Edward Watts

The definitive history of Rome and its citizens. Rome is often remembered for its spectacular collapse. Yet for more than two thousand years - through civil wars, plagues, invasions and religious upheaval - the Roman state survived, adapted and reinvented itself. From a muddy settlement on the banks of the Tiber to the glittering court of Constantinople, this is the sweeping, untold story of a civilisation that refused to fall. The Romans tells the first truly complete history of Rome in all its epic scale: the Punic Wars, the fall of the republic to the rise of Christianity, Alaric's sack of Rome, the emergence of Islam and the Crusades that would ultimately bring the empire to an end. It is also the story of diverse men and women who shaped the empire: African emperors, Byzantine intellectuals, and ordinary citizens whose loyalty together made it the most resilient state the world has ever seen.

''At last, a history of the Roman state as it has always been crying out to be told, and never has been!'' RODERICK BEATONThe greatest empire in Western history - told as never been told before.Rome is often remembered for its spectacular collapse. But for over two thousand years - through civil wars, plagues, invasions, and religious upheaval - the Roman state survived, adapted, and reinvented itself. From a muddy settlement on the banks of the Tiber to the glittering court of Constantinople, this is the untold story of a civilisation that endured.In The Romans, acclaimed historian Edward J. Watts tells the first truly complete history of Rome in all its epic sweep: the Punic Wars, the fall of the republic, the coming of Christianity, Alaric''s sack of Rome, the rise of Islam and the onslaught of the Crusaders who would bring about the empire''s end. This is the Rome of Augustus, Marcus Aurelius, and Constantine. But it is also the Rome of Charlemagne, Justinian, and Manuel Comnenus, and countless diverse men and women who shaped the empire: African emperors, Byzantine intellectuals and ordinary citizens whose loyalty together made it the most resilient state the world has ever seen.An expansive, eye-opening portrait, this the definitive history of Rome and its citizens.

'At last, a history of the Roman state as it has always been crying out to be told, and never has been!' RODERICK BEATON The greatest empire in Western history - told as never been told before. Rome is often remembered for its spectacular collapse. But for over two thousand years - through civil wars, plagues, invasions, and religious upheaval - the Roman state survived, adapted, and reinvented itself. From a muddy settlement on the banks of the Tiber to the glittering court of Constantinople, this is the untold story of a civilisation that endured. In The Romans, acclaimed historian Edward J. Watts tells the first truly complete history of Rome in all its epic sweep: the Punic Wars, the fall of the republic, the coming of Christianity, Alaric's sack of Rome, the rise of Islam and the onslaught of the Crusaders who would bring about the empire's end. This is the Rome of Augustus, Marcus Aurelius, and Constantine. But it is also the Rome of Charlemagne, Justinian, and Manuel Comnenus, and countless diverse men and women who shaped the empire: African emperors, Byzantine intellectuals and ordinary citizens whose loyalty together made it the most resilient state the world has ever seen. An expansive, eye-opening portrait, this is the definitive history of Rome and its citizens.

A Római Birodalom történetéről számos könyv született már. A fiatal amerikai történész, Edward Watts műve azonban nem szokványos módon követi a római történelem eseményeit. Középpontjában annak vizsgálata áll, hogy az idők során az egyes politikusok, írók és történészek hogyan értelmezték Róma hanyatlásának jeleit. A szerző a Kr. e. 2. századtól napjainkig vezet végig bennünket a Római Birodalom és utódállamai történetén, miközben lebilincselő stílusban eleveníti föl a kulcsfontosságú eseményeket. Empatikus beszámolót olvashatunk a rómaiak szívszorító küzdelmeiről a gótok és vandálok ellen; azután pedig végigköveti a Keletrómai Birodalom (azaz Bizánc) történetét annak 1453-ban bekövetkezett bukásáig. A kötet valójában Róma történetét a hanyatlás és megújulás örök körforgásaként jeleníti meg. Amennyiben Róma a hanyatlás retorikájában megbúvó veszélyt illusztrálja, egyszersmind azt is megmutatja, micsoda rehabilitációs erő rejlik egy olyasfajta retorikában, amely az együttműködésre fókuszál; ez utóbbi pedig értékes tanulsággal szolgál korunkra nézve. Ám a hanyatlás római próféciái végső soron igaznak bizonyultak: modern felidézésüket ez teszi különösen hatásossá. Ha mindez valamikor régen bekövetkezett, most is bekövetkezhet.

In Mortal Republic, prize-winning historian Edward J. Watts offers a new history of the fall of the Roman Republic that explains why Rome exchanged freedom for autocracy. For centuries, even as Rome grew into the Mediterranean's premier military and political power, its governing institutions, parliamentary rules, and political customs successfully fostered negotiation and compromise. By the 130s BC, however, Rome's leaders increasingly used these same tools to cynically pursue individual gain and obstruct their opponents. As the center decayed and dysfunction grew, arguments between politicians gave way to political violence in the streets. The stage was set for destructive civil wars--and ultimately the imperial reign of Augustus. The death of Rome's Republic was not inevitable. In Mortal Republic, Watts shows it died because it was allowed to, from thousands of small wounds inflicted by Romans who assumed that it would last forever.

In Mortal Republic, prize-winning historian Edward J. Watts offers a new history of the fall of the Roman Republic that explains why Rome exchanged freedom for autocracy. For centuries, even as Rome grew into the Mediterranean's premier military and political power, its governing institutions, parliamentary rules, and political customs successfully fostered negotiation and compromise. By the 130s BC, however, Rome's leaders increasingly used these same tools to cynically pursue individual gain and obstruct their opponents. As the center decayed and dysfunction grew, arguments between politicians gave way to political violence in the streets. The stage was set for destructive civil wars--and ultimately the imperial reign of Augustus. The death of Rome's Republic was not inevitable. In Mortal Republic, Watts shows it died because it was allowed to, from thousands of small wounds inflicted by Romans who assumed that it would last forever.