The Roman Empire
Jacob F. Field has written several books of popular history, engaging works that manage to appeal both to novices and history enthusiasts alike. For example, who could resist The History of Europe in Bite-Sized Chunks – which covers the whole of European history in under 200 pages? Or A Short History of the World in 50 Conspiracies?
Field has now turned his attention to the Roman Empire, one of history’s most influential civilizations. He traces the Roman Empire from its republican origins through the imperial golden age and eventual collapse, highlighting key emperors, military campaigns, political intrigues and social developments along the way. Field’s real strength is the way that he can take quite complex material – the Punic Wars, the reign of Augustus, the fall of the Western Empire – and explain it in a concise yet interesting manner. The language is always accessible and readable.
Readers looking for deep scholarly analysis of the issues will undoubtedly be disappointed; but, given the scope of the work and its size, it would be unrealistic to expect this. What it does offer is an excellent introduction to understanding some of the key issues of the time, albeit briefly, while it also gives the general reader sufficient grounding to pursue further research if they are so minded.
What is also noteworthy is the balanced perspective that Field takes on Roman civilization. He celebrates Rome’s achievements in governance, engineering, law and military organisation, but he also acknowledges the brutality of slavery, political corruption and imperial conquest. Our view of Rome would be incomplete without an understanding of both sides.
In all, an enjoyable read, whether as an introduction to the topic for students or casual readers, or as a succinct reminder for those more familiar with the ground it covers.
