Description

How did a single village community in the Italian peninsula eventually become one of the mightiest imperial powers the world has ever known? In The Romans , Mary T. Boatwright, Daniel Gargola, and Richard J.A. Talbert tackle this question as they guide readers through a comprehensive sweep of Roman history, ranging from the prehistoric settlements to the age of Constantine.
Vividly written and attractively designed with almost 100 illustrations, The Romans expertly unfolds Rome's remarkable evolution from village, to monarchy and then republic, and finally to one-man rule by an emperor whose power at its peak stretched from Scotland to Iraq and the Nile Valley. Firmly grounded in ancient literary and material sources, the book captures and analyzes the outstanding political and military landmarks--from the Punic Wars, to Caesar's conquest of Gaul and his crossing of the Rubicon, to the victory of Octavian over Mark Antony, to Constantine's adoption of Christianity. Here too are some of the most fascinating individuals ever to walk across the world stage, including Hannibal, Mithridates, Pompey, Cicero, Cleopatra, Augustus, Livia, Nero, Marcus Aurelius, and Shapur. The authors bring to life many aspects of Rome's cultural and social history, from the role of women, to literature, entertainments, town-planning, portraiture, and religion. The book incorporates more than 30 maps, mostly produced by the Ancient World Mapping Center; in addition, 22 boxes interspersed throughout feature varied excerpts of writings by Romans themselves.
Rome's story is one of history's most remarkable chronicles. The Romans gives marvelous fresh insight into a people's truly monumental achievement--their ambition, glory, and suffering.

Reviews

"In an elegantly written and beautifully crafted study, three recognized historians of ancient Rome provide a first-rate and definitive history of the city from its prehistory to its rise and fall as the ancient world's dominant power.... A time line, a glossary of important Roman terms and a selected reading list of primary sources increase the value of this magnificent volume, which anyone interested in the history of Rome will return to over and over."--Publishers Weekly

"Judicious and interesting fare.... The many maps and photographs serve as a graphic asset and will aid readers' absorption in the chronicle of Rome's expansion from a few hills in Italy to the entire Mediterranean world and beyond."--Booklist

"Recommended for all libraries."--Library Journal

"Fresh, comprehensive, and up-to-date, this volume will meet a long-standing need among undergraduates and general readers for a new, stand-alone survey of Roman history. The authors strike a judicious balance between lively and well-paced narrative and thoughtful treatments of institutional and thematic topics. All in all, this is a tour de force of historical synthesis and a benchmark for the field." --Nathan Rosenstein, Ohio State University

"This is a superb book, which provides a lucid and comprehensible account of Roman history and shows how the Roman state was not a static phenomenon but evolved over time. The historical narrative is enriched by details on social, economic and cultural life." --Anthony A. Barrett, University of British Columbia

"'Rome' means different things to different people, and its history remains as contested a field as any the Roman army ever operated on in antiquity. New discoveries, innovative methodologies and theories, and fresh questions drive the strong, clear narrative line that this team of three scholars provides. They locate the history of the city firmly in its broad Mediterranean context, and their unifying theme traces the development of the city from its pre-urban Italic origin, through its republican pre-eminence and the urbanized empire, to its reorganization and marginalization in the late period." --F. E. Romer, University of Arizona

"At long last, we have a thorough, clearly written, well-informed, eminently sensible introduction to Roman History. Many of us have been waiting quite a long time for the appearance of such a book." --Thomas McGinn, Vanderbilt University

Product Details

544 pages; 93 illus. & 31 maps; 7-1/2 x 9-1/4; ISBN13: 978-0-19-511875-9ISBN10: 0-19-511875-8

About the Author(s)