Post: #1

I went to Rome a few months ago. It was fun - but the experience has buried deeper inside of me since coming back. Strange how that happens when you come back from travelling.

Anyway - I want to become an 'expert' on Rome. There is so much history in the place that it is almost unsettling. And I want to try and bury deeper into the city for future trips.

The following is the best article I have read which sums up the slightly spooky and overwhelming sense of the place.

http://exurbe.com/?p=2219

Post: #2

Being from the UK - you get used to the idea of being on an island cut off from the rest of the world (and never being more than 80 miles from the sea).

But when I was in Rome I found it amusing that you if walked in a straight line for long enough, then took a right and kept on walking. You would eventually end up in China.

Post: #3

Has anyone here actually read The Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire?

It is a famous book - but I never hear from anyone who has actually read it.

Post: #4

Would you take Historical fiction or do you want straight up knowledge ?

Post: #5

Sorry - don't do fiction!

I just can't concentrate on novels.

Post: #6

(11-05-2013 04:31 PM)cardguy Wrote:  Has anyone here actually read The Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire?

It is a famous book - but I never hear from anyone who has actually read it.

I've read less than halfway through Volume 1.

Bear in mind, Gibbon's history is 6 volumes, which publishers may condense into three or fewer books.

Penguin's edition of the series makes up over 3500 pages in all.

If you want a more compact read, try the Very Short Introduction books on ancient Rome. Unfortunately, they don't seem to have anything specifically for Renaissance Rome.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Roman-Republic...gy_b_img_y

http://www.amazon.com/The-Roman-Empire-S...0192803913

For a more idiosyncratic take on the city, which *does* cover later medieval, renaissance, and modern history, read Robert Hughes book "Rome":

http://www.amazon.com/Rome-Robert-Hughes...8&sr=&qid=

Post: #7

These are in my collection, and are quite good:

Roman Art by George M. A. Hanfmann (Art, obviously)

Rome of the Caesars by Leonardo B. Dal Maso (Mostly architecture, some art)



Looks like both are on Amazon.

Post: #8

Read the autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini. It's a great and memorable book.

He was a Florentine but a good part of the action takes place in Rome and you'll get a very deep sense of a lively, various and inspired historical period, particularly in that part of the world. Ancient Rome is really going too far back in many ways but Cellini's Rome is recognizable as the city you can visit today. The Italians really haven't changed too much in many ways.

And you might also come to see that painting, sculpture etc were not always as meaningless as you realize they are now. These arts are played out but they really had their day.

Post: #9

Read some books about the Bizantine Empire as well, its story is much more complicated and unknown than the one about the (Western) Roman Empire.

The Bizantine Empire lasted, among periods of glory and moments of ruin, for more than 900 years; yet people know only that it had Costantinopole as capital and that it feel in 1453.

Post: #10

Just finished Cicero by Anthony Everitt, it's a first class biography.

I recommend Robert Harris's recent fictional treatments of the period: Imperium, Pompeii, and Conspirata.

You can also read the primary sources - especially Cicero. Suetonius's Twelve Caesars is a must, but they say it's sensationalized.

Post: #11

What I like about Rome is that it is the most important city in history. And yet is pretty small. It really encourages you to take on the task of learning the complete history of the place.

Post: #12

I haven't read it yet, I'm just at the beginning still, but it's supposed to be really good:

Caesar: Life of a colossus

Post: #13

Quote:What I like about Rome is that it is the most important city in history. And yet is pretty small. It really encourages you to take on the task of learning the complete history of the place.

Are you so sure about that? Why are they dead and gone? They lost. By the end, the emperors weren't even Roman, they came from various provinces. They gave up and died off.

An interesting speech on this can be found here.

I recently read on some forum about how Sparta was super cool and progressive, and I had the same question: then why did they lose? Why are they gone? Sure the movie 300 was awesome, but that's a movie.

Anyways, Gibbon has already been mentioned, but another excellent book is by Charles Cochrane.

Post: #14

In the Name of Rome by Adrian Goldsworthy if you're interested in the military aspect.

You also can't go wrong with reading the primary sources about the period: Livy, Vegetius, Tacitus, Suetonius, etc. Since they're all public domain they're available online for free.

Post: #15

Get Dan Carlin's "Death Throes of the Republic" while you can, it's still free on itunes.
It's a seven hour audiobook, but brilliant for real...some of the best history content you can get online.

Post: #16

(11-05-2013 04:31 PM)cardguy Wrote:  Has anyone here actually read The Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire?

It is a famous book - but I never hear from anyone who has actually read it.

read most of it before a long trip to Rome a few years ago. It was good but I would find a cliff note version if your trip is coming up quick. After I went there I came away with the same desire, I explored the whole city by foot for weeks, spent a good deal of time in the Vatican, found some of the best food, places to explore. By far for me the place that moved me most was Palantine Hill. Trattoria Monti is the greatest Italian food experience I have ever had. Personally I wouldnt rush through reading it prior to an upcoming trip, unless you have a few months to study the city. I would work on your Italian, and explore the city on foot, then come back to it after your trip when it will soak in through study.

Post: #17

Reviving this thread briefly.

I'm looking for a condensed history of the Roman Republic/Empire, from the beginnings where farmers on a few hills joined arms to the fall of this ancient superpower.

Would be great if it also included military campaigns and strategy.

Given Gibbons monumental series a try. I don't have the literary stomach for those books yet.

---

For fiction, I recommend Conn Iggulden's series on Julius Caesar. Each book is a page turner. I'd rate them 4/5 stars, since the prose can be a bit dry sometimes, but overall Iggulden is simply an effective storyteller. Terrific action scenes.

Post: #18

(01-30-2016 04:30 PM)DarianFrey Wrote:  

Reviving this thread briefly.

I'm looking for a condensed history of the Roman Republic/Empire, from the beginnings where farmers on a few hills joined arms to the fall of this ancient superpower.

Would be great if it also included military campaigns and strategy.

Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic



Currently reading this now, great book and think it's along the lines of what you're looking for.

Quote:In 49 B.C., the seven hundred-fifth year since the founding of Rome, Julius Caesar crossed a small border river called the Rubicon and plunged Rome into cataclysmic civil war. Tom Holland’s enthralling account tells the story of Caesar’s generation, witness to the twilight of the Republic and its bloody transformation into an empire. From Cicero, Spartacus, and Brutus, to Cleopatra, Virgil, and Augustus, here are some of the most legendary figures in history brought thrillingly to life. Combining verve and freshness with scrupulous scholarship, Rubicon is not only an engrossing history of this pivotal era but a uniquely resonant portrait of a great civilization in all its extremes of self-sacrifice and rivalry, decadence and catastrophe, intrigue, war, and world-shaking ambition.

Post: #19

(01-30-2016 04:59 PM)Monty_Brogan Wrote:  Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic



Currently reading this now, great book and think it's along the lines of what you're looking for.

Quote:In 49 B.C., the seven hundred-fifth year since the founding of Rome, Julius Caesar crossed a small border river called the Rubicon and plunged Rome into cataclysmic civil war. Tom Holland’s enthralling account tells the story of Caesar’s generation, witness to the twilight of the Republic and its bloody transformation into an empire. From Cicero, Spartacus, and Brutus, to Cleopatra, Virgil, and Augustus, here are some of the most legendary figures in history brought thrillingly to life. Combining verve and freshness with scrupulous scholarship, Rubicon is not only an engrossing history of this pivotal era but a uniquely resonant portrait of a great civilization in all its extremes of self-sacrifice and rivalry, decadence and catastrophe, intrigue, war, and world-shaking ambition.

I remember leafing through that book at the library when I was 12! It had just been released and the author was interviewed on national radio.

Cheers mate, adding on Kindle now. High time to give it a real go.