Empire of the Romans, John Matthews
Empire of the Romans, John Matthews
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Empire of the Romans
From Julius Caesar to Justinian: Six Hundred Years of Peace and War, Volume 1

Author: John Matthews

Narrator: David Stifel

Unabridged: 24 hr 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 08/10/2021


Synopsis

A wide-ranging survey of the history of the Roman Empire—from its establishment to decline and beyond

Empire of the Romans, from Julius Caesar to Justinian provides a sweeping historical survey of the Roman empire. Uncommonly expansive in its chronological scope, this unique two-volume text explores the time period encompassing Julius Caesar's death in 44 BCE to the end of Justinian's reign six centuries later. Internationally-recognized author and scholar of Roman history John Matthews balances broad historical narrative with discussions of important occurrences in their thematic contexts. This integrative approach helps listeners learn the timeline of events, understand their significance, and consider their historical sources.

Defining the time period in a clear, yet not overly restrictive manner, the narrative reflects contemporary trends in the study of social, cultural, and literary themes. Chapters examine key points in the development of the Roman Empire, including the establishment of empire under Augustus, Pax Romana and the Antonine Age, the reforms of Diocletian and Constantine, and the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Discussions of the Justinianic Age, the emergence of Byzantium, and the post-Roman West help listeners understand the later Roman world and its impact on the subsequent history of Europe.


About John Matthews

John Matthews is Professor Emeritus of Classics and History, Yale University, USA. He received his PhD from Oxford University in 1969 and taught Greek and Roman history at Oxford for many years before moving to Yale in 1996. He was elected Fellow of the British Academy in 1990. He is author of many books including Western Aristocracies and Imperial Court, A.D. 364-425, The Roman Empire of Ammianus, Laying Down the Law: A Study of the Theodosian Code, and Roman Perspectives: Studies in the social, political and cultural history of the First to Fifth Centuries. He is also coauthor of the acclaimed Atlas of the Roman World.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jim on February 20, 2022

We’ll worth reading. Very clarifying some of the muddy transfers in Roman Empotres and wars.......more

Goodreads review by Alexander on February 29, 2024

This must be a textbook or something, but I really enjoyed it. Intellectual comfort food. The history of the empire is interesting, especially in tracing the evolution of institutions in a poorly documented era. I’m so familiar with the era, so no serious new insights.......more

Goodreads review by A.L. on April 01, 2025

Really very interesting and comprehensive.......more