There are countless Rome History courses, tutorials, articles available online, but for some, having a book is still a necessity to learn. This is an up-to-date list of recommended books.
- 1. SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome (2016)
- 2. The History of Rome, Books 1-5 (Bk. 1-5) (2006)
- 3. Ancient Rome: A New History (Third Edition) (2018)
- 4. Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of An Empire (2007)
- 5. The History of Rome in 12 Buildings: A Travel Companion to the Hidden Secrets of The Eternal City (2018)
- 6. Livy: The Early History of Rome, Books I-V (Penguin Classics) (Bks. 1-5) (2002)
- 7. Rome: The Biography of a City (1988)
- 8. The History of Rome (Cambridge Library Collection – Classics) (2010)
- 9. Ancient Rome: A Military and Political History (2007)
- 10. Stories from the History of Rome (Yesterday’s Classics) (2008)
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1. SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome (2016)
New York Times Bestseller A New York Times Notable Book Named one of the Best Books of the Year by the Wall Street Journal, the Economist,Foreign Affairs, and Kirkus Reviews Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award (Nonfiction) Shortlisted for the Cundill Prize in Historical Literature Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize (History) A San Francisco Chronicle Holiday Gift Guide Selection A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice SelectionA sweeping, “magisterial” history of the Roman Empire from one of our foremost classicists shows why Rome remains “relevant to people many centuries later”…
2. The History of Rome, Books 1-5 (Bk. 1-5) (2006)
In addition to Valerie Warrior’s crisp, fluent translation of the first five books of Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita, this edition features a general introduction to Livy and his work, extensive foot-of-the-page notes offering essential contextual information, and a chronology of events. Three appendices–on the genealogies of the most prominent political figures in the early Republic, Livy’s relationship with Augustus, and Livy’s treatment of religion–offer additional insight into the author and the early history of Rome….
3. Ancient Rome: A New History (Third Edition) (2018)
The most historical coverage and images, now more student friendly Praised for its beautiful visuals, use of primary sources, and coverage into the early medieval period, Ancient Rome, Third Edition now includes a more student-friendly approach. With new chapter-opening maps, new family trees, more subheadings, and even more color images, the text is certain to increase student engagement. A new People of Ancient Rome online resource offers the best guidance for understanding the context of primary sources. 220…
4. Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of An Empire (2007)
Ancient Rome is the story of the greatest empire the world has ever known. Focusing on six turning points in Roman history, Simon Baker’s absorbing narrative charts the rise and fall of a political machine unmatched in its brutality, genius, and lust for power. From the conquest of the Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC to the destruction of the empire at the hands of barbarian invaders 700 years later, we discover the pivotal episodes in Roman history. At the heart of this account are some of the most powerful rulers in history—men like Julius Caesar, Augustus, Nero, and…
5. The History of Rome in 12 Buildings: A Travel Companion to the Hidden Secrets of The Eternal City (2018)
Any travel guide to Rome will urge visitors to go the Colosseum, but none answers a simple question: Why is it called the Colosseum?The History of Rome in 12 Buildings: A Travel Companion to the Hidden Secrets of The Eternal City is compelling, concise, and fun, and takes you behind the iconic buildings to reveal the hidden stories of the people that forged the Roman Empire.Typical travel guides provide torrents of information but deny their readers depth and perspective. In this gap is the really good stuff–the stories that make the buildings come alive and…
6. Livy: The Early History of Rome, Books I-V (Penguin Classics) (Bks. 1-5) (2002)
With stylistic brilliance and historical imagination, the first five books of Livy’s monumental history of Rome record events from the foundation of Rome through the history of the seven kings, the establishment of the Republic and its internal struggles, up to Rome’s recovery after the fierce Gallic invasion of the fourth century B.C. Livy vividly depicts the great characters, legends, and tales, including the story of Romulus and Remus. Reprinting Robert Ogilvie’s lucid 1971 introduction, this highly regarded edition now boasts a new preface, examining the text in light of recent Livy scholarship, informative…
7. Rome: The Biography of a City (1988)
Traces the history of Rome from the time of the Etruscans to Mussolini, looks at the artists, intellectuals, and religious and political leaders who have shaped its destiny, and examines Roman society…
8. The History of Rome (Cambridge Library Collection – Classics) (2010)
The classical historian Theodor Mommsen (1817-1903) published his History of Rome between 1854 and 1856. His work was received with widespread acclaim by the scholarly community and the reading public. In 1902, in recognition of this monumental work, Mommsen was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and acclaimed as ‘the greatest living master of the art of historical writing’. Mommsen rejected traditional Enlightenment accounts, which glorified ancient Rome; instead, guided by a new and rigorous criticism of sources, he began the demythologisation of Roman history. In a vivacious and engaging style, using…
9. Ancient Rome: A Military and Political History (2007)
Ancient Rome is a concise, comprehensive political and military history of the Roman Republic and Empire, from the origins of the city in the Italian Iron Age, until the deposition of the last emperor in 476 AD. Christopher Mackay describes how military events undermined the political institutions of the Republic, how the Empire was administered and controlled, why Christianity was adopted as the state religion under Constantine, and how military and economic pressures of the third and fourth centuries eventually led to the downfall of the Western empire. Illustrated with relevant art works from Rome’s long history,…
10. Stories from the History of Rome (Yesterday’s Classics) (2008)
Stories from the history of Rome for the youngest children, selected with a view to illustrating the two sentiments most characteristic of Roman life: duty to parents and duty to country. Suitable for ages 8 and up….
Best Rome History Books Everyone Should Read
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Genesis and download some rome history books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
In Truth: A History of Lies from Ancient Rome to Modern America
Author(s): Matthew Fraser
ID: 2500769, Publisher: Prometheus Books, Year: 2020, Size: 1 Mb, Format: epub
Alaric the Goth: An Outsider's History of the Fall of Rome
Author(s): Douglas Boin
ID: 2535311, Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, Year: 2020, Size: 13 Mb, Format: epub
Polybius: Experience and the Lessons of History
Author(s): Daniel Moore
ID: 2564493, Publisher: Brill, Year: 2020, Size: 754 Kb, Format: pdf
Please note that this booklist is not final. Some books are absolutely chart-busters according to Los Angeles Times, others are composed by unknown authors. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant links you could recommend? Leave a comment if you have any feedback on the list.