Summary
The influence of the Roman Empire has been widespread and profound, perhaps more so than that of any other empire or civilization. Rome laid the foundation for many of the institutions and ideas in the modern Western world, including the common political and legal systems. Roman ruins can still be found in distant England, and Roman aqueducts still bring fresh drinking water to modern Rome. Other legacies of the Roman Empire include concrete, pizza, sports arenas, and many English words.
Featuring full-color photographs and maps, summaries of key people and key sites, primary source documents, a chronology, glossary, bibliography, and up-to-date further resources, Empire of Ancient Rome, Fourth Edition opens with a brief summary of the Roman Empire and provides an account of the world and geographic area in the years leading up to the empire. In an easy-to-follow format, this volume covers the growth of Rome as a republic, the political and social forces that drove the transition to a dictatorship of Caesars, the reasons for Rome's eventual decline, and what happened to the remnants of the empire.
About the Author(s)
Michael Burgan has written numerous books for young adults. Many of his books have focused on history, geography, and the lives of world leaders.
Historical consultant Clifford Ando, Ph.D. is David B. and Clara E. Stern Professor of Humanities and Professor of Classics, History, and Law at the University of Chicago. He is the author of Imperial Ideology and Provincial Loyalty in the Roman Empire, winner of the Charles J. Goodwin Award of Merit from the American Philological Association, among other books. His current research examines problems of law, administration and cultural change in the Roman Empire.