Nearly 2000 years later, controversy still remains regarding the 180-192 AD reign of Roman Emperor Commodus. In preparing this dissertation, Adams did not attempt to close these debates, but to simply study from an historical viewpoint the benefits and pitfalls of Commodus' time as emperor. He relies upon a wealth of archaeological, numismatic, and epigraphic sources, such as the ancient writings of Marcus Cornelius Fronto, Cassius Dio, Herodian, and those that appeared in the Histori Augusta. Key chapters review Commodus' life during the Antonine era, his role as Joint Princeps with Marcus Aurelius, his time as the sole emperor, his religious policies, his time as a gladiator, his foreign and provincial policies, and his ultimate assassination. A list of key initialisms used closes out the book. Annotation 2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
