The World of RomeA brilliant survey of the conquests and culture of the Romans from 133 BC to AD 217—an era of unparalleled power when Rome made its greatest impact on the world. In this fresh, original interpretation of Roman history and culture, a distinguished classical scholar surveys the people and events that shaped the Roman Empire—the greatest structure of imperial government the world has ever known. Michael Grant re-creates the life and the era with its vital mixture of Italian, Greek, Near Eastern, and barbarian influences and its startling incongruities—citizen and slave, art and astrology, circus and senate, decadence and devoted patriotism. He portrays the dynamic culture which generated Roman literature, philosophy, and law, and shows how imperial administration and ideas of citizenship became the basis for the future nation-states in the western provinces. He sums up his fascinating study with a salute to Rome, the paterfamilias of the western world. “Scholarly and exciting . . . After reading this illuminating account of the prevalent conditions, beliefs and superstitions, we feel that we know how the ordinary people really lived and felt.”—New York Times Book Review With more than 150 illustrations. |
Contents
FOREWORD | xvii |
STATE AND SOCIETY | 39 |
CITIZENS OF ROME | 87 |
Copyright | |
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1st century 1st century A.D. 2nd century A.D. achieved Aelius Aristides Alinari amphitheater ancient Antoninus Antoninus Pius Arch architecture army artists Asia Minor astrology Augustan Augustus Augustus's bronze bust Caesar Catullus Christian Cicero cities citizens civil classical Claudius coinage coins Commodus cult death divine earlier early eastern Egypt emperor Epictetus Fate Forum Gaul gods Greece Greek Hadrian Hellenized houses human Ibid imperial Italian Italy Jewish Jews later Latin Mansell Collection Marcus Aurelius Mediterranean ments Mithraism Mithras Museo Museum Nero official origin pagan painting perhaps philosopher Photo Plate Plin Pliny Pliny the elder poet Pompeii portrait provinces Reconstruction reign reliefs religion religious Republic Republican Roman empire Roman world Rome Rome's rulers sculpture second century A.D. seemed Senate Seneca Severus shrines slaves statue Stoic successors Syrian Tacitus Temple third century A.D. Tiberius tion traditional Trajan Vespasian Virgil whole worship writes