Publisher Description

The Sasanian Empire (third-seventh centuries) was one of the largest empires of antiquity, stretching from Mesopotamia to modern Pakistan and from Central Asia to the Arabian Peninsula. This mega-empire withstood powerful opponents in the steppe and expanded further in Late Antiquity, whilst the Roman world shrunk in size. Recent research has revealed the reasons for this success, notably population growth in some key territories, economic prosperity and urban development, made possible through investment in agriculture and military infrastructure on a scale unparalleled in the late antique world. Our volume explores the empire's relations with its neighbours and key phenomena which contributed to its wealth and power, from the empire's armed forces to agriculture, trade and treatment of minorities. The latest discoveries, notably major urban foundations, fortifications and irrigations systems, feature prominently. An empire whose military might and urban culture rivalled Rome and foreshadowed the caliphate will be of interest to scholars of the Roman and Islamic world.

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Persia's growing military and economic power in the late antique worldThe Sasanian Empire (third to seventh centuries) was one of the largest empires of antiquity, stretching from Mesopotamia to modern Pakistan and from Central Asia to the Arabian Peninsula. This mega-empire withstood powerful opponents in the steppe and expanded further in late antiquity, whilst the Roman world shrank in size. Recent research has revealed the reasons for this success, notably population growth in some territories, economic prosperity and urban development, which were made possible through investment in agriculture and military infrastructure on a scale unparalleled in the late antique world. This volume explores the empire's relations with its neighbours and key phenomena which contributed to its wealth and power, from the empire's armed forces to agriculture, trade and treatment of minorities. The latest discoveries, notably major urban foundations, fortifications and irrigations systems, feature prominently. An empire whose military might and urban culture rivalled Rome and foreshadowed the caliphate will be of interest to scholars of the Roman and Islamic world.Eberhard Sauer is Professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of EdinburghCover images: for full details see page vii.Cover design:[EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.comISBN 978-1-4744-0101-2Barcode

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Persia's growing military and economic power in the late antique worldThe Sasanian Empire (third to seventh centuries) was one of the largest empires of antiquity, stretching from Mesopotamia to modern Pakistan and from Central Asia to the Arabian Peninsula. This mega-empire withstood powerful opponents in the steppe and expanded further in late antiquity, whilst the Roman world shrank in size.Recent research has revealed the reasons for this success, notably population growth in some territories, economic prosperity and urban development, which were made possible through investment in agriculture and military infrastructure on a scale unparalleled in the late antique world.This volume explores the empire's relations with its neighbours and key phenomena which contributed to its wealth and power, from the empire's armed forces to agriculture, trade and treatment of minorities. The latest discoveries, notably major urban foundations, fortifications and irrigations systems, feature prominently. An empire whose military might and urban culture rivalled Rome and foreshadowed the caliphate will be of interest to scholars of the Roman and Islamic world.Eberhard Sauer is Professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of EdinburghCover images: for full details see page vii.Cover design:[EUP logo]edinburghuniversitypress.comISBN 978-1-4744-0101-2Barcode

Author Biography

Eberhard Sauer is Professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh, having previously taught at the Universities of Leicester and Oxford. He has directed excavations in Britain as well as, jointly with colleagues in Iran and Georgia, fieldwork on the Great Wall of Gorgan and the Sasanian fort in Dariali Gorge in the Caucasus. He is the author of several books.

Table of Contents

Preliminaries: List of Illustrations, Acknowledgements, Notes on the Contributors, Series Editor's Foreword 1. Introduction Eberhard W. Sauer 2. Sasanian cities: archaeological perspectives on the urban economy and built environment of an empire St John Simpson 3. Palaeoecological insights into agri-horti-cultural and pastoral practices before, during and after the Sasanian Empire Lyudmila Shumilovskikh, Morteza Djamali, Val

Review

The work is recommended to all who are working on the Sasanian Empire. This publication has once again demonstrated that "Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Persia" has become an important publishing series for pre-Islamic Persia.Translated from the German--Tino Shain "Plekos"

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Persia's growing military and economic power in the late antique world

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The work is recommended to all who are working on the Sasanian Empire. This publication has once again demonstrated that "Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Persia" has become an important publishing series for pre-Islamic Persia. Translated from the German

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Persia's growing military and economic power in the late antique world

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Details Persia's growing military and economic power in the late antique world The Sasanian Empire (3rd-7th centuries) was one of the largest empires of antiquity, stretching from Mesopotamia to modern Pakistan and from Central Asia to the Arabian Peninsula. This mega-empire withstood powerful opponents in the steppe and expanded further in Late Antiquity, whilst the Roman world shrunk in size. Recent research has revealed the reasons for this success: notably population growth in some key territories, economic prosperity, and urban development, made possible through investment in agriculture and military infrastructure on a scale unparalleled in the late antique world. Our volume explores the empire's relations with its neighbours and key phenomena which contributed to its wealth and power, from the empire's armed forces to agriculture, trade and treatment of minorities. The latest discoveries, notably major urban foundations, fortifications and irrigations systems, feature prominently. An empire whose military might and culture rivalled Rome and foreshadowed the caliphate will be of interest to scholars of the Roman and Islamic world. Challenges our Eurocentric world view by presenting a Near-Eastern empire whose urban culture and military apparatus rivalled that of Rome Covers the latest discoveries on foundations, fortifications and irrigation systems Includes case studies on Sasanian frontier walls and urban culture in the Sasanian Empire

Description for Sales People

Challenges our Eurocentric world view by presenting a Near-Eastern empire whose urban culture and military apparatus rivalled that of Rome Covers the latest discoveries on foundations, fortifications and irrigation systems Includes case studies on Sasanian frontier walls and urban culture in the Sasanian Empire

Description for Teachers/Educators

Late Antiquity; History and archaeology of Ancient Persia

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