ANCIENT ROME: The Rise and Fall of an Empire 753BC - AD476

The story of the greatest empire the world has ever known from its earliest origins to its disintegration in AD 476.

Covers the 'long' history of Ancient Rome 753BC-AD476, many histories of 'Ancient Rome' actually only cover a fraction of the period.

Author is an acknowledged expert on Ancient Rome and has written 10 books on the subject.

The only up-to-date, illustrated, one volume narrative history of Ancient Rome available.

The perfect introduction for the general reader to the history of Ancient Rome.

The story of Ancient Rome often polarizes opinion: for accusers, the Romans were mean and grasping imperialists with murderous megalomaniac tendencies and the world was well rid of them, but for passionate advocates the Romans were keen administrators and construction engineers who provided the greatest and most long-lasting civilizing force in history. It took a very long time - over thirteen centuries - for the Roman Empire to grow and then fragment. The Romans did not have it their own way all the time. They were defeated on their own ground several times by Hannibal and - albeit temporarily - by Cleopatra in Egypt, Boudica in Britain, and Zenobia in Syria.

Patricia Southern's masterly new book narrates the history of Rome from a settlement of primitive huts to a sophisticated city ruling and then losing an Empire, the lives of such towering figures as Julius Caesar, Augustus, Caligula and Nero, the successes and setbacks and what the Romans learned on their way to Imperial rule and final disintegration.

REVIEWS

"...a lucid book...RECOMMENDED." CHOICE, 12/2010