SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome matters. Its history of empire, conquest, cruelty, and excess is something against which we still judge ourselves. Its myths and stories – from Romulus and Remus to the rape of Lucretia – still strike a chord with us. And its debates about citizenship, security, and the rights of the individual still influence our own debates on civil liberty today. This title provides a new look at Roman history from one of the world’s foremost classicists. It explores not only how Rome grew from an insignificant village in central Italy to a power that controlled territory from Spain to Syria, but also how the Romans thought about themselves and their achievements, and why they are still important to us.