A History of the Roman Republic

by Klaus Bringmann

Overview

In this new and authoritative history of the Roman republic, distinguished historian Klaus Bringmann traces the rise of a small city state near the Tiber estuary into a power that controlled the Italian peninsula and created the final Empire of antiquity, an Empire that was to become both the most enduring in the ancient world and to have the most far-reaching consequences for posterity.

Whilst this book is chronologically organized, giving the reader a clear sense of the historical progress and dynamics of Roman republican history, it also offers a coherent and authoritative overview of the culture, economics, religion and military might of the Roman empire, presented in an original and stimulating way.

Thoroughly referenced and illustrated throughout, with a wealth of primary sources from great Roman writers such as Cicero and Plutarch, A History of the Roman Republic will be essential reading for university students in history and classical studies. It will also appeal to a wider audience of general readers who are interested in the history of the Ancient world and its legacy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780745633718
Publisher:	Polity Press
Publication date:	03/26/2007
Edition description:	1ST
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

KLAUS BRINGMANN, Professor of Greek and Roman History, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main. Translated by W. J. SMYTH.

Table of Contents

Preface

I ROME AND ITALY

The foundation of the city of Rome

The rise of Rome as a major power in Italy

The constitution of the classical Republic

The rise of the nobility

II ROME AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

The war with King Pyrrhus

The First Punic War

Celts and Illyrians

The Second Punic War

The war with the great Hellenistic powers

The vengeful world power and the beginnings of the Roman Empire

III THE CRISIS OF THE REPUBLIC AND ITS CAUSES

Culture and Religion under Greek influence

The monetary economy and its impact

The crisis of the military and agrarian system

The Gracchan reform initiatives

The road to the civil war: Marius and Sulla

The state of the dictator Sulla

IV THE FALL OF THE REPUBLIC

The rise of Pompey

Caesar and the First Triumvirate

From the Gallic War to the Civil War

The state of the dictator Caesar

The lost struggle for the Republic

V. AUGUSTUS: DEFEAT AND FULFILMENT OF THE REPUBLIC

The Second Triumvirate and the struggle for power

Principate and Republic: End and Beginning

APPENDICES

Chronological table

Note on the sources and bibliography

Illustrations Acknowledgements

Index

Editorial Reviews

"Bringmann’s thorough and detailed survey of the Roman Republic will be a welcome resource for those seeking an introduction to the period."

Celia Schulz, Yale University

"In this work, the author has shown himself to be fully conversant with both primary and secondary sources, and has succeeded in presenting a thorough analysis of the rise and fall of the Roman Republic. One particular strength of Bringmann’s study is that he frequently challenges the traditional interpretation of various events or policies, thereby preventing his work from being a mere historical narrative. I would certainly recommend this work to anyone interested in the history of the Roman Republic."

Christopher Epplett, University of Lethbridge

From the Publisher