The Roman Empire

Up-to-date, scholarly and original, this is the ultimate introduction to the Roman Empire, what it was, why it is important and how to study it. The latest in our successful Classical Foundations series, undergraduate and new graduate students, both in the UK and the US, will find this an invaluable study aid.

Cleary set out in chapters, the book presents case studies, and giving special attention to English translations of ancient and modern writings, it examines approaches and areas of study on the Roman Empire, including conceptual, cultural, religious, economic and social issues. It looks at the rewards and limitations of resources available and it shows how these fields are wide open to the application of further methods and research.

Resources examined include, artwork, coins, contemporary literature and historian's references, and also includes the examination of the correspondence between two major figures: Pliny of Bithynia, and Pontus of Trajan.

Also including a summary of principal reference works, this book is an excellent starting point on the merits of studying history, and a unique 'how-to' of a fascinating period.