The Romans and their World: A Short Introduction - Softcover

Campbell, Brian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0300208642 ISBN 13: 9780300208641

Publisher: Yale University Press, 2014

Synopsis

This one-volume history of the Roman world begins with the early years of the republic and carries the story nearly a thousand years forward to 476, when Romulus Augustus, the last Western Roman emperor, was deposed. Brian Campbell, respected scholar and teacher, presents a fascinating and wide-ranging introduction to Rome, drawing on an array of ancient sources and covering topics of interest to readers with little prior background in Roman history as well as those already familiar with the great civilization.

Campbell explores several themes, including the fall of the republic, the impact of colorful and diverse emperors on imperial politics, the administrative structure of empire, and the Roman army and how warfare affected the Roman world. He also surveys cultural and social life, including religion and the rise of Christianity. Generously enhanced with maps and illustrations, this book is a rich and inspiring account of a mighty civilization and the citizens who made it so.

About this title

About the Author:

Brian Campbell is professor of Roman history, Queen's University, Belfast. He lives in Belfast, UK.

Review:

“[A] lucid new survey of Roman history.”—Adam Kirsch, New Yorker (Adam Kirsch The New Yorker)

"Brian Campbell gives a sweeping account of Roman history from the beginning to the fall of the last western Emperor in CE 476, while incorporating a great deal of clearly presented detail and discussion, with quotations of key literary and documentary sources, and excellent illustrations, and all in a quite brief compass. The book is a real achievement, and should be widely used."—Sir Fergus Millar (Sir Fergus Millar)

Selected by Choice as an Outstanding Academic Title for 2012 (Outstanding Academic Title Choice 2013-05-22)

“.....a succinct yet thorough introduction to the Romans – and their world.”—Ross Leckie, Country Life (Ross Leckie Country Life 2012-01-11)

“One of the great joys of his unfailingly readable account is the readiness with which it returns to the Roman record, drawing on ancient sources to give a lively and immediate feel for Roman life and culture.”—Michael Kerrigan, The Scotsman (Michael Kerrigan The Scotsman 2012-01-07)

“...a clear narrative, well illustrated with pictures and maps, that introduces us to the broad sweep of Roman history in the traditional sense.”—Peter Jones, BBC History Magazine (Peter Jones BBC History Magazine 2012-03-01)

"[Campbell] masterfully discusses military affairs (as expected from this scholar) . . . Excellent translations of ancient sources enliven the text. . . . rare will be the scholar who also does not learn from Campbell."—P.B. Harvey Jr., Choice (P.B. Harvey Jr. Choice)

About this edition

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0300208642
• ISBN 13: 9780300208641
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304