Status
Available
Publication
London : Methuen & Co Ltd, 1976.
Description
From the Gracchi to Nero is an outstanding history of the Roman world from 133 BC to 68 AD. Fifty years since its first publication it is widely hailed as the classic survey of the period, going through many revised and updated editions until H.H. Scullard's death. It explores the decline and fall of the Roman Republic and the establishment of the Pax Romana under the early Principate. In superbly clear style, Scullard brings vividly to life Gracchi's attempts at reform, the rise. and fall of Marius and Sulfa, Pompey and Caesar, society and culture in the late Roman Republic, the Augustan Principate, Tiberius and Gaius, Claudius and. Nero, and economic and social life in the early Roman Empire. --Book Jacket.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Iacobus
Books like Scullard are essential for anyone who wants to engage with history. Where do you go after being intrigued by History Channel programs about the "mysteries" of the ancient world? You could hinge on colour photo exposes of Rome from the local discount bookstore. And photos and images are
Scullard was one of the postwar doyens of British classical scholarship. Sure this book is dated, last revised in 1982 and largely reflecting the concerns of the 1950s-1970s. But it is excellent as a readable introduction to the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. Most modern readers will struggle with some brief lines of untranslated Latin, but Scullard himself acknowledged this as an issue. Nowadays you can study ancient history without knowing Greek or Latin. Scullard's generation learnt it at school.
Once you have injested this introduction you will be well-equipped to read more deeply.
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very important. But to increase your insight and understanding of a period of history, overview histories by reputable historians such as this are essential. Scullard was one of the postwar doyens of British classical scholarship. Sure this book is dated, last revised in 1982 and largely reflecting the concerns of the 1950s-1970s. But it is excellent as a readable introduction to the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. Most modern readers will struggle with some brief lines of untranslated Latin, but Scullard himself acknowledged this as an issue. Nowadays you can study ancient history without knowing Greek or Latin. Scullard's generation learnt it at school.
Once you have injested this introduction you will be well-equipped to read more deeply.
Show Less
LibraryThing member dclxvispqr
One of the clearest, most balanced accounting of the Roman Republican period I have read. Scullard was able to summarize the scholarship and give fair treatment to various interpretations without seeming to have an axe to grind. Witty, engaging prose, and the footnotes are almost as good as the
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text. Although there is no general bibliography, the footnotes are immensely helpful. Show Less
LibraryThing member rcss67
My professor at the start of the course on Roman History from 60BC to 14AD praised this book for its conciseness and its suitability for undergraduates and lay readers entering upon a study of this fascinating time, but he lamented that some of it wa badly in need of an update. So good for
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beginners, read the footnotes for advice on where to look for a deeper examination of the issues. Show Less
LibraryThing member riskedom
Over the course of more than a year, I read this excellent Roman history one chunk at a time. It was well worth it. For good reason this is Scullard's most well known work. It is thorough, interesting and covers that important transition period of Roman history. He begins with the agrarian struggle
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which leads to the tottering and dysfunctional late Republic. This eventually settles into the successful constitutional settlement of Augustus and a well managed empire. Eventually, though Tiberius and Claudius were worthy successors of Augustus, Caligula and Nero bring about the moral and political collapse of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Scullard's chronology ends with the chaotic "Year of the Four Emperors". Chapters on literature, society, religion and the arts were enlightening though inescapably superficial surveys of the times. Like many ancient histories, Scullard extrapolates from outside of the covered time periods to supplement his generalizations. My heart longs to read this book again because there are so many fascinating characters in there. Knowing how long it took me to get through this once and how many other books distracted me from staying on task, I'm going to leave it alone and wait for the right moment and allow Scullard to distract me from some other book I'm trying to plow through. Show Less
LibraryThing member stillatim
Solid prose, great breadth, impeccable footnoting.
Language
Original publication date
1959
ISBN
0416560903 / 9780416560909