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In this bold new interpretation of the origins of ancient Rome's overseas empire, Dr Burton charts the impact of the psychology, language and gestures associated with the Roman concept of amicitia, or 'friendship'. The book challenges the prevailing orthodox Cold War-era realist interpretation of Roman imperialism and argues that language and ideals contributed just as much to Roman empire-building as military muscle. Using a constructivist theoretical framework drawn from international relations, Dr Burton replaces the modern scholarly fiction of a Roman empire built on networks of foreign clients and client-states with an interpretation grounded firmly in the discursive habits of the ancient texts themselves. The results better account for the peculiar rhythms of Rome's earliest period of overseas expansion – brief periods of vigorous military and diplomatic activity, such as the rolling back of Seleucid power in Asia Minor and Greece in 192–188 BC, followed by long periods of inactivity.

There is no agreement on when international amicitia between Rome and Athens was first established. This article proposes that the most likely date for it belongs in the context of the later stages of the First Macedonian War (215-205) – specifically, during the mediation attempts of 209 or 208 – rather than the other commonly canvassed candidates, 228,205 and 201-200.

This article endeavours to establish a precise date and political context for Livy's composition of the preface to his monumental Ab Urbe Condita in the light of recent discoveries about Livy's chronology of composition and new polyvalent readings of his text. The paper concludes that the preface was probably written ca. early 32 BCE.

This article argues that a close reading of friendship practices in the plays of Plautus, in light of the relevant social science and anthropological literature on friendship, can help us establish the parameters, discourse, and behaviors associated with Roman friendship. Application of a new analytical framework for studying such relationships in ancient literature (a \"processual model of friendship interaction\") to the plays of Plautus increases our understanding of Roman amicitia in that it marks the relationship as a precious and all too rare social bond, fraught with paradox and ambivalence, and generative of tensions, anxieties, and asymmetries.

The English-language press and current affairs literature often drew parallels between the modern United States and ancient Rome during a period of robust American military intervention, particularly in the Middle East, between 2000 and 2010. How was the Rome–America parallel deployed in similar literature in western European countries? Did commentators in the major Eurozone nations—in particular, France, Germany, and Italy—use the parallel with different purposes in mind? Was this commentary mostly positive or negative? This paper aims to answer these questions.

According to Betts and Marshall, the senate had, in fact, tried to punish corrupt governors 'in house' for 25 years or more - long before the egregious conduct of Sulpicius Galba (cos. 150), which Gruen regarded as the catalyst for the lex of 149. [...]I would like to thank all attendees, presenters and session chairs for making the conference such a memorable occasion, and the contributors to this volume for their hard work, punctuality and timely responses to the Guest Editor's impatient requests and persistent inquiries.