Rome & Her Empire

David Shotter has written a fascinating and accessible account of the full history of the Roman Empire, covering over a millenium

• Encapsulates the whole of Ancient Rome's development rather than just brief periods.
• An accessible succinct account of a very large subject.
• Places emphasis on individuals like the Caesars, Nero, etc, and explores religious conflict and persecution.
• Combines traditional classical scholarship with archaeological results.

Just how did Rome survive for nearly 1000 years, ruling over millions of people with few instances of internal rebellion? David Shotter argues that the key was the way Rome managed to adapt to new circumstances without, at the same time, discarding too many of its cherished traditionsThe name of Rome, and the monuments and ruins she left behind, excites a picture of power and organization, yet Rome grew out of a collection of small villages. Major developments, such as the growth of Empire, were unplanned and completely unprepared for. Influenced by a small number of self-interested aristocrats, who lacked a broader vision, Rome was often threatened by their intrigues. Though brought to the ground on a number of occasions, David Shotter explains how Rome and its leaders were, nevertheless, able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

David Shotter is a retired Senior Lecturer in History and Classics at the University of Lancaster. He has published widely on Ancient Rome, and his books includeRoman Britain, Routledge, 1998, The Roman Frontier in Britain, Carnegie Publishing, 1996, Fall of the Roman republic, Routledge-textbook, 1994.

The name of Rome excites a picture of power and organisation, as do the widely-spread ruins that Roman civilization left behind. Yet Rome grew out of a collection of small villages and major developments such as the growth of Empire were unplanned and completely unprepared for.Influenced by a small number of self-interested aristocrats who lacked a broader vision, Rome was often threatened by their intrigues. Brought to the ground on a number of occasions, its leaders were able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. How did Rome survive for nearly 1000 years, ruling over millions of people with few instances of internal rebellion? David Shotter argues that the key was the way Rome managed to adapt to new circumstances, without at the same time discarding too many of its cherished traditions.

David Shotter is a retired Senior Lecturer in History and Classics at the University of Lancaster. He has published widely on Ancient Rome, and his books include The Roman Frontier in Britain.

Preface

1. Myth, monarchy and the Republic
2. The growth of the respublica
3. The birth of an empire
4. The disintegration of the Republic
5. The Augustan peace
6. The Pax Romana: a new deal for the empire
7. The secret of empire
8. Emperors, dynasties, adoptions and a golden age
9. The military monarchy: dictatorship by the army
10. The third-century crises ¿ and recovery
11. The fourth century: change and decline

Index