Storia degli Italiani, vol. 04 (di 15)

A vivid portrait unfolds of the Roman Empire as it moves from the celebrated age of the Antonines into an era dominated by military authority. The narrative shows how the once‑celebrated stability of the “golden” eighty‑four years after Domitian gave way to a growing reliance on the Praetorian Guard and provincial legions, turning soldiers into kingmakers who could grant or withdraw imperial power at will.

The author then traces the evolving organization of the army—its pay scales, recruitment practices, and the shifting balance between civil and martial duties. By examining reforms under Augustus, Tiberius, Trajan and later emperors, the work reveals how the blurring of civilian and military spheres reshaped Roman politics and society, setting the stage for the empire’s later crises. Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how the sword came to eclipse the senate in shaping Italy’s destiny.