The Historians of Ancient Rome

By PolybiusPliny the YoungerAppian, et al.

Book Overview

The Historians of Ancient Rome is the most comprehensive collection of ancient sources for Roman history available in a single English volume. After a general introduction on Roman historical writing, extensive passages from more than a dozen Greek and Roman historians and biographers trace the history of Rome over more than a thousand years: from the city's foundation by Romulus in 753 B.C.E. (Livy) to Constantine's edict of toleration for Christianity (313 C.E.)

Selections include many of the high points of Rome's climb to world domination: the defeat of Hannibal; the conquest of Greece and the eastern Mediterranean; the defeat of the Catilinarian conspirators; Caesar's conquest of Gaul; Antony and Cleopatra; the establishment of the Empire by Caesar Augustus; and the "Roman Peace" under Hadrian and long excepts from Tacitus record the horrors of the reigns of Tiberius and Nero.

The book is intended both for undergraduate courses in Roman history and for the general reader interested in approaching the Romans through the original historical sources. Hence, excerpts of Polybius, Livy, and Tacitus are extensive enough to be read with pleasure as an exciting narrative. Now in its third edition, changes to this thoroughly revised volume include a new timeline, translations of several key inscriptions such as the Twelve Tables, and additional readings. This is a book which no student of Roman history should be without.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415527163
• ISBN13: 9780415527163
• Release Date: September 2012
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 586 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Great!

Book was exactly as described and I received it quickly, will definately do business with again.

Good book, overpriced.

(Note: Have not yet finished all sections of the book.) I am new to the study of Roman history and historiography. This is a good intro, but one would definitely need follow-up to really flush out the work of any single historian. (OK, it's an anthology.) The section on Caesar was thin, I felt, and does not really convey why he is regarded as a great Roman thinker. Still, Mellor's input as editor is very helpful, insightful, a good basic guide. But why on earth does this text cost $30?!! (as a paperback?!) What kind of racket is academic publishing!