There was no standing army so all able bodied citizens had to serve in the legions, effecting every family. More importantly, Rome was a martial society. The Gauls and Hannibal put in very brief appearances. These characters are essentially not allowed beyond the city gates - even in their heads. Many of the characters are prominent citizens who would be directly involved in great events. This is not an academic history, but everything has context. Little is said of the Etruscans or relations with other states, or how the city state grew. First, for the most part, his Roma develops in a vacuum. While the author conscientiously (& at times too methodically) catalogs the development of roman institutions and customs over a millennia and is decent at retelling legends, I found he came up short in too many areas. My primary reason for listening was to combine a deeper understanding of early roman history with a good, immersive (20 hours)listen. Was this book worth 2 credits to me? No,I was disappointed. Linking the generations is a mysterious talisman as ancient as the city itself.Įpic in every sense of the word, Roma is a panoramic historical saga and Saylor's finest achievement to date. And one becomes the heir of Julius Caesar. One is born a slave and tempts a Vestal virgin to break her vows. Witnessing this history, and sometimes playing key roles, are the descendents of two of Rome's first families: the Potitius and Pinarius clans. Roma recounts the tragedy of the hero-traitor Coriolanus, the capture of the city by the Gauls, the invasion of Hannibal, the bitter political struggles of the patricians and plebeians, and the ultimate death of Rome's Republic with the triumph, and assassination, of Julius Caesar. Weaving history, legend, and new archaeological discoveries into a spellbinding narrative, critically acclaimed novelist Steven Saylor gives new life to the drama of the city's first 1,000 years - from the founding of the city by the ill-fated twins Romulus and Remus, through Rome's astonishing ascent to become the capital of the most powerful empire in history.
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