The Rise of Rome: The Making of the World's Greatest Empire

Library JournalBritish historian Everitt chronicles the rise of Rome from a sleepy market town in the eighth century BCE to the world's greatest empire, smartly assuring strength and stability by offering citizenship to defeated peoples. Will folks be eager to read classical history? Well, the film Gladiator and the HBO series Rome were hits, and Everitt's biographies Cicero, Augustus, and Hadrian together have sold more than 300,000 copies.




Publishers WeeklyUnlike its decline and fall, Rome's rise enjoys no literary tradition, but this fine history will satisfy curious readers. After dutifully recounting the founding legends, historian Everitt introduces the Republic. Born, according to tradition, in 509 B.C.E., after the overthrow of a monarchy, the Republic was an oligarchy ruled by elected consuls and a nonelected Senate.