All Roads Lead to Rome: Why we think about the Roman Empire daily

Rhiannon Garth-Jones explores Rome's enduring legacy through three core themes: religion, empire, and culture. Each chapter examines how Rome’s history, governance, and mythology have been reimagined throughout centuries, and how these interpretations continue to shape our modern world.

Rome is not merely a city—it’s an enduring idea, a symbol of identity, power, and legitimacy that has shaped the course of history for over 1,500 years. This book embarks on an exploration of how the concept of Rome has been invoked by emperors, modern governments, religious leaders, and even pop culture icons, all using it to assert authority and influence society. Each chapter explores how Rome’s history, governance, and mythology have been reimagined throughout centuries, and how these interpretations continue to shape our modern world. By delving into Rome’s influence, readers gain a deeper understanding of the forces shaping today's global landscape.

For readers of all things Roman, e.g. Emperors of Rome by Mary Beard, Rubicon, Dynasty and Pax by Tom Holland as well as The West: A New History of Old Idea by Naoise MacSweeney and The Map of Knowledge by Violet Moller.

Rhiannon Garth Jones is an historian who works with both material culture and textual sources, with a PhD on the Muslim visual language of power and relationship with Rome during the “Golden Age” of Islam. Since her undergraduate degree in Classics, Rhiannon's research has traced the impact of ancient Rome on cultures, empires, and religions around the Mediterranean and beyond. She is also a skilled public communicator who has spent ten years writing for a public audience about materials science, material culture, sports, energy policy, and more.