Few Christians can talk about the Trinity clearly or intelligently. When we ask theologians to speak of the doctrine in plain terms, they are not always helpful either. The early ecumenical councils (Nicea and Chalcedon particularly) attempted to define aspects of the mystery with precision, but their philosophical language made it difficult for average believers to understand their pronouncements. Because of the complexity of trinitarian terminology, Christianity over the years seemed to lose something of its monotheistic character. Taylor demonstrates with clarity the role of the human Jesus in the world's salvation. Theological Reflections should stimulate new and fresh thinking about the Trinity's meaning for Contemporary Christians.

By the middle of the second century BCE, after nearly one hundred years of warfare, Rome had exerted its control over the entire Mediterranean world, forcing the other great powers of the region—Carthage, Macedonia, Egypt, and the Seleucid empire—to submit militarily and financially. But how, despite its relative poverty and its frequent numerical disadvantage in decisive battles, did Rome prevail? Michael J. Taylor explains this surprising outcome by examining the role that manpower and finances played, providing a comparative study that quantifies the military mobilizations and tax revenues for all five powers. Though Rome was the poorest state, it enjoyed the largest military mobilization, drawing from a pool of citizens, colonists, and allies, while its wealthiest adversaries failed to translate revenues into large or successful armies. Taylor concludes that state-level extraction strategies were decisive in the warfare of the period, as states with high conscription and low taxation raised larger, more successful armies than those that primarily sought to maximize taxation. Comprehensive and detailed, Soldiers and Silver offers a new and sophisticated perspective on the political dynamics and economies of these ancient Mediterranean empires.

Agricultural research and development have profoundly increased the quantity and quality of food production in the twentieth century. As populations increase, however, and land and water resources become more scarce, we must improve productivity and efficiency to provide adequate food supplies. Issues such as the environment, genetic diversity, food safety, poverty, human health, animal rights, public versus private responsibilities, and the question of intellectual property rights further complicate this task. "Agricultural Science Policy: Changing Global Agendas" consists of twelve chapters that describe important issues in agricultural science policy, the relevant facts, current economic thinking, and new results.

Topics Include: Changing Global Contexts and Agendas for Agricultural R & D; Productivity Measures and Measurement; Research, Productivity, and Natural Resources; Research for Genetic Improvement; and a Conclusion, which suggests directions for the future. The chapters in this volume will provide researchers and policy makers with a timely review of progress on the existing agenda as well as laying the foundation for a new agenda and new directions for global agricultural science policy in the 21st century.

Contributors: Julian M. Alston, University of California-Davis - Walter J. Armbruster, President of the Farm Foundation - Peter J. Barry, University of Illinois - Wilfred Beckerman, University of Oxford - Derek Byerlee, World Bank - Barbara J. Craig, Oberlin College - Robert Evenson, Yale University - Richard Gray, University of Saskatchewan - Zvi Griliches, Harvard University - Paul W. Heisey, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Frances Homans, University of Minnesota - Peter Lindert, University of California-Davis - Stavroula Malla, University of Saskatchewan - Philip G. Pardey, International Food Policy Research Institute and University of Minnesota - Prabhu L. Pingali, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center - Ismail Serageldin, World Bank and the American University in Cairo - Michael J. Taylor, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, Australia - Greg Traxler, Auburn University - James Wilen, University of California-Davis - Brian Wright, University of California-Berkeley.

Published in cooperation with the International Food Policy Research Institute.