The Ancient Roman City (Ancient Society and History) [Paperback]

John E. Stambaugh (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0801836921 | ISBN-13: 978-0801836923 | Publication Date: May 1, 1988

To walk through Rome today is to find the past made present at nearly every corner. For John Stambaugh, this continuity of fabric, form, and function affords an extraordinary view of the ancient city, the experience of its inhabitants, and the Roman way of life. Exploring ancient Rome as both a physical and social environment, he has written the first extended survey of its development in English - and a vivid "guidebook into the living past of one of the most emphatically urban cities the world has ever known."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Stambaugh aims at a comprehensive view of urban life in the ancient Roman world. Offering an overview of political history, liberally seasoned with a survey of the architectural development of Rome, he incorporates a catalog of the best known statesmen and authors; these figures are later invoked for the light they can shed on urban values and perspectives. The book's latter half provides a panorama of various aspects of Roman city living. The topography and the city's architecture provide a distinctive emphasis for an introductory account much like L. Richardson Jr.'s Pompeii: An Architectural History , which joins Stambaugh's in the new series "Ancient History and Society." James S. Ruebel, Iowa State Univ., Ames
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

" The Ancient Roman City is so full of novel facts, useful synthesis and insightful summations, that the non-specialist is frequently drawn to dwell on the footnotes, track down the intriguing references and generally to reflect on what has been read... Likely to become a standard reference work for undergraduate and high school libraries, a popular supplementary textbook, and a well-worn occupant of that handy shelf near your desk.

(Classical World )

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press (May 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801836921
• ISBN-13: 978-0801836923
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,127 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #94 in Books > History > Ancient > Rome

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Both comprehensive and accessible, February 24, 2005

By 

SPQR Blues "Klio" (East coast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ancient Roman City (Ancient Society and History) (Paperback)

When I first read this book some years ago, as a classics major and student of ancient domestic architecture, I found it easy to read and digest. The caveat for this review is that it has been a few years since I last referenced the book--although I always make certain it's handy on my library shelf. It walks the line between detailed scholarship and accessibility, which led me at first to wonder how it could be both a pleasant read and so informative. It helps that this is a topic of special interest for me, but I remember it so fondly that I still think of it as a model for writing on the topic. I recommend it as an introduction or overview, and direct readers to the footnotes and sources for further reading and study.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a fine, well-written synthesis, June 3, 2006

By 

anonymous - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ancient Roman City (Ancient Society and History) (Paperback)

Stambaugh's decision to begin with a political overview of the city's development and then to focus individual chapters on particular topics related to urban history is an excellent solution to presenting his material. This book works very well in undergraduate courses on ancient history, and I'm sure would be a very satisfying read for anyone with a targeted interest in the city of Rome.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Information Trapped in an Editor's Nightmare, May 8, 2004

By 

Hippolytos (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Ancient Roman City (Ancient Society and History) (Paperback)

The bottom line is that Stambaugh offers up a lot of information in a reasonably small volume, making it interesting and accessible. The only fault, besides an overtly unapologetic Romanocentric view, is that his prose style is somewhat redundant and pejorative. With each chapter he lays out the information he plans to present, and then drifts back and forth between examples. At the end of each chapter he presents a succint and very readable summary of his findings. That is, essentially all of the information you need is available in approximately one-tenth of the text. Nevertheless, this is a fascinating account of the architecture and engineering of the ancient city of Rome; most interesting are his accounts of the representation of the city in the Hellenistic Era. Recommended.