Ancient Rome and the Roman Empire - Hardcover

Michael Kerrigan

3.73

15 ratings by Goodreads

9780789481535: Ancient Rome and the Roman Empire

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0789481537 ISBN 13: 9780789481535

Publisher: Dk Pub, 2001

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

Ancient Rome and the Roman Empire tells the enthralling story of how an insignificant settlement came to be a preeminent metropolis, and how a tribe of impoverished shepherds came to rule the world. Having learned to fight for their very survival, the Romans were soon waging war as a way of life: eventually, all of Italy was under their command. Across Western Europe, North Africa, and the Near East, the legions carried Roman culture wherever they went, building roads and cities and establishing law and order. Yet alongside the civic dignity, the awesome engineering achievements, and stunning works of art, a more sinister side of Roman culture could be seen in the arena at the Colosseum, where gladiators fought to the death. Whatever its flaws, the world the Romans built seemed strong and stable enough to last forever: in the end, though, the eternal city would prove all too mortal. It was another unlikely race of shepherds -- nomadic tribesmen far out on the Central Asian steppe -- which set in motion the cataclysmic sequence of events that led to Rome's decline and fall. As this fascinating history shows, the legacy the Romans left behind them would live on to influence almost every aspect of our lives in the modern world.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Michael Kerrigan is a freelance writer based in Edinburgh, specializing in the literature and history of classical Greece. He has written extensively about almost every aspect of archaeology, ancient history, and culture, covering subjects ranging from the rise of the Greek city state to the fall of Rome, from the organization of the Assyrian army to Persian mythology and prehistoric agriculture. He has contributed articles to various periodicals and newspapers, including contributions on classical Athens and on the Celts for the series Lost Civilizations, and on the rise of cities for the series History of the World. He is currently working on a history of torture from classical times to the present day.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.