Category: Roman Empire
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How Rome Fell: Death of a Superpower (2009) by Adrian Goldsworthy
Eighteenth-century British historian Edward Gibbon famously wrote, “The decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness.” More than two centuries and countless scholarly debates later, British historian Alexander Demandt wryly observed, “The only thing historians agree on about the fall of the Roman Empire is that it happened.” Indeed, yet another…
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The World of Late Antiquity (1971) by Peter Brown
At the heart of The World of Late Antiquity by Peter Brown (1971) is a focus on continuity. Rather than seeing a sharp break between classical antiquity and the medieval world, Brown emphasizes the persistence and evolution of institutions, ideas, and social structures. The Roman state did not simply vanish; it mutated, most notably in…
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The Emperor and the Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 235 (1996) by J.B. Campbell
J. B. Campbell’s The Emperor and the Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 235 remains one of the most important modern studies of the Roman imperial military system and its relationship to political authority. Published in 1996, the book is not merely a work of military history in the traditional sense – focused on battles, tactics, or…
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The Imperial Roman Army (1969) by Graham Webster
First published in 1969, Graham Webster’s The Imperial Roman Army was one of the first modern accounts of the Roman military, charting its evolution from the Republican period through to the Empire at its height. Webster’s work has long stood as a staple introduction for students and enthusiasts alike, praised for its clarity and archaeological…
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The Imperial Roman Army (1989) by Yann Le Bohec
Yann Le Bohec’s “The Imperial Roman Army” (1989) is a sweeping, detailed, and authoritative account of the Roman military during the Empire’s most formative and enduring centuries. Originally published in French and translated into English in 1994, the book quickly became a cornerstone of Roman military studies. Rather than focusing solely on battlefield exploits or…
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The Making of the Roman Army: From Republic to Empire (1984) by Lawrence Keppie
Lawrence Keppie’s “The Making of the Roman Army: From Republic to Empire” (1984) is an informed, well-structured study of one of the most formidable and influential military institutions in world history. From the rudimentary levy-based militias of early Rome to the professionalized, standing legions of the imperial era, Keppie traces the evolution of the Roman…
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The Climax of Rome (1968) by Michael Grant
Michael Grant is a remarkably prolific and engaging historian of the ancient world, known for his ability to write clearly and forcefully, making complex historical periods accessible to a broad audience. In The Climax of Rome, Grant offers a vivid and comprehensive account of the Roman Empire during the tumultuous third century AD—a period often…
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The Fall of the Roman Empire (1976) by Michael Grant
Michael Grant may not be the most revered classical scholar of the late twentieth century, but he just may be the most prolific. Mr. Grant published on an astonishing scale, especially for a man who spent most of his adult life in the diplomatic service of his country, Great Britain. This piece, underscoring the many…
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Augustus: The Life of Rome’s First Emperor (2006) by Anthony Everitt
The trouble with Anthony Everitt is that he makes reading books on ancient history by other qualified, contemporary authors seem so, well, dry and ancient. He possesses a unique ability to put figures like Cicero and Octavian into situations and terms that are remarkably relatable to typical twenty-first century westerners. Long dead aristocrats from a…
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