Product Summary
Roman civilization is one of the bases of the modern world. The extraordinary achievements of Rome—political, military, cultural—and its dramatic, thousand-year history, during which it grew to dominate the whole world of classical antiquity before being overwhelmed in its turn, have been continuously studied and variously interpreted ever since. Rome has been commended for its administration, praised for its system of justice, admired for its arts and technology, extolled for its "virtues," such as love of freedom, independence, discipline, courage, and austerity. It has also been condemned for its aggression, its exploitation of slaves, its excesses, and the decadence that led to its decline. But such was Rome's impact, and so remarkable was the empire it built, that its influence has never ceased to be felt. Whether as a model of political power, of moral behavior, or of social control, Rome with its splendors and triumphs, its failings and disasters, is an inexhaustible quarry for the lessons that its history offers and the legacies that it has bequeathed.
Karl Christ conveys the essence of this vital Roman tradition with a coherence and compact precision that few scholars, if any, have been able to achieve. Following the main chronological developments of Roman history, he combines the necessary minimum of political and military narrative with lucid social and economic analysis, separate chapters of Roman ways of life and law, and wide-ranging coverage of literature, art, science, technology, and religion.
With maps and photographs as well as a specially prepared bibliography for further reading, The Romans is the most up-to-date, authoritative and comprehensive single-volume introduction to the history and civilization of Ancient Rome.
First Impressions
I must be forthright in stating that I did not choose to read this book, rather, it was part of the reading material for my Rome & Early Christianity course. Thankfully it was intriguing!
For all who are uninitiated in Rome's extensive history (such as myself), The Romans serves as an excellent introductory text.
Karl Christ excels at providing a solid overview of Rome. From its humble beginning as a tiny Etruscan offshoot of farmers, shepherds and craftsmen to the eventual military might that conquered much of the ancient world, Christ takes the reader along every step of the way.
My only complaint with the text is that Karl fails to provide the reader with a glossary. Unless you are already familiar with the politics, magistrates and obscure titles that existed in ancient Rome ("Quaestor? What the hell is a quaestor!?"), you may find your lexicon to be severely lacking; thankfully, there is nothing that a Google search or two cannot remedy. Once the language hurdle is overcome, the reading experience becomes considerably more pleasant.
Perhaps most useful is Christ's ability to explain how a small agrarian community organized itself into a monarchy, supplanted itself with a republic, and then was overcome, yet again, by autocratic rule.
Of course, the author also provides a great detail of information pertaining to the three main periods of Roman history (Kingdom, Republic, Empire), all the while illuminating every aspect of a Roman citizen: their religions, political views, social mores, educational system and military servitude.
While certainly not a light read (historical non-fiction rarely is), The Romans serves as a more than sufficient introduction to the world of Roman history.
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