History of Rome

Description

In this, his most ambitious and comprehensive book to date, Michael Grant recreates the evolution of this astonishing city and community, describing in detail the individuals and events that made Rome a political and cultural conqueror and defining the circumstances of her eventual decline and fall. He portrays not only the cynosures of the Roman world, such as Caesar, Augustus, and Constantine, but also lesser-known figures, reassessing their impact upon both the character of Roman society and the development of her empire. Rome's artistic achievements, especially in literature, architecture, sculpture, and painting, are discussed in depth and the economic and social conditions of hfe for the ordinary subjects of the empire fully explained. The changing relationships between Rome and the peoples of its provinces are closely examined, as is the ultimate disintegration or transformation of the western empire. This is a unique book, encompassing all aspects of one of the most fabulously rich and diverse civilizations in history. Contents......Page 7 List of Maps and Tables......Page 18 Foreword......Page 20 I. Etruscan Rome......Page 27 1. Rome and Etruria......Page 29 2. The Etruscan Monarchy......Page 42 II. The Unity of Italy and Rome......Page 65 3. The Unification of Italy......Page 67 4. The Class Struggle......Page 91 III. Rome Against Carthage......Page 109 5. First Wars Against Foreign Powers......Page 111 6. The Changing Roman World......Page 125 7. The Invasion by Hannibal......Page 135 IV. The Imperial Republic......Page 153 8. "Our Sea"......Page 155 9. The New Society......Page 170 V. The Fall of the Republic......Page 191 10. Reform and War in Italy......Page 193 11. Reaction and Breakdown......Page 211 VI. Caesar and Augustus......Page 235 12. Caesar......Page 237 13. Augustus......Page 266 VII. The Imperial Peace......Page 299 14. The Inheritors of Empire......Page 301 15. Imperial Society......Page 329 16. The Jews, Jesus, and Paul......Page 358 VIII. Towards A New World......Page 375 17. Collapse and Recovery......Page 377 18. The Climax of the Pagan Empire......Page 401 19. The Supreme State and Church......Page 419 IX. The Transformation of Europe......Page 445 20. The Fall of Western Empire......Page 447 21. The Fatal Disunities......Page 461 22. The Aftermath......Page 486 Epilogue......Page 495 Notes......Page 499 Ancient Sources......Page 532 Bibliography......Page 535 Table of Dates*......Page 540 Index......Page 547 Back Cover......Page 3