Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of An Empire

I quite enjoyed this. I found it readable and instructive. One thing I've always done in the past when I wanted to read an account of Roman history is I've always chosen books that were too scholarly and got bogged down in niggling details such as the precise difference between various public offices or laws. This book doesn't make that mistake: it's readable and never boring.

My only complaint would be that since this book was sort of rushed to press (I'm guessing) to coincide with the 6-part (?) BBC series of the same name, the author gives short shrift to stuff that's not actually part of the BBC series, even though it's important for Roman history. Dozens of pages about Nero but only a single paragraph about Caligula, for example -- even though Caligula is arguably more important in the history of the empire since it was during his reign that an omnipotent head of state really went off the rails for the first time.

Also very little on Sulla, for the same reason: the video version gives that period short shrift so this book does too.

I could think of many examples of this.

This book is dense and spans an enormous amount of time but is a very interesting read. I purchased this book out of sole curiosity; I've always loved movies taking place during the Roman Empire and the aspects surrounding that period of time. I thought I would read and see if I can learn more. I was positively surprised! I thought it would be informative but perhaps a little dense and boring. On the contrary! It is really in depth and captivating in the way that Baker writes. There is action, adventure, violence, and power. It is really interesting and I would recommend it!

Wanted to find some history books that were informative while also being an enjoyable read. This book tends to take big jumps through Roman history but it's not meant to be comprehensive history of any particular part of Roman history. This is the kind of book you read to get you started on more specific topics which was perfectly fine with me. So if you want to read all about Nero, for example, you should find another book. If you want to read about some of the major events during one of the greatest empires of the world, then this is the book for you.

This is a valiant attempt at explaining Rome's rise to dominance and increasing struggle to stay there.

Doing so through the window of motivational assessments of a succession of rulers over such a long period is daunting, much as it would be in writing the history of America via commentary on selected Presidents over hundreds of years.

The author makes the most of circumstantial evidence and what he postulates about these motivations may even be true. Certainly convincing enough to make for a great read.

Simon Baker's history is immensely readable.
His narative guides the novice through the drama of Imperial Rome with it's intrigue, epic battles and conquests to its inevitible decline.
Gradually the Roman legions depended more and more on mercenaries for manpower. The empire became overextended and embattled on all fronts. Baker's descriptions portray the majesty and the tragedies of the succession of emperors from Nero to the last boy emperor.

I spent almost three years living and working in Vicenza. While there, I became interested in Roman history. I really enjoyed traveling throughout Italy and visiting the ruins of the Roman Empire. The book 'Ancient Rome' provides a thorough and vivid account of the rise and fall of the Roman empire. The book is full of historical information and written in such a way as to enthrall, rather than bore, the reader.

The author, Simon Baker, has done an excellent job of depicting the rise and fall of Rome. He has successfully presented this in story form and truly holds the reader's interest throughout. Highly recommended.

The author very adeptly allows the reader to understand how the Roman Empire came to be and came to cease. He humanizes them. The only criticism in this kindle version is that there is no charts to help keep it all together.

Excellent description of the chaotic political situation in Rome over its many centuries; I would have liked more attention to the evolving technological, cultural, and economic changes that accompanied Rome's political evolution.

Great book! Read the whole thing and loved it! I bought a previous book about the Roman Empire and couldn't get through the first chapter it was so boring. Once I started this I picked it up evey night until it was complete!

80% of the book was great.....especially the rise, through the original Caesars, up through Constantine. Why Julius was assassinated was very insightful, and gives some lessons to today. Unfortunately I thought the last 200 years, the fall, was weak. Although the events were well categorized, there was really no analysis as to why it happened, why Rome fell, and what the Romans did wrong that could have prevented it. But overall, very good book!!

Excellent book. I have been an avid reader of ancient history for years now. Simon Baker is the first author I've read who has emphasized that some of the "barbarians" did not come to Rome to loot an burn, but to be a part of and contribute to the Roman ideal.

This is an excellent book for any level reader. The writer divides Roman history into the most interesting periods which makes the reading more concentrated. I have read other books on Rome, but I learned many new things from this one.

This is a well written, concise history of the Roman Empire. The author focuses on the significant leaders and major events. For persons who want to obtain an understanding of the emperors, the empire and its various periods, this is the right book to read. Simon Baker does a great job in presenting the information in a highly readable manner.

I had an interest in learning about the general history of the Roman Empire, and I didn't want to read a textbook either. This book was definitely the answer becuase it read like a novel and made reading a history book entertaining. The drama of Roman war and politics was brought to life throughout. I definitely learned quite a bit about the Roman Empire and didn't feel bored while reading the book. Good read.

For anyone interested in the history and events that took place in the Roman Empire this book is like manna from heaven. The author relates Roman history in such a way that the book almost reads like a novel, being both exciting and educational. But if truth be told this is far more interesting than any novel.

Rome was after all one of the greatest, if not the greatest empire ever known. There are figures from its past that stick out like beacons. Probably the greatest of them all Julius Caesar and of course his main adversary Pompey. Others out of the many notables include Mark Antony, Nero, Claudius and many more.

There were also Rome's great buildings. The Forum, the circus maximus and the Flavian amphitheatre, now more commonly known as the Colosseum, all built to show potential enemies the might that was Rome. Then on to the true might of Rome, its Legions. An army that comprised the greatest fighting force the world had ever seen. Because of their discipline and rigid training they were at that period in history, virtually unbeatable.

The author pulls all these facts together beautifully to make a book that is not only informative and educational but also high readable as well.

Gives you both the highlights of Roman emperors and dramatic turns as well as an overview of the history of the Roman empire from A to Z. You can always ask for more, but in one single volume this book tells the story in broad strokes in a comprehensive and enjoyable way.

it's informative, well written and fascinating. If you wanna get the basics, that's the book. Right after I finished it, we went to Rome for a 10 days trip, and that was when I really appreciated that I just read the book. Everything it talked about was there....

Well written, ideal for a keen student of the Roman era. Succinct, and easy to read, no matter what the level of knowledge on such matters.
I enjoyed recapping all I had learnt at school and university.
Enjoyable

Although not comprehensive, the book captures the spirit of Ancient Rome, as well a displaying important events in its history. It is easy to read, and does not bog the reader down with endless dates and details. There are more thorough works available on Rome, but this book is a good introduction to the history of Ancient Rome.

A good book, but lacking depth out of design. It provides a great gloss of the expanse of Roman history, and also indications for future reading. A good introductory text, but those seeking more depth would do well to seek other sources after having completed this one.

This book was very concise and clear. The high moments of Roman history are covered in colorful detail. Although the book well documents the accomplishments of the mega figures in the Roman Empire this historical work reads like a novel.

The fall of the empire is well documented and easily understood in this well written book. What concerns me is, why Rome never learned from it's mistakes and is once again imploding from the greed of the elite.

The book highlighted important events with a neutral slant. For instance, Nero was portrayed in a very human way but still kept his faults without him being totally without redeeming values. Hard to do many would say but probably closer to the truth. The narrative made them believable.

This author has taken a lot of liberty and judgement. Pretty sure the term conservative is not remotely appropriate here. He has a political agenda. Mr, Baker this is history there is no side to take. Read your bibliography, are you sure you read some of the original documents? Great interpretive read, but no perspective on reality. Very one sided bent.

Simon Baker's history is immensely readable.
His narative guides the novice through the drama of Imperial Rome with it's intrigue, epic battles and conquests to its inevitible decline.
Gradually the Roman legions depended more and more on mercenaries for manpower. The empire became overextended and embattled on all fronts. Baker's descriptions portray the majesty and the tragedies of the succession of emperors from Nero to the last boy emperor.

Excellent description of the chaotic political situation in Rome over its many centuries; I would have liked more attention to the evolving technological, cultural, and economic changes that accompanied Rome's political evolution.

To write a history of the Roman Empire which lasted in the neighborhood of one thousand years, depending on who is counting, is a vast and nearly impossible undertaking, especially in 400 pages. This book merely hits some highlights focusing on maybe seventy-five key personalities, ranging from senators, generals, poets, and emperors, who lived from 500 BC to 476 AD. Most important for the author are the numerous campaigns, not all successful, undertaken by the Romans to subdue the Mediterranean world and, at least as often, the internecine fighting among rival Roman factions. The book is almost completely devoid of the day to day culture of Romans: how they lived, what they ate, how their economy worked, how their legal system worked, physical characteristics, etc, etc. They remain quite obscure and that is a huge disappointment.

A key point for the author is the situation when the Romans, around 500 BC, threw off the rule of kings and became a republic of sorts, with legislative bodies now having some influence. However, the author acknowledges that Roman society and its politics were dominated by a few tribes/families. What stands out in the book is how often the formal political structure was circumvented through physical aggression, including beatings and assassinations, with no consequences other than a change in power. The Romans were a murderous lot. During power shakeups purges of hundreds of leading Romans occurred, again without legal ramifications. Rome kept the pretence of being a republic long after emperors gained absolute control, which is mindful of modern nations that claim to be one thing formally, but, in actuality, operate far differently. That governing disconnect was essentially the beginning of the end for the Romans.

Although Rome tends to be celebrated, it's difficult to say what the legacy of Rome really is. They were a ruthless people who dominated their neighbors demanding payments/taxation and service in their military. Rebellions in the empire were dealt with harshly. Though they dominated for hundreds of years, there is the sense that it was an unstable arrangement. They were overextended and did not have the capacity to deal with the ever-changing circumstances within and surrounding their empire. It there is a larger legacy, the author does a poor job of conveying that. In the author's telling the Romans are impressive for all the wrong reasons.