The Court and Court Society in Ancient Monarchies

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511482939

Monarchy was widespread as a political system in the ancient world. This volume offers a substantial discussion of ancient monarchies from the viewpoint of the ruler's court. The monarchies treated are Achaemenid and Sassanian Persia, the empire of Alexander, Rome under both the early and later Caesars, the Han rulers of China and Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty. A comparative approach is adopted to major aspects of ancient courts, including their organisation and physical setting, their role as a vehicle for display, and their place in monarchial structures of power and control. This approach is broadly inspired by work on courts in later periods of history, especially early-modern France. The case studies confirm that ancient monarchies created the conditions for the emergence of a court and court society. The culturally specific conditions in which these monarchies functioned meant variety in the character of the ruler's court from one society to another.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-v
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List of figures
pp vi-vii
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List of tables
pp viii-viii
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Notes on contributors
pp ix-x
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Acknowledgements
pp xi-xi
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List of abbreviations
pp xii-xiv
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Introduction
pp 1-16
- By Tony Spawforth, Professor of Ancient History University of Newcastle
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1 - New out of old? Court and court ceremonies in Achaemenid Persia
pp 17-57
- By Maria Brosius, Reader in Ancient History University of Newcastle
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2 - King, court and royal representation in the Sasanian empire
pp 58-81
- By Josef Wiesehöfer, Professor of Ancient History University of Kiel (Germany)
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3 - The court of Alexander the Great between Europe and Asia
pp 82-120
- By Tony Spawforth, Professor of Ancient History at the University of Newcastle
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4 - Friends in high places: the creation of the court of the Roman emperor
pp 121-156
- By Jeremy Paterson, Senior Lecturer in Ancient History University of Newcastle
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5 - The imperial court of the late Roman empire, C. AD 300–C. AD 450
pp 157-232
- By Rowland Smith, Lecturer in Ancient History School of Historical Studies at Newcastle University
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6 - The imperial court in Han China
pp 233-266
- By Hans Van Ess, Chair University of Munich
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7 - Court and palace in ancient Egypt: the Amarna period and later Eighteenth Dynasty
pp 267-328
- By Kate Spence, Affiliated Lecturer in the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Cambridge
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Bibliography
pp 329-353
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Index
pp 354-358
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The Court and Court Society in Ancient Monarchies

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-v

List of figures
pp vi-vii

List of tables
pp viii-viii

Notes on contributors
pp ix-x

Acknowledgements
pp xi-xi

List of abbreviations
pp xii-xiv

Introduction
pp 1-16

1 - New out of old? Court and court ceremonies in Achaemenid Persia
pp 17-57

2 - King, court and royal representation in the Sasanian empire
pp 58-81

3 - The court of Alexander the Great between Europe and Asia
pp 82-120

4 - Friends in high places: the creation of the court of the Roman emperor
pp 121-156

5 - The imperial court of the late Roman empire, C. AD 300–C. AD 450
pp 157-232

6 - The imperial court in Han China
pp 233-266

7 - Court and palace in ancient Egypt: the Amarna period and later Eighteenth Dynasty
pp 267-328

Bibliography
pp 329-353

Index
pp 354-358

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