Dignas Beate, Winter Engelberg. Rome and Persia in Late Antiquity. Neighbours and Rivals

New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007. — 347 p. — ISBN 978-0-521-84925-8, 978-0-511-34248-6, 0-511-34248-9, 0-521-84925-X.The foundation of the Sasanian Empire in ad 224 established a formidable new power on the Roman Empire’s Eastern frontier, and relations over the next four centuries proved turbulent. This book provides a chronological narrative of their relationship, supported by a substantial collection of translated sources illustrating important themes and structural patterns. The political goals of the two sides, their military confrontations and their diplomatic solutions are discussed, as well as the common interests between the two powers. Special attention is given to the situation of Arabia and Armenia, to economic aspects, the protection of the frontiers, the religious life in both empires and the channels of communication between East and West. In its wide chronological scope, the study explores the role played by the Sasanians in the history of the ancient Near East. The book will prove invaluable for students and non-specialists interested in late antiquity and early Byzantium, and it will be equally useful for specialists on these subjects.List of figures page
List of maps

AbbreviationsIntroduction: West and East, friend and foe, counterpart and mirror image
Narrative
Rome and Iran to the beginning of the third century AD
Rome and the Sasanian Empire: A chronological survey
The third century: The origins of Sasanian interests in the West
The fourth century: The conflict escalates under Šāpūr II (309–379)
The fifth century: Dґ etente at the Roman Eastern frontier
The sixth century: The Sasanians renew their expansionist policy in the West
The seventh century: Might and decline of Sasanian power
Sources and contexts
Political goals
Territorial claims of the Sasanians against Rome
Succession to Achaemenid rule as programmatic foreign policy
Warfare
Sasanian armament and tactics
Military confrontations
The third century: Origins of Sasanian interests in the West
Earliest Roman-Sasanian confrontations (230–233)
Šāpūr (240–272) at war with Rome
Galerius defeats Narsē in the year
The fourth century: The conflict escalates under Šāpūr II (309–379)
Fighting during the reign of Constantius II (337–361)
Julian’s Persian War (363)
The fifth century: Détente at the Roman Eastern frontier
Arcadius (383–408) and Yazdgard I (399–420)
Persian confrontations with the Hephthalites
The Sasanian monarchy loses and regains power
The sixth century: The Sasanians renew their expansionist policy in the West
The first Sasanian-Byzantine War (502–532)
The second Sasanian-Byzantine War (540–562)
The third Sasanian-Byzantine War (572–591) and the Persian expansion into South Arabia
The seventh century: Might and decline of Sasanian power
The advance of Xusrō II Parvēz (602–628)
The diplomatic solutions
The peace treaty of 244 between Philip the Arab and Šāpūr I
The peace treaty of 298 between Diocletian and Narsē
The peace treaty of 363 between Jovian and Šāpūr II
The peace treaty of 422 between Theodosius II and Bahrām V Gōr
The peace treaty of 562 between Justinian and Xusrō I Anōšarvān
The peace treaty of 628 between Heraclius and Kavādh II Šērōē
Arabia between the great powers
Hatra
Palmyra
The Arab prince Imru’ulqais between Romans and Sasanians
‘Proxy policy’: Lahmids and Gassānids
Shared interests: Continuing conflicts
Armenia
Protection of the frontier
Economy and trade
Religion: Christianity and Zoroastrianism
Religion and kingship in the Sasanian Empire
The Sasanian kings as patrons of Zoroastrianism
From Diocletian to Constantine: Religious change in the West and the consequences for Roman-Sasanian relations
The situation of the Persian Christians during the reign of Yazdgard I (399–420)
Religion and politics during the sixth and seventh centuries
Emperor and King of kings
Concepts of ‘legitimate rule’ and the ‘family of kings’
Exchange of information between West and East
Diplomacy and espionage
Deportations: Enforced resettlements of prisoners
Mutual cultural interestAppendix I. Lists of Sasanian kings and Roman emperors
Appendix II. Chronological table
Appendix III. Glossary

Index of sources
Index of translated sources
Index of names
Index of place names
General index