From the Gracchi to Nero: a history of Rome from 133 B.C. to A.D. 68 by H. H. Scullard

From the Gracchi to Nero: a history of Rome from 133 B.C. to A.D. 68 by H. H. Scullard is an excellent history of Rome from the middle of the republican era through the Julio-Claudian emperors. Not only is there a discussion of the political and military aspects of the Republic and empire there's also material on literature and art. The book is often used as a textbook but even if you're just interested in the topic it's still good, not dry.

Recommended!

Is available through Abebooks.

Tiberius Caesar by G. P. Baker

Tiberius Caesar by G. P. Baker was originally published in 1928 and recently republished. It is a sympathetic biography of the first "bad" Roman Emperor. The book is based on primary sources. There isn't much use made of coinage or archaeology. The book makes a decent case. A modern introduction putting the book in context would have been useful. I am rather surprised one was not included.

Recommended.

Is available through Abebooks.



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Byzantium: the Empire of New Rome by Cyril Mango

Byzantium: the Empire of New Rome by Cyril Mango is a social history of Byzantium published in the 1970s' recently reprinted. Actually it may be overstating it to call it a social history it's more like a history of the intelligentsia since there aren't really sources for the common people. There's basically no military or political history but inexplicably there is a list of the emperor's as an appendix. The book mostly talks about forms of literature particularly religious texts some of this is actually interesting they did their best to force Greek and Roman mythical events into the old testament. There's no discussion of the empire collapse.

If you're interested in the intelligentsia's world view this is for you.

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Edward Gibbon, the Historian by J.W. Swain

Edward Gibbon, the Historian by J.W. Swain is an OK if rushed biography of Edward Gibbon the historian who was the author of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. There actually isn't much here about the book itself most of the text has to do with various influences on Gibbon's life particularly religion, politics and philosophical outlook. the author does eventually admit that for modern historians the Decline is more interesting for its literary aspects them for its historical analysis.

Good but to short.

Is available through Abebooks.

Ancient Rome by Christopher S. Mackay

Ancient Rome by Christopher S. Mackay single volume from the movement of people's that would become Roman through the fall of the Western Roman Empire in fifth century A.D. This is a monumental task however the author manages to accomplishe it.

He points out in his introduction that he could qualify just about every statement which would become aggravating. In the first 40 pages he does this seemingly for every sentence which had me quite concerned about the rest of the book but when we actually got through the second century B.C. things calm down and the text is quite readable.

There are one or two innovations such as instead of simply referring to the Emperor Augustus as Octavian for his early life the author gives him an intermediate name for part of the narrative. This is irritating since no one else to my knowledge has done this before. Which makes it rather confusing. As the subtitle suggests this is a political and military history which I quite enjoyed we get much more then the list of Emperor's after the first 12 which many books today do. He only really touches on social history where it causes problems in the political or military sphere such as changes in landholding which forced soldiers to be more interested in supporting their general. The General needed to help them receive compensation after campaigning which made them loyal to him personally instead of to the Republic.

There is a substantial list of books for further reading. This is a terrific introductory work and is very highly recommended.




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