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allbestnet · 6 years ago

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What are the best books on Roman history?

(Textbook) The Romans : From Village to Empire: A History of Rome from Earliest Times to the End of the Western Empire by Mary T. Boatwright (2013)

"The Romans is currently the best textbook on Roman history available in English." - Walter Scheidel, Stanford University

(Textbook) The Romans : An Introduction by Antony Kamm (2014)

A concise but wide-ranging introduction to the civilization of ancient Rome. Covers 1200 years of history; religion and social life; literature, art, architecture and technology; extracts from key contemporary authors, and includes maps.

(Textbook) As the Romans Did: A Sourcebook in Roman Social History by Jo-Ann Shelton ( 1997)

An anthology of translations from Latin and Greek source materials,As the Romans Didoffers a highly revealing look at everyday Roman life, providing clear, lively translations of a fascinating array of documents--from personal letters, farming manuals, medical texts, and recipes, to poetry, graffiti, and tombstone inscriptions. Each selection is newly translated into readable, contemporary English and fully annotated to give necessary historical and cultural background. In addition, the book includes abundant biographical notes, maps, appendices, and cross-references to related topics, as well as an extensive bibliography, providing students with substantial background material to broaden their understanding of the selections. Arranged thematically into chapters on family life, housing, education, entertainment, religion, and other important topics, the translations reveal the ambitions and aspirations not only of the upper class, but of the average Roman citizen as well; they tell not only of the success and failure of Rome's grandiose imperialist policies, but also of the pleasures and the hardships of everyday life.

(Scholarly) The Oxford History of the Roman World (first published 1986)

In less than fifty-three years, Rome subjected most of the known world to its rule. Written by a team of specialist scholars, this book traces the rise of Rome from its origins as a cluster of villages to the foundation of the Empire and its consolidation in the first two centuries CE. It includes chapters on social and political history, the Emperors, art and architecture, and the works of the leading Roman poets, historians, and philosophers.

(Scholarly) The Constitution of the Roman Republic by Andrew Lintott (1999)

There is no other published book in English studying the constitution of the Roman Republic as a whole. Yet the Greek historian Polybius believed that the constitution was a fundamental cause of the exponential growth of Rome's empire. Knowledge of Rome's political institutions is essential both for ancient historians and for those who study the contribution of Rome to the republican tradition of political thought from the Middle Ages to the revolutions inspired by the Enlightenment.

(Modern Scholarship) The Roman Empire : Economy, Society and Culture by Peter Garnsey (first published 1987)

During the Principate (roughly from 27 BC to AD 235), when the empire reached its maximum extent, Roman society and culture were radically transformed. But how was the vast territory of the empire controlled? Did the demands of central government stimulate economic growth or endanger survival? What forces of cohesion operated to balance the social and economic inequalities and high mortality rates? How did the official religion react in the face of the diffusion of alien cults and the emergence of Christianity?

(Textbook) History of the Roman Republic by Klaus Bringmann ( 2006)

In this new and authoritative history of the Roman republic, distinguished historian Klaus Bringmann traces the rise of a small city state near the Tiber estuary into a power that controlled the Italian peninsula and created the final Empire of antiquity, an Empire that was to become both the most enduring in the ancient world and to have the most far-reaching consequences for posterity. Whilst this book is chronologically organized, giving the reader a clear sense of the historical progress and dynamics of Roman republican history, it also offers a coherent and authoritative overview of the culture, economics, religion and military might of the Roman empire, presented in an original and stimulating way. Thoroughly referenced and illustrated throughout, with a wealth of primary sources from great Roman writers such as Cicero and Plutarch, A History of the Roman Republic will be essential reading for university students in history and classical studies. It will also appeal to a wider audience of general readers who are interested in the history of the Ancient world and its legacy.

1. A History of the Roman World 753 to 146 BC by H.H. Scullard (1935)

This definitive study from the author of From the Gracchi to Nero, examines the period from the foundation of Rome to the fall of Carthage. An accessible introduction to these centuries of change, this book will also be useful as context for those studying later developments in Roman history.

2. From the Gracchi to Nero: A History of Rome from 133 BC to AD 68 by H.H. Scullard (first published 1959)

Scullard's clear and comprehensive narrative covers the period from 133 BC to 69 AD, exploring the decline and fall of the Republic, and the establishment of the Pax Romana under the early Principate. More than forty years after its first publication this masterful survey remains the standard textbook on the central period of Roman history.

Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy (first published 2006)

Tracing the extraordinary trajectory of the great Roman emperor’s life, Goldsworthy covers not only the great Roman emperor’s accomplishments as charismatic orator, conquering general, and powerful dictator but also lesser-known chapters during which he was high priest of an exotic cult, captive of pirates, seducer not only of Cleopatra but also of the wives of his two main political rivals, and rebel condemned by his own country. Ultimately, Goldsworthy realizes the full complexity of Caesar’s character and shows why his political and military leadership continues to resonate some two thousand years later.

Augustus: First Emperor of Rome by Adrian Goldsworthy (first published 2014)

The dramatic story of Rome’s first emperor, who plunged into Rome’s violent power struggles at the age of nineteen, proceeded to destroy all rivals, and more than anyone else created the Roman Empire

Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland (first published 2003)

“On a dark January morning, Julius Caesar, the governor of Gaul, rode with his closest aides towards a river named the Rubicon, which marked the line of the frontier with Italy. A governor was forbidden to lead troops out of his allotted province – to break this severest of laws was tantamount to a declaration of civil war. Caesar was a gambler, however. Like the consummate actor on the public stage he had always been, he quoted a line from one of Menander's plays: "It's time to roll the die." Then he ordered the legion behind him to advance, over the river and on towards Rome. Crossing the Rubicon was a step so consequential that it has come to stand for every fateful step in history since. When Caesar rolled his die, the result was indeed a civil war, one that would end up destroying Rome's traditional freedoms and establishing a permanent dictatorship on the wreckage of her constitution.”

Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar by Tom Holland (2015)

Dynasty continues Rubicon's story, opening where that book ended: with the murder of Julius Caesar. This is the period of the first and perhaps greatest Roman Emperors and it's a colorful story of rule and ruination, running from the rise of Augustus through to the death of Nero. Holland's expansive history also has distinct shades of I Claudius, with five wonderfully vivid (and in three cases, thoroughly depraved) Emperors—Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero—featured, along with numerous fascinating secondary characters. Intrigue, murder, naked ambition and treachery, greed, gluttony, lust, incest, pageantry, decadence—the tale of these five Caesars continues to cast a mesmerizing spell across the millennia.

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard (2015)

“In SPQR, an instant classic, Mary Beard narrates the history of Rome "with passion and without technical jargon" and demonstrates how "a slightly shabby Iron Age village" rose to become the "undisputed hegemon of the Mediterranean" (Wall Street Journal). Hailed by critics as animating "the grand sweep and the intimate details that bring the distant past vividly to life" (Economist) in a way that makes "your hair stand on end" (Christian Science Monitor) and spanning nearly a thousand years of history, this "highly informative, highly readable" (Dallas Morning News) work examines not just how we think of ancient Rome but challenges the comfortable historical perspectives that have existed for centuries. With its nuanced attention to class, democratic struggles, and the lives of entire groups of people omitted from the historical narrative for centuries, SPQR will to shape our view of Roman history for decades to come.”

The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbariansby Peter Heather (first published 2005)

The death of the Roman Empire is one of the perennial mysteries of world history. Now, in this groundbreaking book, Peter Heather proposes a stunning new solution: Centuries of imperialism turned the ...

The Fall of Rome and End of Civilization by Bryan Ward-Perkins (2005

“In The Fall of Rome, eminent historian Bryan Ward-Perkins argues that the "peaceful" theory of Rome's "transformation" is badly in error. Indeed, he sees the fall of Rome as a time of horror and dislocation that destroyed a great civilization, throwing the inhabitants of the West back to a standard of living typical of prehistoric times. Attacking contemporary theories with relish and making use of modern archaeological evidence, he looks at both the wider explanations for the disintegration of the Roman world and also the consequences for the lives of everyday Romans, who were caught in a world of marauding barbarians, and economic collapse. The book recaptures the drama and violence of the last days of the Roman world, and reminds us of the very real terrors of barbarian occupation. Equally important, Ward-Perkins contends that a key problem with the new way of looking at the end of the ancient world is that all difficulty and awkwardness is smoothed out into a steady and positive transformation of society. Nothing ever goes badly wrong in this vision of the past. The evidence shows otherwise.”

(Epic 6 volumes study of Rome's decline) The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (1776)

Edward Gibbon's six-volume History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire(1776-88) is among the most magnificent and ambitious narratives in European literature. Its subject is the fate of one of the world's greatest civilizations over thirteen centuries - its rulers, wars and society, and the events that led to its disastrous collapse. Here, in book one and two, Gibbon charts the vast extent and constitution of the Empire from the reign of Augustus to 395 AD. And in a controversial critique, he examines the early Church, with fascinating accounts of the first Christian and last pagan emperors, Constantine and Julian.

The Roman Emperors: A Biographical Guide to the Rulers of Imperial Rome, 31 B.C. - A.D. 476 by Michael Grant (first published 1984)

“One of the greatest multiracial states the world has ever known, the Roman Empire stretched from Britain to the Sahara & from the Atlantic to the Euphrates. Vast & powerful, Imperial Rome instituted many conventions that distinguish life today--reason enough for us to wonder about the men who ruled in her name. Some early writers painted vivid portraits that, with their sensational details, often overshadowed the events of the time. In this book, classical historian Michael Grant uses these writings, augmenting them with evidence from archeology, inscriptions, coins & medallions to reconstruct the lives of 92 Roman emperors.”

A History of the Later Roman Empire, Ad 284-641: The Transformation of the Ancient World by Stephen Mitchell (2006)

“This book presents a historical study of the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity from the accession of the emperor Diocletian 284 to the death of the emperor Heraclius in 641. The only modern study to cover the western and eastern empire and the entire period from 284 to 641 in a single volume A bibliographical survey supports further study and research Includes chronological tables, maps, and charts of important information help to orient the reader Discusses the upheaval and change caused by the spread of Christianity and the barbarian invasions of the Huns, Goths and Franks Contains thematic coverage of the politics, religion, economy and society of the late Roman state Gives a full narrative of political and military events Discusses the sources for the period“

A N C I E N T The rise of the Roman Empire Book by Polybius (170 BC)

Polybius, himself a Greek and an active contemporary participant in political relations with Rome, wrote the forty books of his Universal History primarily to chronicle and account for the Roman conquest of Greece between 200 and 167 B.C. He saw that Mediterranean history, under Rome's influence, was becoming an organic whole, so he starts his work in 264 B.C. with the beginning of Rome's clash with African Carthage, the rival imperialist power, and ends with the final destruction of Carthage in 146 B.C.

The Conquest of Gaul by Julius Caesar (c. 50 BC)

Among the most durable and engaging texts in world literature, Julius Caesar's Conquest of Gaul tells how he and his legions conquered much of modern France in less than a decade (58-51 BCE), despite determined resistance. ...

The Jewish War by Flavius Josephus (c. 75 AD, Jewish general and historian)

Josephus’ account of a war marked by treachery and atrocity is a superbly detailed and evocative record of the Jewish rebellion against Rome between AD 66 and 70. Originally a rebel leader, Josephus changed sides after he was captured to become a Rome-appointed negotiator, and so was uniquely placed to observe these turbulent events, from the siege of Jerusalem to the final heroic resistance and mass suicides at Masada. His account provides much of what we know about the history of the Jews under Roman rule, with vivid portraits of such key figures as the Emperor Vespasian and Herod the Great. Often self-justifying and divided in its loyalties, The Jewish Warnevertheless remains one of the most immediate accounts of war, its heroism and its horrors, ever written.

The Early History of Rome: Books I-V of The History of Rome from Its Foundation by Livy (c. 1 AD; Roman historian)

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. ...

The Civil Wars by Appian (c.AD 120 – c. AD 165)

The only suriving continuous narrative source for the events between 133 and 70 BC. Appian's writings vividly describe Catiline's conspiracy, the rise and fall of the First Triumvirate, and Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon, defeat of Pompey and untimely death. The climax comes with the brith of the Second Triumvirate out of anarchy, the terrible purges of Proscriptions which followed and the titanic struggle for world mastery which was only to end with Augustus's defeat of Antony and Cleopatra.

Plutarch Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans by Plutarch (100 AD)

“Plutarch’s Lives, written at the beginning of the second century A.D., is a social history of the ancient world by one of thegreatest biographers and moralists of all time. In what is by far hismost famous and influential work, Plutarch reveals the character andpersonality of his subjects and how they led ultimately to tragedy orvictory.”

Lives of the Caesars by Suetonius (121 AD; Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order)

The Lives of the Caesars include the biographies of Julius Caesar and the eleven subsequent emperors: Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitelius, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian. Suetonius composed his material from a variety of sources, without much concern for their reliability.

The Annals: The Reigns of Tiberius, Claudius, and Nero by Cornelius Tacitus (c. 100 AD; Roman senator and historian)

The Annals by Roman historian and senator Tacitus is a history of the Roman Empire from the reign of Tiberius to that of Nero, the years AD 14–68.

O T H E R

The Imperial Cult in the Latin West, Studies in the Ruler Cult of the Western Provinces of the Roman Empire, Part 1-3 Duncan Fishwick

The Roman Revolution Ronald Syme

The Roman Triumph Mary Beard

Rome's Greatest Defeat: Massacre in the Teutoburg Forest Adrian Murdoch (2006)

Pagans and Christians by Robin Lane Fox (1986)

R E F E R E N C E

A Dictionary of the Roman Empire by Matthew Bunson (1995)

The extraordinarily rich cultural legacy of the Roman world has had a profound affect world civilization. Roman achievements in architecture, law, politics, literature, war, and philosophy serve as the foundation of modern Western society. Now, for the first time in an A-Z format, A Dictionary of the Roman Empire assembles the people, places, events, and ideas of this remarkable period in one easy-to-use source. With over 1,900 entries covering more than five hundred years of Roman history, from Julius Caesar and the Gallic Wars (59-51 B.C.) to the fall of Romulus Augustus, the last Roman emperor (476 A.D.), this accessible guide provides quick reference to one of the most studied periods of all antiquity.

The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome (1995)

More than fifteen centuries after its fall, the Roman Empire remains one of the most formative influences on the history of Europe. Its physical remains dot the landscape from Scotland to Syria. Its cities are still the great metropolises of the continent. Its law and institutions have shaped modern practice, and its ideal of a united Europe has haunted politicians ever since. Fully illustrated and featuring more than sixty full- colour maps, this atlas traces the rise and fall of the first great multinational state. It looks at its provinces and cities, its trade and economy, its armies and frontier defences; follows its foreign ward and internecine struggles; and charts its transformation into a Christian theocracy and its fall in 476.

Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome (1998)

Describes the people, places, and events of Ancient Rome, describing travel, trade, language, religion, economy, industry and more, from the days of the Republic through the High Empire period and beyond.

#roman empire #books #history #military history #ancient history #nonfiction #ancient rome #julius caesar #history books #roman republic

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