Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and Their Decline (Paperback)

~ Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (Author), David Lowenthal (Translator) "We should not form the same impression of the city of Rome in its beginnings as we get from the cities we see today, except..." (more)
Key Phrases: Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ammianus Marcellinus, Second Punic War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is wonderful to have David Lowenthal's splendid translation of Montesquieu's Considerations on the Causes of The Greatness of the Romans and Their Decline back in print. This neglected masterpiece deserves attention from all who are concerned with self-government -- whether their focus is on its history or on its prospects in our own time." -- Paul A Rahe, Jay P Walker Professor of History, University of Tulsa.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

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Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Hackett Publishing Company (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872204960
• ISBN-13: 978-0872204966
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #175,702 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Succinct and Readable analysis of Roman History, May 6, 2000

By	nels frye (Chicago) - See all my reviews

A book far too often ignored by modern readers. Montesquieu presents a succinct and readable analysis of the history of the Roman Republic and Empire. For both the layperson and the scholar interested in Roman History this is an essential read. He presents the reasons for the the spread of Rome's empire, the fall of the Republic, and the long duration and eventual collapse of the empire in a clear fashion. He goes through Roman history chronologically and shows how these causes relate to specific events. Edward Gibbon praises Montesquieu in his memoirs, and after reading his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, it is easy to see how the theses presented here on religion and the military may have influenced Gibbon's own conclusions.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Concise but thorough, a worthwhile read., May 24, 2000

By A Customer

Montesquieu's "Considerations..." is a refreshing change of pace from the usual, long winded, dry books on Roman history. It is a concise, clear, chronologically presented work, but still manages to be quite thorough in examining a variety of the causes behind the rise and fall of the Romans. The author touches on the social, military, economic and moral factors that made the Romans great, and in the end led to collapse of their empire. I can recommend it as a worthwhile read to those of you interested in the history of the Romans.