Storming The Heavens: Soldiers, Emperors and Civilians in the Roman

At the close of the third century BC, the ancient world was in awe of Rome's clear political, military and cultural hegemony. But however secure Rome's power may have seemed from the outside, from within it faced a challenge which was seriously to threaten its supremacy. Social turmoil prevailed at the heart of the Roman territories, and in Storming the Heavens, antosuosso argues that the behaviour of the Roman armies played a central role in this unrest. The troops became the enemies within, pillaging and slaughtering fellow citizens indiscriminately, while remaining loyal to their leaders - for the livelihood and booty they provided - but not the Republic. The new army abandoned its role as depository for upper class values and became an institution of the poor. Santosuosso also investigates the monopoly of military power in the hands of a few, the connection between armies and the state's cherished values, and the manipulation, subjucation and dehumanisation of the subject peoples. In all, he provides a fascinating and dramatic portrait of the Roman army from the time of its greatest supremacy through to the melancholy collapse of Empire in the fifth century AD