The story of Ancient Rome often polarises 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 new 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 set-backs and what the Romans learned on their
way to Imperial rule and final disintegration.
THE AUTHOR Patricia Southern’s interest in Roman history began very early, fostered by books and the
wonderful epic films that they don't make any more. This obsession with the Romans has
never waned, so whilst 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 10 books on
Roman history and contributed numerous articles on Roman history to the BBC History
website and the academic Roman studies journal Britannia. In addition, for almost 20
years she was chief tour guide for the University of Durham’s Roman summer school,
taking 1000s of students and tourists around the Roman remains of Northern England.
She lives in Northumberland.
| Publication:
| October 2009
| Extent:
| 480 pages
|
| Availability:
| In stock
| Images:
| 80 b/w (69 col)
|
| Format:
| 234 x 156 mm
| Book site:
| Available Soon
|
| Binding:
| Hardback
| Downloads:
| Available Soon
|
COVER PRICE £ 20.00
Shipping weight 1.00 kg
|