The Roman Republic (Fontana History of the Ancient World) - Softcover

Crawford, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0006862500 ISBN 13: 9780006862505

Publisher: Fontana Press, 2011

Synopsis

Between the Sack of Rome by the Gauls in 390 BC and the middle of the second century BC, a part-time army of Roman peasants, under the leadership of the ruling oligarchy, conquered first Italy and then the whole of the Mediterranean. The loyalty of these marrauding heroes, and of the Roman population as a whole, to their leaders was assured by a share in the rewards of victory, rewards which became steadily less accessible as the empire expanded - promoting a decline in loyalty of cataclysmic proportions. Wars, rural impoverishments, civil discord and slavery are a few of the subjects covered in this study.

About this title

Review:

During the centuries of its history the republic burst its city-state shell... Wars, rural impoverishment, the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few families, civil discord, the increase in number of slaves and robbery of overseas provinces caused irreversible changes... This is the material of Crawford's study. He handles its complexities with acuteness and balance. He is sophisticated about political motives and economic causes... Crawford's readable book is a fine contribution to the understanding of this important period.

Well-informed, lively.. The work conveys a remarkable quantity of information... Students will benefit greatly from Crawford's obvious enthusiasm for historical research and for finding explanations of complex phenomena.

About the Author:

Michael Crawford is Emeritus Professor of History, University College London.

About this edition

• Publisher: Fontana Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0006862500
• ISBN 13: 9780006862505
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 264