This book investigates how the Roman Empire maintained stability and governance across its vast territories during the first four centuries AD. J. E. Lendon, a scholar of classical history, challenges traditional interpretations that emphasize coercion and military force as the primary mechanisms of Roman control. Instead, he argues that a shared aristocratic culture of honor provided the necessary framework for cooperation between the imperial center and provincial elites, effectively legitimizing the despotism of the emperors.

Historians and classicists recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of Roman political legitimacy and social hierarchy. Scholars frequently note the clarity of Lendon's argument regarding the intersection of aristocratic values and imperial governance.