The Roman Empire: Second Edition [Paperback]

Colin Wells (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0674777700 | ISBN-13: 978-0674777705 | Publication Date: August 11, 1995

This history of the Roman Empire, from 44 BC to AD 235, has three purposes: to describe what was happening in the central administration of the Empire; to indicate how life went on in Italy and the provinces, in the towns, in the countryside, and in the army camps; and to show how these two different worlds impinged on each other. The book comprises a vivid account of the most intriguing period in ancient history.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Roman empire begins with Julius, the first Caesar, and ends five centuries later with the establishment of Christian rule in Western Europe. C. M. Wells chronicles the astonishing growth of the empire through military innovations that gave soldiers and colonists a tangible stake in Rome's success through the award of captured lands. He helps make sense out of complex episodes in Roman history, among them the so-called year of the four emperors and the rise of non-Roman rulers such as Maximinus. Wells also looks at the legacy of the Roman empire in modern governments, which derive much knowledge about administration, road building, hydrology, and assorted other practical arts from their ancient forebears.

Review

This concise but illuminating history of a government that provided peace and prosperity longer than any other has no equal. (Antioch Review )

When a modest, single volume on the Roman Empire proves informative, provocative, and exciting, the reader gladly acknowledges an exceptional author. Professor Colin Wells is expert in the various aspects of Roman history, he reflects on issues independently and creatively, and he writes elegantly, and sometimes brilliantly.
--Eleanor G. Huzar (Classical Outlook )

This is historical writing with a bite usually missing in fast surveys...Novices and advanced students of Roman history alike will be stimulated by this book to think deeply on a grand scale about matters of great importance in ancient history.
--Thomas R. Martin (History Book Club Review )

An admirable volume.
--A. T. Kraabel (Religious Studies Review )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (August 11, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674777700
• ISBN-13: 978-0674777705
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Further Reading, February 4, 2003

By 

Wallace V. French III (Boston MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Roman Empire (Hardcover)

This is a great book on the early empire. Wells covers the time from the fall of the republic concentrating on the reign of Augustus to about the time of Commodus. He does a very good job of explaining the time of Trajan and Hadrian and how the empire was consolidated and at peace for an extended period of time. There is a good balance of the life of the Emperors, everyday life in Rome and the provinces, the army, and the senate. The best thing about this book is the 41 page further reading section. This has been my main source to reference for books on ancient Rome. It is not just an annotated bibliography; Wells has topical sections like Roman coinage, imperial cult, treason, financial administration, town planning, Jewish sources, etc. and in each section lists recommended books. There are also ten pages of maps, plates, and a useful timeline. An excellent book to get you started on reading about the early Roman Empire.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Roman Survey, March 13, 2002

By 

Jeffrey Leach (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Roman Empire (Hardcover)

This is an adequate one volume history on the Roman Empire. I've certainly seen some surveys of this period that are better, but Colin Wells does the job. The book covers the period from 44 B.C. to 235 A.D., or roughly from the beginnings of the second triumvirate to right before the 50 years of anarchy before Diocletian. Wells takes an interesting path with his book; he alternates between standard political history and social developments. You can read about everything from Elagabalus to Arezzo pottery. Most surveys I've read stick exclusively to politics. This format allows Wells to talk about areas that interest him. He states in the forward that his concern is archeology and that he has worked in Carthage unearthing buildings and walls.

Most books agree that the death of Julius Caesar and the civil wars between Octavian and Antony usher in the Imperial phase of Roman history. Wells is correct to start with these events. The book doesn't go far enough, however. Stopping at 235 A.D. leaves out an enormous amount of significant events. Leaving out Diocletian and the Tetrarchy alone is a huge mistake, as is the absence of Constantine and Christianity. Still, the book is a great refresher on Roman history. There really isn't much new here in the way of interpretation, although I did appreciate his introduction. Wells manages to do in a few pages what many fail to do: explain in a concise way the intricacies of Roman names and Roman political offices. Very helpful.

This is a good book, although a serious survey of Roman history would be better served with a more comprehensive textbook. Be sure and locate a book that at least covers Rome up to 476 A.D., if not later.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction, without being superficial, May 9, 1999

By 

P. Bartl - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Roman Empire: Second Edition (Paperback)

This is probably the best introduction one can read about the Roman Empire, since the author not only gives the conventional information (such as the lives of the individual emperors, etc) but also provides analytical and critical comments from a broader historical perspective.