Customer Reviews

The Social History of Rome (Ancient Society and History)

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This book was amazing in its sweeping analysis of what was really going on in the Roman world.

The author does not get bogged down with too many names and dates. Instead, the author uses lots of names, only not of persons, but of societal groupings, legal relationships, economic terms, personal relationships, ideologies and political terms...i.e. all the REAL aspects of the Roman world that was the impetus behind much of its more famous monumental events.

One caveat. This book is not for the introductory student of Rome. One should thoroughly and resiliently push their way through all of Livy, Appian, Sallust, Caesar, Cicero, Cassius Dio, Tacitus, Suetonius, Plutarch, Marcellinus and Gibbon BEFORE ever picking this book up. This is because much of Roman terminology and concepts, both political, legal and social, can only be understood through their historical evolution. E.g. Tribune - highest representative of the plebs, with veto powers over the senate, can call the Assembly and present legislation....these are meaningless words unless you thoroughly digest Livy and SEE why the office of Tribune began and how it came about and what problems it was meant to address...etc. Historical events introduce one to Rome.

It is in this epic analysis of these social pressures and factors that Alfoldy has done, that one can truly 'cap' their studies of Rome with this level of insight. He will establish trends and connections to events across the Republic, Principate and Dominate that you never knew existed.

A must have for a true student of Rome

Cet ouvrage se veut la synthèse de l'histoire sociale de Rome. Il examine les institutions à travers les groupes sociaux. Pour une recherche historique sur le monde romain, ce document est extrêmement utile.