Tripolitania under the Roman Empire

The reason the subject is chosen within this period is that an adequate study has never been given to it, probably because of the rarity of the references and the difficulty of their languages and the paucity of the specialists in this period of Libyan ancient history. So, as far as the writer is alare, no synthesis of materials is available in English. The fact that many publications have been utilised gives this project a claim to be regarded as up to date. The work is divided into two parts. The first consists of five chapters:- Chapter I deals with the conditions of the region before Roman rule (46 B.C.). Chapter II is concerned with the civil war and its effects , on the region of Tripolitania. Light is thrown on the political history of Tripolitania during the period from Julius Caesar to Augustus (47 B.C. to 14 A.D.). In this Chapter the Roman policy towards the region, taken by Caesar, and the re—arrangement of the Numidian Kingdom by Augustus and its relationships with the region is discussed. Chapter III deals in detail with the revolts of the indigenous people of the conquered districts and the Roman attempts to quell these risings. Chapter IV is concerned with political conditions of the region under the Antonine regime from Trajan to Commodus and treats the tribal limitatio and settlement. Chapter V deals with the conditions of the region under the Severan emperors from Septimius Severus to Alexanaer Severus' (A.D. 193 — 235). The political attitude of the founder of this regime Septimius Severus, and his successors, from this family) towards the region is looked into, together with the defensive system (limes Tripolitanus) which he had initiated and which was completed by his successors (Chap. VI). The fifty years followinc, the assassination of Alexander' Severus (235 A.D.) saw the decline of the Roman Empire economically politically and socially. During this period the throne was much contested. The second part of this thesis is concerned with the important aspects of civilization of the region under the Roman rule. Chapter VI is a comprehensive study of the limes Tripolitanus in the region, in its historical context and it is concerned with the dating of the fortifications in southern Tripolitania. Chapter VII is concerned with the administrative organization of. Roman Tripolitania and special attention is paid to the municipal development and the existence of Punic administration in the Roman period, at least till Hadrian's time. Chapter VIII, a study of the economy of Roman Tripolitania and technical in nature is concerned with agricultural, industrial and commercial advances made in this period (4734.-235A.D.) and also with the trade routes used