Roaming Through the Past
Written: Aug 05 '01 (Updated Aug 06 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: excellent summation of a long stretch of history
Cons: a little dense--heavy on the facts
The Bottom Line: Outstanding account of an important part of history.
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| pambo's Full Review: History of Rome |
Noted historian Michael Grant has written an authoritative and academic, yet highly readable, book in his History of Rome.
The author of such books as the Twelve Caesars and The Founders of the Western World takes us from the early days before Rome's founding right up through to the death of Justinian in AD 565.
He immediately identifies the question that most plagues modern readers of history: should we admire or condemn Rome? Which Rome are we talking about? The one that laid the foundations for modern Western culture and then spread it across three continents? Or the Rome that brutalized the subjugated, fed Christians and others from the bottom of its society to the lions?
He homes in on the key question, which is, why did the Byzantine empire survive for so much longer while Rome itself fell victim to the disunity prevalent in the West? He concludes that geography was a factor, as was a better social unity present in the eastern cultures. He also cites the strength of the middle class in the east, with a more stable political structure to protect and be protected, as factors.
While a serious work, not to be read lightly, Grant gives us little tidbits about social matters that are amusing and fascinating.
About Constantine the Great he writes: "Constantine himself was baptized at the very end of his life, after postponing this step, like many of his co-religionists, until his deathbed when he could sin no more."
This raises all kinds of interesting questions about the strength of faith and sense of confidence that they'd be able to know when they were dying.
Compounding the issue is Grant's notation that Constantine viewed himself as Christ's 13th apostle, and that many historians view him as the point at which antiquity and the newer ages divided.
Numerous illustrations, maps and photos, accompany the text, showing such artifacts as the handle of an Etruscan bronze chest showing soldiers carrying a fallen comrade to a manuscript by Cicero to numerous depictions of coins from several eras.
Grant relies on considerable research, citing ancient as well as more modern texts. Clearly, this was a labor of love, making the book well worth your time.
Recommended:
Yes
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pambo
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Member: Pam
Location: Long Island
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