Review (Non-Fiction Book): SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard

Cambridge Professor of Classics Mary Beard brings us a recitation of the history of Rome, from the greatly mythologised founding of the city to the reformation of citizenship law under emperor Caracalla in 212 CE.

The book begins (after the prologue) with a griping account of the various myths surrounding the foundation of the city of Rome, including the famous legend of the brothers Romulus and Remus and also another popular legend of the establishment of the city as detailed by Ovid's Aeneid. The history of the early days of Rome are mired in mythology, with very little archaeological evidence available to substantiate the claims of the writings of ancient Roman historians.

Mary seamlessly weaves some of the greatest moments of Roman history into a brilliant chronology of the days of Roman dominance, from the establishment of the Roman Republic to the Republic's descent into violence and corruption, and the subsequent reformation of the Republic into the Roman Empire under Augustus. Not only does she recite the conquests, defeats and political upheaval of Rome over the centuries, but she also details the everyday Roman lifestyle, from recreational activities to the fashions of the time, and how said fashions served as a marker for political status, with senators and equestrians wearing togas and purple sashes, with senators wearing thicker sashes than the equestrians.

Despite its merit, it does suffer from one issue. Namely, Mary Beard opted to end the book at 212 CE, with only a very brief mention of the Crisis of the Third Century and the segregation of the Roman empire along the Western and Eastern halves. While she does explicitly state why she did this, it does leave one desiring a more in-depth recitation of the entirety of Roman history. Of course, there are other sources that does this well enough, but it does leave me wanting.

Despite this gripe, this is a book I would highly recommend to anyone interested in Roman history. It is an excellent read.

4/5

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