WILKES, J.J.,
Dalmatia.
Routledge & Kegan Paul, London, 1969. 1st ed. XXVII,572,48p. Folding map. ills.(B&W photogrpahs and line drawings). Original black gilt titled cloth. (Lacking dust wrps). Series: History of the Provinces of the Roman Empire. 'The author will earn the gratitude of anyone who wishes to find in convenient and accessible form a comprehensive survey of what is known on most aspects of Roman Dalmatia. The collection of such a mass of material from a province not particularly easy to tackle reflects great credit on the learning and assiduity of the author. (...) Anyone requiring comprehensive information, well supported by references, will be glad of the existence of this book. (...) There are most useful chapters summarizing what is known of the history of the province. In particular the author makes a convincing case for the piecemeal nature of Roman policy under the Republic and the lack of any clear-sighted policy of imperialism. He also suggests, with good reason, that much of the earlier military history should be seen as springing from the desire of individual commanders for personal successes or the need to train troops for operations elsewhere. Another general point of considerable interest is the tendency for cities to develop as the end-product of a process which started as an initial organization of tribes under 'praefecti civitatum' and continued through 'principes' drawn from among the native notables to full cities with standard information of an anthropological nature on kinship groups and indicates that the native tribes may well often have been fairly loose confederations. (...) The main text is accompanied by a number of appendices, mostly laying out epigraphical and literary information in tabular form. These will be of great importance to future students of the province, and in many respects, of the Empire at large. (...) There is no doubt that we must feel in the author's debt for amassing so much information and for deriving many valuable conclusions. Despite its difficulties this will surely be the standard English book on Roman Dalmatia for a long time to come.' (PETER SALWAY in The Classical Review (New Series), 1971, pp.267-269).
€ 60.00
(Antiquarian)