Enemies of the Later Roman Order

More about the book

The book explores language aggression in postclassical Roman law, often viewed as a hallmark of the decline of Byzantine culture. The author employs an innovative research method, focusing on ideologically charged terms within legal articles to analyze their contextual usage and semantic fields. A significant aspect of the analysis involves examining negative statements directed at perceived enemies of the state, approached semasiologically and rooted in traditional invective found in Greek and Roman literature. The work is structured into three parts: the first outlines the methodological framework, the second analyzes negatively marked vocabulary in relevant legal constitutions, and the third categorizes groups considered enemies of the Roman order, drawing conclusions from the analysis of invective terms. The author aims to delineate the semantic fields of these expressions, referencing material that spans centuries, particularly from the Late Antique period. This study is intended for scholars and students of postclassical law, as well as historians and philologists.