In the Crucible of Empire

The Impact of Roman Citizenship upon Greeks, Jews and Christians

Edited by K. Berthelot Edited by J. Price

Book cover: In the Crucible of Empire

Extent: 345 pages

Publisher: Peeters Publishers

Subjects: Classical Studies

Series: Interdisciplinary Studies in Ancient Culture and Religion

Series volume number: 21

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(March 2019)

ISBN: 9789042936683

Price: $95.00

In stock

PDF (Published)

(March 2019)

ISBN: 9789042938656

Price: $95.00

This volume examines the dynamic concept and changing reality of Roman citizenship from the perspective of the provinces in Rome’s vast, multi-ethnic empire, both before and after Caracalla’s grant of universal citizenship in 212 CE. In Greek communities, and in Jewish and Christian conceptual and actual constructed communities, the Roman definition of citizenship had a profound impact on the shape of abstract ideas of community, discourse about communal membership and peoplehood, and legal and civic models. Just as Roman citizenship was forever redefining its restrictions and becoming ever-more inclusive, so the borders of the other communities to which Greeks, Christians and Jews claimed “citizenship” were also flexible, adaptable, dynamic.


This volume examines the dynamic concept and changing reality of Roman citizenship from the perspective of the provinces in Rome’s vast, multi-ethnic empire, both before and after Caracalla’s grant of universal citizenship in 212 CE. In Greek communities, and in Jewish and Christian conceptual and actual constructed communities, the Roman definition of citizenship had a profound impact on the shape of abstract ideas of community, discourse about communal membership and peoplehood, and legal and civic models. Just as Roman citizenship was forever redefining its restrictions and becoming ever-more inclusive, so the borders of the other communities to which Greeks, Christians and Jews claimed “citizenship” were also flexible, adaptable, dynamic.

  • Edited by K. Berthelot
  • Edited by J. Price

"Together with its bibliography, In the Crucible of Empire is an important introduction to scholarship on both the institution and the reception of Roman citizenship in the high empire and into late antiquity. The collation of studies on the empire and its administration with studies on the Jewish and Christian groups which flourished under it is both innovative and laudable. Another innovation, only slightly less significant, is the bringing together of papers by Anglophone and Francophone scholars in one volume." --Gvaryahu, Amit, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 2020.01.20
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