic Data
| ID | 5626306 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Colin Adams |
| GIVEN NAMES | Colin |
| FAMILY NAME | Adams |
| SIGNATURE | ADAMS C |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Liverpool |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9244-8368 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 25 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 32 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 24 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1920 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2016 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Ian Haynes. Blood of the Provinces
In this excellent monograph, Ian Haynes offers a comprehensive study of the Roman auxiliary forces that builds on the substantial work of George Leonard Cheesman, Eric Birley, and Michael P. Speidel (to name a few) and deploys a formidable range of evidence: epigraphic, papyrological, archaeological, and literary, which places it among those rare volumes that consider the full range of evidence available. The book is not only about the auxilia. I…
War and Society in the Roman Empire
This chapter describes the status of war and society in the Roman Empire. The bias of the upper classes and fears of the lower are shown. The influences of civil war and rebellion could be profound in the Roman Empire. Any army is designed to fight wars, surely in a militaristic society such as Rome. Soldiers were employed in a range of activities in support of local administrative officials. Their internal administrative duties included their ro…
Sitologos
The Sitologos was an official in Greco‐Roman Egypt in charge of state granaries, in villages, toparchies, and metropoleis, responsible for the receipt of tax grain in kind, the issuing of receipts to tax‐payers, drawing up day‐books and regular reports of grain received for Strategoi, Nome officials in charge of the land economy and taxation.
Phrontistes
Phrontistes (pl. phrontistai) is a Greek term (deriving from the root “care” or “to have a care”) for the manager of an estate, or sub‐unit of an estate.
Antonius Saturninus, Lucius
Lucius Antonius Saturninus was governor of Upper Germany, and led a revolt at Moguntiacum in early 89 CE (Suet. Dom. 6 ; Dio 67.11.).
Transport
The role of transport in the economy of the Roman world is far from clearly understood, and is a controversial issue in modern historical debate. Our knowledge is hampered by two main factors: first, the nature of our evidence. Ancient authors were generally not interested in how commodities were transported, and really only comment on the exceptional. And second, our understanding of transport has arguably been hampered by both a failure of mode…
Travel and Geography in the Roman Empire
The remains of Roman roads are a powerful reminder of the travel and communications system that was needed to rule a vast and diverse empire. Yet few people have questioned just how the Romans - both military and civilians - travelled, or examined their geographical understanding in an era which offered a greatly increased potential for moving around, and a much bigger choice of destinations. This volume provides new perspectives on these issues,…
Transport and the Land Economy
Transport was of fundamental importance to agriculture, the main economic activity in the ancient world. This chapter analyses evidence in the papyrological record for the use of animals in agriculture, from owners of the largest estates of Egypt to the humble fellahin. A number of important archives preserve extremely valuable evidence for estate management, and show that strategies to keep capital investment in animals to a minimum were employe…
The Geography, Topography and Land Transport Networks of Egypt
This chapter places transport in Roman Egypt into its physical context, discussing the geography and topography of the Nile Valley, Fayum, and desert regions. It studies both the literary and papyrological evidence for this, discussing roads and canals, and the problems for transport created by a hydraulic civilization: canals, irrigation channels, dykes, and embankments. It surveys the difficulties encountered by travellers and transporters, and…
Trade and Transport
This chapter focuses on the role of transport in trade. Beginning with the Eastern Desert, using the evidence of archives, it considers the nature and status of transporters, and the nature of their involvement in the supply of Berenike and Myos Hormos, the ports of the Red Sea. It considers the role of transport in the trade of luxuries with India and the East, and argues for a dynamic and complex economy. In the Western Desert, communication wi…
Deserts and Military Supply
Communities in the desert, whether ports or military outposts, were almost wholly reliant on the Nile Valley for their supplies. This chapter considers how the ports of the Red Sea, quarry installations, military outposts, and hydreumata were supplied, in the light of the ever-increasing body of evidence provided by ostraca. It also studies the transport of decorative stone, one of the most impressive technological feats of the ancient world. An …
Introduction
This chapter overviews previous scholarship on transport, introduces the most influential theories offering pessimistic views of the role of transport in the Roman economy, and surveys responses to these, before introducing the evidence for transport and economic activity from Egypt. It then discusses the quantification of this evidence and what this can tell us about the economics of transport. Attempts to establish the relative costs of land an…
Transport Animals and Wagons
This chapter discusses the evidence for pack animals and their uses in Roman Egypt, and considers the role of wheeled transport. It establishes patterns of use dictated by function and ability, and how use was affected by topography. It discusses the introduction of camels into Egypt and the spread of their use (limited in the Ptolemaic period, but much expanded in the Roman); the ubiquitous donkey; and the more limited role of mules, horses and …
Conclusion
This chapter draws on material from the whole book together to assess the role of transport in the economy of Egypt. It draws conclusions about how transport in Egypt was affected by topography, and how this promoted the dominance of pack animals. It shows how the Roman state controlled and used a central resource of the province, essentially the meeting of the public and private spheres. It argues for a far more positive attitude towards stance …
Animal Requisition
After establishing the bureaucratic devices necessary to implement requisition, this chapter focuses on the processes of animal requisition. First it sets out Ptolemaic precedents for requisition, and in particular, the development of the Ptolemaic postal service, which anticipated the later Roman cursus publicus. It then considers Roman systems of requisition and especially the all too common abuse of authority by soldiers and state officials. I…
Animal Use and Maintenance
This chapter expands on animal use, based on papyrological and iconographic evidence. The relative importance of different animals is assessed, and the role of camels as both pack animals and draft animals is considered, where in an arid climate they supersede the ox. The chapter goes on to assess the issue of animal harnessing, and argues that contrary to the traditional view, harnessing systems were effective in enabling considerable loads to b…
State Grain Transport
This chapter is the first of four case studies focussing on particular transport operations. Egypt was the granary of Rome, and each year supplied the major part of the city's requirements. A complicated and highly bureaucratic system for its supply and transport, some of it based on Ptolemaic precedents, ensured that harvested tax grain reached threshing floors, was stored in granaries, and was transported by land or canal to river ports from wh…
Animal Trade and Ownership
This chapter assesses the evidence for animal trade and markets in Roman Egypt, and deploys the unique evidence of Egypt, focussing on two small archives of documents relating the exploits of animal traders. It shows that there were particular markets for animals at various locations, specializing in animal trade. It discusses evidence for prices, and argues that, although ownership of animals was common, the cost did put animals beyond the means…
State Control of Animal Ownership
This chapter considers how the Roman state monitored animal ownership in order to facilitate the use or requisition of animals for its own transport needs – the bureaucratic machinery necessary for an imperial power to impose its demands. Animals represented a valuable resource, and it is no surprise that the state developed strategies to record ownership. This happened through declarations of animal ownership, state registers of property, and a …
Irregular levies and the impact of the roman army in Egypt
This chapter discusses the irregular levies and the impact of the Roman army in Egypt. There has been considerable debate on the economic impact of the army on Roman provinces. There is some evidence from Egypt for the course of the conventus , and it is clear from similar evidence from Asia Minor, that governors undertook a set itinerary. What we would like to know is if the burden of providing for this and other irregular impositions was distri…
Land Transport in Roman Egypt
Transport has been seen as one of the greatest failures of ancient technology. Land transport especially, due to its cost, restricted growth in the Roman economy. This book challenges these views, using the evidence of papyri from Roman Egypt, and argues that land transport, even in a country so dominated by a river which provided a natural highway, was an essential part of a system of transport that allowed for vigorous trading activity, but pro…
Transition and Change in Diocletian’s Egypt
This chapter considers the early reforms of Diocletian in Egypt and places some of the changes that occurred during his principate into their broader historical context. The intention is to use particular evidence from Egypt to illustrate and inform some issues of importance to the central theme of this volume — the transition from the third to fourth centuries of our era. The chapter focuses on two lengthy and important papyri, dating to ad 298 …
A Choice Not to Wed? Unmarried Women in Eighteenth-Century France
War and Society
This chapter discusses two themes related to Roman warfare in the late Republic and early Principate: the impact of society and social structures on the conduct of war, and the reciprocal effect of war on society. It focuses on the changing character of external wars in the late Republic, the pressures which this caused in Rome and Italy, both socially and politically, and how these were eventually to lead to internal or civil wars which tore the…
There and Back Again’
Land Transport in Roman Egypt
Transport has been seen as one of the greatest failures of ancient technology. Land transport especially, due to its cost, restricted growth in the Roman economy. This book challenges these views, using the evidence of papyri from Roman Egypt, and argues that land transport, even in a country so dominated by a river which provided a natural highway, was an essential part of a system of transport that allowed for vigorous trading activity, but pro…
A Choice Not to Wed? Unmarried Women in Eighteenth-Century France
War and Society
This chapter discusses two themes related to Roman warfare in the late Republic and early Principate: the impact of society and social structures on the conduct of war, and the reciprocal effect of war on society. It focuses on the changing character of external wars in the late Republic, the pressures which this caused in Rome and Italy, both socially and politically, and how these were eventually to lead to internal or civil wars which tore the…
A Choice Not to Wed? Unmarried Women in Eighteenth-Century France
Transition and Change in Diocletian’s Egypt
This chapter considers the early reforms of Diocletian in Egypt and places some of the changes that occurred during his principate into their broader historical context. The intention is to use particular evidence from Egypt to illustrate and inform some issues of importance to the central theme of this volume — the transition from the third to fourth centuries of our era. The chapter focuses on two lengthy and important papyri, dating to ad 298 …
Transport and the Land Economy
Transport was of fundamental importance to agriculture, the main economic activity in the ancient world. This chapter analyses evidence in the papyrological record for the use of animals in agriculture, from owners of the largest estates of Egypt to the humble fellahin. A number of important archives preserve extremely valuable evidence for estate management, and show that strategies to keep capital investment in animals to a minimum were employe…
The Geography, Topography and Land Transport Networks of Egypt
This chapter places transport in Roman Egypt into its physical context, discussing the geography and topography of the Nile Valley, Fayum, and desert regions. It studies both the literary and papyrological evidence for this, discussing roads and canals, and the problems for transport created by a hydraulic civilization: canals, irrigation channels, dykes, and embankments. It surveys the difficulties encountered by travellers and transporters, and…
Trade and Transport
This chapter focuses on the role of transport in trade. Beginning with the Eastern Desert, using the evidence of archives, it considers the nature and status of transporters, and the nature of their involvement in the supply of Berenike and Myos Hormos, the ports of the Red Sea. It considers the role of transport in the trade of luxuries with India and the East, and argues for a dynamic and complex economy. In the Western Desert, communication wi…
Deserts and Military Supply
Communities in the desert, whether ports or military outposts, were almost wholly reliant on the Nile Valley for their supplies. This chapter considers how the ports of the Red Sea, quarry installations, military outposts, and hydreumata were supplied, in the light of the ever-increasing body of evidence provided by ostraca. It also studies the transport of decorative stone, one of the most impressive technological feats of the ancient world. An …
Introduction
This chapter overviews previous scholarship on transport, introduces the most influential theories offering pessimistic views of the role of transport in the Roman economy, and surveys responses to these, before introducing the evidence for transport and economic activity from Egypt. It then discusses the quantification of this evidence and what this can tell us about the economics of transport. Attempts to establish the relative costs of land an…
Transport Animals and Wagons
This chapter discusses the evidence for pack animals and their uses in Roman Egypt, and considers the role of wheeled transport. It establishes patterns of use dictated by function and ability, and how use was affected by topography. It discusses the introduction of camels into Egypt and the spread of their use (limited in the Ptolemaic period, but much expanded in the Roman); the ubiquitous donkey; and the more limited role of mules, horses and …
Conclusion
This chapter draws on material from the whole book together to assess the role of transport in the economy of Egypt. It draws conclusions about how transport in Egypt was affected by topography, and how this promoted the dominance of pack animals. It shows how the Roman state controlled and used a central resource of the province, essentially the meeting of the public and private spheres. It argues for a far more positive attitude towards stance …
Animal Requisition
After establishing the bureaucratic devices necessary to implement requisition, this chapter focuses on the processes of animal requisition. First it sets out Ptolemaic precedents for requisition, and in particular, the development of the Ptolemaic postal service, which anticipated the later Roman cursus publicus. It then considers Roman systems of requisition and especially the all too common abuse of authority by soldiers and state officials. I…
Animal Use and Maintenance
This chapter expands on animal use, based on papyrological and iconographic evidence. The relative importance of different animals is assessed, and the role of camels as both pack animals and draft animals is considered, where in an arid climate they supersede the ox. The chapter goes on to assess the issue of animal harnessing, and argues that contrary to the traditional view, harnessing systems were effective in enabling considerable loads to b…
State Grain Transport
This chapter is the first of four case studies focussing on particular transport operations. Egypt was the granary of Rome, and each year supplied the major part of the city's requirements. A complicated and highly bureaucratic system for its supply and transport, some of it based on Ptolemaic precedents, ensured that harvested tax grain reached threshing floors, was stored in granaries, and was transported by land or canal to river ports from wh…
Animal Trade and Ownership
This chapter assesses the evidence for animal trade and markets in Roman Egypt, and deploys the unique evidence of Egypt, focussing on two small archives of documents relating the exploits of animal traders. It shows that there were particular markets for animals at various locations, specializing in animal trade. It discusses evidence for prices, and argues that, although ownership of animals was common, the cost did put animals beyond the means…
State Control of Animal Ownership
This chapter considers how the Roman state monitored animal ownership in order to facilitate the use or requisition of animals for its own transport needs – the bureaucratic machinery necessary for an imperial power to impose its demands. Animals represented a valuable resource, and it is no surprise that the state developed strategies to record ownership. This happened through declarations of animal ownership, state registers of property, and a …
Irregular levies and the impact of the roman army in Egypt
This chapter discusses the irregular levies and the impact of the Roman army in Egypt. There has been considerable debate on the economic impact of the army on Roman provinces. There is some evidence from Egypt for the course of the conventus , and it is clear from similar evidence from Asia Minor, that governors undertook a set itinerary. What we would like to know is if the burden of providing for this and other irregular impositions was distri…
Land Transport in Roman Egypt
Transport has been seen as one of the greatest failures of ancient technology. Land transport especially, due to its cost, restricted growth in the Roman economy. This book challenges these views, using the evidence of papyri from Roman Egypt, and argues that land transport, even in a country so dominated by a river which provided a natural highway, was an essential part of a system of transport that allowed for vigorous trading activity, but pro…
Sitologos
The Sitologos was an official in Greco‐Roman Egypt in charge of state granaries, in villages, toparchies, and metropoleis, responsible for the receipt of tax grain in kind, the issuing of receipts to tax‐payers, drawing up day‐books and regular reports of grain received for Strategoi, Nome officials in charge of the land economy and taxation.
Phrontistes
Phrontistes (pl. phrontistai) is a Greek term (deriving from the root “care” or “to have a care”) for the manager of an estate, or sub‐unit of an estate.
Antonius Saturninus, Lucius
Lucius Antonius Saturninus was governor of Upper Germany, and led a revolt at Moguntiacum in early 89 CE (Suet. Dom. 6 ; Dio 67.11.).
Transport
The role of transport in the economy of the Roman world is far from clearly understood, and is a controversial issue in modern historical debate. Our knowledge is hampered by two main factors: first, the nature of our evidence. Ancient authors were generally not interested in how commodities were transported, and really only comment on the exceptional. And second, our understanding of transport has arguably been hampered by both a failure of mode…
Travel and Geography in the Roman Empire
The remains of Roman roads are a powerful reminder of the travel and communications system that was needed to rule a vast and diverse empire. Yet few people have questioned just how the Romans - both military and civilians - travelled, or examined their geographical understanding in an era which offered a greatly increased potential for moving around, and a much bigger choice of destinations. This volume provides new perspectives on these issues,…
War and Society in the Roman Empire
This chapter describes the status of war and society in the Roman Empire. The bias of the upper classes and fears of the lower are shown. The influences of civil war and rebellion could be profound in the Roman Empire. Any army is designed to fight wars, surely in a militaristic society such as Rome. Soldiers were employed in a range of activities in support of local administrative officials. Their internal administrative duties included their ro…
Ian Haynes. Blood of the Provinces
In this excellent monograph, Ian Haynes offers a comprehensive study of the Roman auxiliary forces that builds on the substantial work of George Leonard Cheesman, Eric Birley, and Michael P. Speidel (to name a few) and deploys a formidable range of evidence: epigraphic, papyrological, archaeological, and literary, which places it among those rare volumes that consider the full range of evidence available. The book is not only about the auxilia. I…
There and Back Again’
Classical Antiquity Studies (18 works) · Archaeology and Historical Studies (16 works) · Political science (14 works) · Geography (13 works) · Economics (12 works) · Business (11 works) · History (9 works) · Archaeology (8 works) · Engineering (8 works) · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies (8 works)