Violence in Roman Egypt: A Study in Legal Interpretation (Empire and After)

Name: Violence in Roman Egypt: A Study in Legal Interpretation (Empire and After)
Price: 27.98 USD
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📖 Book Synopsis: What can we learn about the world of an ancient empire from the ways that people complain when they feel that they have been violated? What role did law play in people's lives? And what did they expect their government to do for them when they felt harmed and helpless? If ancient historians have frequently written about nonelite people as if they were undifferentiated and interchangeable, Ari Z. Bryen counters by drawing on one of our few sources of personal narratives from the Roman world: over a hundred papyrus petitions, submitted to local and imperial officials, in which individuals from the Egyptian countryside sought redress for acts of violence committed against them. By assembling these long-neglected materials (also translated as an appendix to the book) and putting them in conversation with contemporary perspectives from legal anthropology and social theory, Bryen shows how legal stories were used to work out relations of deference within local communities. Rather than a simple force of imperial power, an open legal system allowed petitioners to define their relationships with their local adversaries while contributing to the body of rules and expectations by which they would live in the future. In so doing, these Egyptian petitioners contributed to the creation of Roman imperial order more generally.

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Discover the fascinating world of an ancient empire in "Violence in Roman Egypt: A Study in Legal Interpretation." Dive into the depths of history and explore the lives of nonelite individuals in Ancient Rome with this captivating book. Written by Ari Z. Bryen, this thought-provoking work sheds new light on the role of law in people's lives and the expectations they had from their government when faced with harm and helplessness.

Unraveling the narratives of over a hundred papyrus petitions submitted to local and imperial officials, Bryen transports readers to the Egyptian countryside, where individuals sought justice for acts of violence committed against them. With meticulous research and compelling translations included as an appendix, this book gives voice to those whose stories have long been neglected.

But this unique exploration doesn't stop there. Bryen takes a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating contemporary perspectives from legal anthropology and social theory. Through this lens, he reveals how these legal stories served as a means to establish hierarchies and relationships within local communities. By contributing to the body of rules and expectations, the petitioners played a crucial role in shaping the wider Roman imperial order.

Unlock a captivating journey into the ancient world. Gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics between power, law, and personal narratives. "Violence in Roman Egypt: A Study in Legal Interpretation" will transport you back in time, allowing you to witness the complexities of an empire through the lens of individuals seeking justice in a society where their voices mattered.

Ready to embark on this captivating adventure? Start unraveling the secrets of Ancient Rome today by getting your hands on a copy of "Violence in Roman Egypt: A Study in Legal Interpretation." Click here to make your purchase now!

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