BMCR 2009.08.31: Archibald on Batty, Rome and the Nomads. The Pontic-Danubian Realm in Antiquity

Roger Batty, Rome and the Nomads. The Pontic-Danubian Realm in
Antiquity.  Oxford:  Oxford University Press, 2008.  Pp. xxiv, 652;
figs. 59, tables 10, pls. 32.  ISBN 9780198149361.  $190.00.

Reviewed by Zosia Archibald, University of Liverpool
(Z.Archibald <at> liverpool.ac.uk)
Word count:  1677 words
-------------------------------
To read a print-formatted version of this review, see
http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2009/2009-08-31.html
To comment on this review, see
http://www.bmcreview.org/2009/08/20090831.html
-------------------------------

This is a substantial volume, not only in terms of length--575 pages of
text, 32 pages of bibliographic references--but also in respect of
detail. There are ten tables, sixteen colour plates, sixteen black and
white plates, and 81 figures that provide data in visual form,
principally maps, including geographical, environmental, and climatic
information on the regions examined, as well as the political and
social disposition of the various groups investigated. I noted very few
spelling errors across citations and titles in at least seven modern
European languages and references to primary textual material are
meticulously reproduced in Latin or in translation. The book has been
very carefully edited and looks neat, clear, and well organised. The
visual material conveys a fair amount of complex information in a
readable and comprehensible format.

The author has made two important and undoubtedly under-researched