Fabulous short work by a classic ancient historian. Marvelous. The work reminds me of the "Very Short" introductory series by Cambridge University although the series originated many years after Starr's heyday. Starr was writing during an era of historiography that is characterized by French structural thought. In this vein then Starr describes an impossible Empire held together through successive Emperors, the classes and organs of imperial administration, local government and life, and finally, the military (p. 7). The survey then is analytically performed and not chronological.

Cf. http://www.librarything.com/work/8086327/67515444