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 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.

About the Author
Patricia Southern is an acknowledged expert on the history of ancient Rome. While working full time as a librarian she studied for a BA degree in Ancient History with the external department of the University of London, and for an MPhil in Roman Frontier Studies at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, where she was Librarian of the Archaeology Department for many years. She has written many books on Roman history and contributed numerous articles on Roman history to the BBC History website and the academic Roman studies journal Britannia.

Reviews
From the author of Roman Britain:'Comprehensive and accessible' British Museum Magazine



Book Information
ISBN 9781445619781
Author Patricia Southern
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Amberley Publishing
Publisher Amberley Publishing
Weight(grams) 306g