Emperors of Rome : Imperial Rome from Julius Caesar to the Last Emperor

Beginning with the accession of Augustus, this lavishly illustrated survey follows the triumphs, failures, and ultimate decline of the Roman Empire through the lives of its emperors. The highlights of 500 years of Roman history are all addressed, including the defeat in Teutoburg Forest in AD 9, the destruction of Pompeii in AD 79, the vision of Constantine in the early 4th century, and the sack of Rome by the Visigoths in 410, as are critical themes at the heart of the Roman polity, among them the nature of imperial government and the spread of Roman culture through the cities of the empire. This comprehensive study is punctuated by insightful profiles of Rome’s iconic leaders: the autocratic Augustus, the feeble Claudius, the vicious Nero, the beneficent Marcus Aurelius, and the maniac Commodus. Amplified by a generous complement of editorial features including fact boxes, timelines, and quotations, this is the ideal and comprehensive look at the entirety of Roman history.

David Potter is Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Greek and Latin at the University of Michigan and the author of Life, Death, and Entertainment in the Roman Empire. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.