Benjamin Isaac

Benjamin Isaac (born 1945) is an Israeli historian and professor emeritus of ancient history at Tel Aviv University. He is known for his work on Roman imperialism, Roman army, and ancient racism.

Isaac's research focuses on the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire, particularly Judea/Palestine and the Near East. He has extensively studied the nature of Roman rule in these regions, challenging traditional views of Romanization and highlighting the importance of local resistance and adaptation. He is known for his meticulous analysis of ancient sources, including inscriptions, papyri, and archaeological evidence.

His major publications include:

• The Limits of Empire: The Roman Army in the East (1990, revised edition 1992) - A seminal work exploring the role and limitations of the Roman military in the eastern provinces.

• Reading Inscriptions, Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic: A Handbook for the Historian (1994) - A practical guide for historians working with epigraphic sources.

• The Near East Under Roman Rule: Selected Papers (1998) - A collection of his scholarly articles on various aspects of Roman rule in the Near East.

• Invention of Racism in Classical Antiquity (2004) - An influential and often debated study arguing that concepts resembling modern racism existed in the ancient world.

• A Life of the Roman Empire (2018) - A comprehensive overview of Roman history and society.

Isaac has also contributed significantly to the study of Jewish history in the Roman period, offering insights into the political, social, and cultural interactions between Jews and Romans. His work is characterized by its critical approach to source materials and its nuanced understanding of the complexities of ancient societies. He is a leading figure in the field of ancient history and his publications are widely cited and discussed.