| Summary: | The studies presented in this thesis discuss certain aspects of the history of Roman Arabia from the period prior to the creation of the province under Trajan to the beginning of the Byzantine era. The first two chapters are introductory. Chapter 1 examines the motives for and method of the annexation of the Nabataean kingdom in A.D. 106. Chapter 2 traces the history of Bostra from its earliest probable appearance in written history until it was designated the capital of the new province. Chapter 3 sketches the origin and use of the Arabian 'era', the calendrical system adopted throughout the province. Chapter ~ discusses the political geography of Roman Arabia from the time of its creation through subsequent border modifications and concludes with an examination of the motives for and probable date of the province's partition. Chapter 5 is a register of the provincial governors-attested between A.D. 106-305. New information 'is added wherever relevant; this includes unpublished epigraphical material. In some cases older evidence is re-evaluated and a new interpretation is suggested. Chapter 6 evaluates the Roman responses to nomadism on the fringe areas of the province and outlines the process of sedentarization and its effects on the stability of the frontier communities. A large portion of this chapter is devoted to the identification of the named tribes and clans attested in the Greek inscriptions. Chapter 7 demonstrates how the Greek epigraphy from the northern sector of the province illuminates and defines the degree of self-government within the villages. One section of this chapter investigates the evidence for village assemblies and another discusses the nomenclature used by village officials. Other sections record the occupations of villagers and highlight the important role of the veterani and the tribes in village affairs. Chapter 8 is a three-part study of the Arabian army. The first part is a thorough re-examination of the evidence relating to the province's initial garrison. This is followed by a list of the legions and auxiliaries known to be part of the Arabian army at least until the end of the third century. The final portion of the chapter is a study of the provincial veterani, especially those who were recruited into service locally. Chapter 9 concludes the Studies by re-examining the evidence for tribal organization in the Arabian capital, Bostra. The second part of tho chapter collects the evidence for the Bostran boule and includes a register of those persons known to be members of the city council.
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