The Later Roman Republic: The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, a Chronology: Volume Two 145 BC-27 BC [Hardcover]

Brian Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire | Publication Date: June 1, 2009

It was a period marked by a near-continuous conflict between republicans and those seeking dictatorship, slave uprisings, and empire building. By detailing each year in turn, the reader is able to gain an understanding of how events unfolded throughout this turbulent and fascinating period of history. Where there are a number of conflicts, each is shown as a separate entry, be it the Punic Wars, Spartacus, Caesar, or Cicero. Thus, the reader is able to study a chosen area of operations in isolation while assessing its wider impact upon the Romans or their enemies.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brian Taylor is the author of Barbarossa to Berlin and The Empire of the French.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: The History Press (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1862273499
• ISBN-13: 978-1862273498
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,117,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Good Reference By Taylor -- But Same Question. Who is This Volume For?, July 4, 2009

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David M. Dougherty (Arkansas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Later Roman Republic: The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, a Chronology: Volume Two 145 BC-27 BC (Hardcover)

Like author Taylor's first volume on the Roman Republic, this is a very good reference book. I liked this one even better than Volume 1 that goes from 753BC to the fall of Carthage becaume this one covers the time when the Roman Republic was subverted and destroyed through many of the same problems and non-solutions that the United States is experiencing today. The ruling elite became more and more elitist and the yeoman class of small landowner and farmer who built the Roman Empire was destroyed and two classes emerged -- the very rich and the poor. The military became professionalized, and soldiers served successful commanders rather than Rome out of patriotism.

Readers should be encouraged to read the years covering the "Social Wars" when Roman citizenship was extended throughout Italy and compare those happenings to what we are seeing today. As the common people became increasingly committed only to what the state could do for them without their service being required, the Roman Republic tore itself apart. Gee, sounds like out current entitlement-oriented approach with everyone just attempting to manipulate government for what they can get. The Roman mob became a very great factor, lawlessness rose steadily, and those in power sought only to keep things going a little while longer for their own benefit rather than address the underlying problems. As always, cowardly politicians ruled the day and enjoyed themselves while the republic degenerated into something not worth saving.

Like in Taylor's first volume, the problem is the book's target audience or lack thereof. The entries are too short to really press home many points, and the unfamiliar names of consuls, countries, places, etc., simply become so much raw data with little meaning. For the historian this book has value for a quick reference on dates and personalities -- for the casual reader the dates and personalities become blended into a dreary sameness. As a collector of ancient coins, I found the entries useful for the annotation of my coins and making their dates relevant. But I also read the book from cover to cover -- something that I believe very few readers will do. So who is this book intended for? What is its purpose? Unfortunately, it is neither fish nor fowl.

All that being said, I believe this may be a useful book for those readers interested in Roman history. At the very least it should point the reader to certain important times for more reading and research. And members of Congress should read it -- but they won't. They're too busy taking part in eulogies to Michael Jackson.