Jo-Ann Shelton's As the Romans Did is a fantastic resource for learning about the culture and society of Ancient Rome, but it's geared toward students, quotes fairly extensively from primary sources, and as a result can come off a bit textbooky.
It's accessible, however, and it's a very good catch-all for when you want to learn about various aspects of Roman life.
A more traditional history is Paul Zoch's Ancient Rome: An Introductory History. Despite the uninspired title, the book is a solid and accessible read, although fairly cursory; it spans the time between the traditional founding of Rome (753 BC) and the reign of Marcus Aurelius (180 AD) in a little under 300 pages. I'd probably recommend this one for you if you are looking for a general synopsis.
It's accessible, however, and it's a very good catch-all for when you want to learn about various aspects of Roman life.
A more traditional history is Paul Zoch's Ancient Rome: An Introductory History. Despite the uninspired title, the book is a solid and accessible read, although fairly cursory; it spans the time between the traditional founding of Rome (753 BC) and the reign of Marcus Aurelius (180 AD) in a little under 300 pages. I'd probably recommend this one for you if you are looking for a general synopsis.
Lifeless recitations of facts are much less interesting to me. Narrative histories may be more likely to have engaging writing, but I don't think it's a prerequisite.
The second recommendation sounds interesting. I'll look into it a little more. At 300 pages it might be a little too cursory, but as a general introduction that might be a good thing because, traditionally, I've often found myself bored by the Romans. And given the enormous role they played in the shaping of the western world, that really should not be so.
Warder to starry_nite
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
I'm looking for some history recommendations.
- 13/12/2011 06:02:35 PM
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What are you looking for in "Roman Empire"?
- 13/12/2011 06:38:34 PM
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Something fairly broad to start.
- 13/12/2011 06:45:32 PM
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Do you prefer your histories written like a narrative?
- 14/12/2011 03:13:28 AM
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As long as they're readable.
- 15/12/2011 03:24:12 PM
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Frances Yates
- 14/12/2011 08:05:17 PM
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Alas.
- 15/12/2011 03:26:56 PM
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Re: Alas.
- 15/12/2011 04:28:55 PM
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Are you saying a woman can't be a fellow? That's awfully sexist of you.
- 15/12/2011 04:53:11 PM
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