The history of Rome began in the eighth century B.C. when several clusters of villages on the hills overlooking the Tiber River merged into a single city and established a common meeting place known as the forum. A more colorful account describes how the city of Rome was founded by legendary twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, who were raised by a she-wolf. The Story of Ancient Rome chronicles in colorful detail both the documented history and the legends of the city that arose from humble beginnings to become the center of an immense empire encompassing two million square miles and spanning three continents.

Roman civilization lasted a thousand years, and remains an essential part of western culture today. The Story of Ancient Rome traces the history of the mighty Romans from the early days of the Latins -  focusing upon the role of the Etruscans who ruled Rome them for several hundred years, the rise and evolution of the republican form of government after the Etruscan kings were overthrown, the causes and strategies of the Punic Wars, the military coups and political ambitions of Julius Caesar, the reign of Augustus and the formation of an imperial bureaucracy , the golden age of peace and prosperity, the reigns of the later emperors, growing threat of the barbarians, and the decline and fall of the empire.

The Romans were skilled organizers who dealt with each new problem with practicality and efficiency. The Story of Ancient Rome describes their many feats of engineering – roads, aqueducts, canals, bridges, baths, sewer systems, temples, amphitheaters, basilicas, and castle-like fortifications. It presents a lively portrait of the highly-disciplined and invincible army that made Rome the great power that it was, and of the generals and emperors who gave the orders. It examines the creation and organization of the fine-tuned bureaucracy that maintained law and order throughout the empire and analyzes the legal system and code of justice that assured that every citizen of Rome would be treated fairly. And it shows how the Romans assimilated the ideas of other cultures, particularly the Greeks, enriching their own civilization in the areas of religion, arts and literature, philosophy, theater, and government. 

This comprehensive volume contains a detailed timeline and numerous maps and charts. Throughout the text, the student’s attention is drawn to Latin terms and expressions that have entered the English language. Each chapter concludes with review questions, ideas for discussion, and suggestions for research and other projects.

Table of Contents

Part I – The Republic
1. Early Rome
2. The Republican Form of Government
3. Rome Begins to Expand
4. The Punic Wars
5. The Religion of the Romans

Part II – The System Breaks Down
6. A New Social Order
7. Bread and Circuses
8. The Roman Army
9. Caesar!
10. Roads and Arches

Part III – The Empire
11. The Government is Transformed
12. Arts and Entertainment
13. Daily Life During the Pax Romana
14. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
15. The Legacy of Rome