Overview

An authoritative account of Ancient Rome, its political and military history, art, architecture and culture, sumptously illustrated throughout with 1000 photographs and reproductions, chronicling the story of the most important and influential civilisation the world has ever known. The first half of this magnificent book focuses on the political and military history of Rome. The assassination of Julius Caesar, Nero fiddling while Rome burns, the building of Hadrian’s Wall – the truth behind these and many other events are explored in this account of the rise and fall of a mighty empire. The second half focuses on Rome’s influence on the development of world art, architecture and society. Detailed drawings of the Colosseum and other World Heritage buildings reveal Roman techniques and architectural styles. Ancient letters, records and artworks show how real people lived during one of the cultural peaks of world history.