
A Short History of Ancient Rome
Pascal Hughes(Author)
Bantam Books (Publisher)
Published on 23. October 2025
Book
Hardback
352 pages
978-0-85750-814-0 (ISBN)
Description
'Packed with more detail and colour than many books twice its size, Hughes brings the epic story of Rome vividly to life.'
PAUL COOPER, HOST AND AUTHOR OF FALL OF CIVILIZATIONS
Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the Roman world, and meet its most intriguing and influential characters, as this immersive account brings 1000 years of history to life.
Immerse yourself in the dramatic and thrilling thousand-year story of Ancient Rome. Combining impeccable research with action packed storytelling, this riveting short history explores the inception, expansion and ultimate fall of one of the greatest empires the world has ever known.
Walk Rome's bustling streets, witness the fearsome exploits of its all-conquering army and step into the opulent corridors of its palaces and pioneering building projects. Follow Hannibal as he crosses the snowcapped Alps with elephants in tow, shadow Julius Caesar as he ponders whether to cross the Rubicon river, and look on as Cicero delivers an impassioned speech to the Senate.
In a Bacchanalian feast of despotic rulers, colossal conquests, visionary women, gladiator games and the daily life of Roman citizens and subjects, A Short History of Ancient Rome charts the dramatic twists
and turns of the kingdom, the republic, the empire and its decline, as you navigate this crucial period in history.
PAUL COOPER, HOST AND AUTHOR OF FALL OF CIVILIZATIONS
Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the Roman world, and meet its most intriguing and influential characters, as this immersive account brings 1000 years of history to life.
Immerse yourself in the dramatic and thrilling thousand-year story of Ancient Rome. Combining impeccable research with action packed storytelling, this riveting short history explores the inception, expansion and ultimate fall of one of the greatest empires the world has ever known.
Walk Rome's bustling streets, witness the fearsome exploits of its all-conquering army and step into the opulent corridors of its palaces and pioneering building projects. Follow Hannibal as he crosses the snowcapped Alps with elephants in tow, shadow Julius Caesar as he ponders whether to cross the Rubicon river, and look on as Cicero delivers an impassioned speech to the Senate.
In a Bacchanalian feast of despotic rulers, colossal conquests, visionary women, gladiator games and the daily life of Roman citizens and subjects, A Short History of Ancient Rome charts the dramatic twists
and turns of the kingdom, the republic, the empire and its decline, as you navigate this crucial period in history.
Reviews / Votes
Packed with more detail and colour than many books twice its size, Hughes brings the epic story of Rome vividly to life -- Paul Cooper * host and author of Fall of Civilizations * A vibrant story of ancient Rome's triumphs and tragedies, bringing life to the men and women whose deeds and legacies shaped the western world. -- Dr David Gwynn * author of The Roman Republic: A Very Short Introduction *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Transworld Publishers Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 225 mm
Width: 148 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-85750-814-0 (9780857508140)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Pascal Hughes
A Short History of Ancient Rome
Book
04/2026
Penguin (Transworld)
€15.50
Available immediately

Pascal Hughes
A Short History of Ancient Rome
From the hit 'Short History of...' podcast, this immersive book brings the Roman world to life
E-Book
10/2025
Transworld Digital
€9.99
Available for download
Person
Pascal Hughes is the founder and CEO of Noiser, a podcast production company creating qualitative podcasts for history lovers. Noiser is the home of 11 history-related podcasts, with a total of over 500 million downloads to date across its network. Pascal writes material for some of the podcasts and is the author of Short History of Ancient Rome.