Ancient Rome: A Military and Political History [Hardcover]

Christopher S. Mackay (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521809185 | ISBN-13: 978-0521809184 | Publication Date: January 24, 2005

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, this volume serves as an up-to-date overview of one of the most extraordinary civilizations in human history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mackay has provided a valuable service by presenting an updated text focused on Rome's military and political history. For the general reader, the work as a whole provides a solid introduction. Mackay reminds us all of the value in focusing on military conflicts and governmental affairs, particularly for understanding the breakdown of the Republican system and the collapse of the western empire." Darryl A. Phillips, College of Charleston, South Carolina, BMCR

"Those interested in Roman history, especially of the empire, may wish to pick up the book. They will be rewarded by Mackay's chapteres on the later empire." - John D. Muccigrosso, Drew University

"Given both the enormous accidental loss of evidence and the obvious deliberate distortion in much that does survive, it is a welcome feature of Mackay's book that he prefaces each of its five chronological sections with a brief introduction of about three pages on the main sources for the period and the central problems in understanding it...he writes clearly and avoids rhetorical elaboration while the substance of his book is for the most part, sound, judicious, and accurate." - T.D. Barnes

Book Description

This volume is a short and comprehensive political and military history of ancient Rome, from the origins of the city in the Italian Iron Age, until the deposition of the last emperor in 476 AD. Illustrated with the relevant art works from Rome's long history, this volume will serve as a timely and up to date overview of one of the most extraordinary civilizations of human history.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 460 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (January 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521809185
• ISBN-13: 978-0521809184
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #939,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old-fashioned History at Its Best, March 14, 2005

By 

Polymath (Ithaca NY USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ancient Rome: A Military and Political History (Hardcover)

This is an unashamedly old-fashioned political and military narrative history of the Roman Republic and Empire. There are no sections on daily life or the lives of women, for instance. There is some discussion of government, but that fits under politics. The military history is at the operational or strategic level, not at the tactical level. Battles are very briefly described, mainly just stating who the victor was. However, the book is not just a bare recital of "one thing after another"; the author also tries to get inside the head of the leading personalities to divine their intentions. Whatever the author discusses, it is so engagingly written that the story just carries the reader along. Several times I tried dipping into the book to just read a page or two but invariably found myself swept along until at least the end of the chapter. Highly recommended for those who like this approach to history.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinarily fascinating and compelling reading, March 10, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient Rome: A Military and Political History (Hardcover)

Knowledgeably written by Christopher S. Mackay, an accomplished associate professor of history who has published numerous articles on all periods of Roman history, Ancient Rome: A Military And Political History is a comprehensive political history ancient Rome from the city's origins during the Italian Iron Age to the deposition of its last emperor in A.D. 476. From Rome's growth and conquest to pressures and invasion that eventually destroyed its empire, to how it came to adopt Christianity as its state religion and the lasting influence of that legacy, Ancient Rome is extraordinarily fascinating and compelling reading. Written in terms as engaging to the lay reader as the professional historian, Ancient Rome is a dynasty-by-dynasty account that spreads out what history tells of feuds, assassinations, war, enforced peace, and military transformations in the legendary Roman Empire.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Retired Man With Interest In History, January 12, 2007

By 

David A. Storm (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ancient Rome: A Military and Political History (Hardcover)

I greatly appreciated Professor Mackay critical reveiew of the historical records, and his unbaised reconcilations of previous interpretations. However, a thousand years of history is a lot to cover in one book. My difculity is his coverage of the late empire. It is too short for me. I think that this could be a very interesting period to study in detail, when it seems, as professor Mackay suggests, the empire was essentally disintegrating. Perhaps Professor Mackay will apply his critical skills to a detalied analysis of the social and economic conditions of this period. On to the next book.