Product Description

From Romulus to Augustus, the Chronicle of the Roman Republic examines the succession of leaders who took Rome from a small fortified hilltop to the greatest empire of antiquity. Here we meet the builders of Rome - superstitious, brutal and utterly uncompromising, but often men of great honour and principle. They could stoop to the depths of depravity, but could also be unflinchingly, even suicidally, brave. This book describes 56 of the foremost Romans of the Republic, spanning the centuries from its birth to its bloody death. In this history we see the best and worst of the Roman elite. Some, such as Tarquin the Proud, Julius Caesar and Pompey are well known. Others are less familiar - men like Licinius Crassus, a kind father and a loving husband, who captured slaves in their thousands. Or Cato the Censor, upright and incorruptible, xenophobic and misogynistic. This is a highly readable and authoritative account, ideal for home or school reference, and as a companion to the bestselling Chronicle of the Roman Emperors.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34891 in Books
• Published on: 2003-04-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

About the Author
Philip Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman history from St John's College, Oxford, and is the author of a forthcoming scholarly book on the political sociology of Rome.

Customer Reviews

Very good presentation of the early Roman leaders
This book is a great introduction for those seeking to gain some insight into who the leaders of the early Roman republic were. each person is given from one to a couple of pages where their achievements and failures are presented. The book conatins many illustrations, and several sidebars with information about life in the Roman republic.

A Brilliant Introduction to the Roman Republic
The early history of Rome was a big mystery to me. I could recall some of the names and deeds of the early mythological kings, but when it came to the Early Republic I was at a loss when the subject wasn't about Lucius Brutus or Cincinnatus. This book helped introduce me to the key players of this period.

Rather than being a narrative history of the Republic, this book covers the biographies of some of the great and lesser known politicians and generals of the years 753 BC to 31 BC. It starts with a look at Rome's founder, the mythological hero Romulus, and ends with a look at Octavian, the man who would become Emperor Augustus.

The book is divided into four sections - The Age of Kings 753-509 BC; Founders of the Republic 509-264 BC; Romans of the Mid-Republic 264-100 BC; and the Last Republicans 100-31 BC. Each section covers the lives of some of the notables of the age, for instance in the Founders of the Republic we have 10 biographies including a look at the lives of Horatius Cocles, Coriolanus, and Appius Claudius the Decemvir.

Every section is beautifully illustrated and packed with information. Charts give you the basic facts about a certain individual's family, achievements etc, a running timeline at the bottom of the page allows you to put these lives into the context of the period, while maps, photographs and illustrations adorn the pages. There are 293 illustrations in all, and they cover things such as portraits, art and archaeology, and diagrams and battle plans.

As well as the biographical sections, there also other shorter sections that include information on daily life in the Republic. These include a look at Gladiators, Vestal Virgins, Roman Roads, The Twelve Tables, Romans Farms and so on. These shorter sections give you a basic understanding of the Republic's society and culture.

All in all this a fascinating, well written, copiously illustrated, and well edited introduction to the Republic. Interested amateurs will find this a brilliant introduction to the period, while dedicated Romanophiles will no doubt find this book an excellent supplement and reference guide to the Classical accounts. Highly Recommended!

The most engaging book for ancient rome
Told in a really nice way and helps you imagine what these people might have been like. Really good read.