In his brief reign, Aurelian contributed more to the recovery of the Roman empire than any other individual of his time. He decisively repelled the German invaders threatening the Danube and crushed the enemies, Zenobia and Tetricus. Among his other achievements, he also introduced major monetary reforms and constructed the defensive walls around Rome that still bear his name to this day.

Aurelian and the Third Century provides a re-evaluation in the light of recent scholarship of the difficulties facing the Roman empire in the AD 260s and 270s, concentrating upon the reign of the emperor Aurelian and his part in surmounting them. It includes an introduction that examines the socio-cultural context of the mid-third century, and follows with a chronological examination of the military and political events of the period from 268 to 276 and an analysis of the importance of the achievements and events of Aurelian's reign.