Soldier and Society in Roman Egypt: A Social History

The province of Egypt provides unique archaeological and documentary evidence for the study of the Roman army. In this fascinating social history, Richard Alston examines the economic, cultural, social and legal aspects of the military career, illuminating the life and role of the individual soldier in the army. Solider and Society in Roman Egyptprovides a complete reassessment of the impact of the Roman army on local societies, and convincingly challenges the orthodox pciture. The soldiers are seen not as an isolated elite living in fear of the local populations, but as relatively well-integrated into local communities. The unsuspected scale of the army's involvment in these communities offers a new insight into both Roman rule in Egypt and Roman imperialism as well.