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A Case for Corruption

Barber, Cary Michael

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, History.
This work sets out to investigate official corruption in Late Antiquity in general, and in the office of the provincial governor in particular. In light of continued modern scholarship on the subject, as well as changing views concerning late antique governance as a whole, it seems worthwhile to present a study of this type. While attempting to reconstruct the locations of official abuse in the ancient world, this work seeks to emphasize how fundamental features of Diocletian’s administrative reforms, as well as the difficulties of oversight in the ancient world overall, led to the corruption about which our sources so consistently complain. The study primarily utilizes the works of a range of ancient authors from a number of different regions within the empire who lament corruption and its alleged effects. Legal edicts from emperors and inscriptions made by provincial governors are also employed, as well as modern studies on economic and social features of administrative corruption in contemporary nation-states. The work is, however, largely preliminary. By arguing for the prevalence of official abuse, this study creates a foundation for further investigation into the role of corruption in late antique governance, and into its effects on political, economic, social, and religious developments in this period.
Kristina Sessa (Advisor)
Anthony Kaldellis (Committee Member)
Nathan Rosenstein (Committee Member)
71 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Barber, C. M. (2010). A Case for Corruption [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1276796676

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Barber, Cary. A Case for Corruption. 2010. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1276796676.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Barber, Cary. "A Case for Corruption." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1276796676

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)