Ancient Romans Expanding the Classical Tradition

by Baker, Rosalie F.; Baker, Charles F.

• ISBN13: 9780195108842
• ISBN10: 0195108841
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-04-02
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

"As for life, it is a battle and a journey in a strange land."--Emperor Marcus Aurelius Seeking to control an empire that spread throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond, the ancient Romans developed a distinctive culture in which they adapted many Greek ideas and styles but also created a wealth of new ones. The Roman heritage continues to affect our architecture, government,military, language, laws, and literature. Ancient Romans chronicles the lives and accomplishments of Roman figures whose influence continues to be felt today. We read about Romans from all walks of life, from the rebel gladiator Spartacus to the poets, historians, and playwrights who documented Roman life, to the many emperors (and some oftheir wives) who governed the empire. In 46 essays, Rosalie and Charles Baker explore the lives of these fascinating personalities, from the most famous Romans to people who are usually overlooked, including: * Juvenal, a master satirist who ridiculed Rome as a haven for crime, free spending, and other social evils * Livia, wife of Rome's first emperor (Augustus), mother of Rome's second (Tiberius), and grandmother of Rome's fourth (Claudius) * Mark Antony, the general and statesman whose life and romance with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra have been re-created throughout history by writers and actors * Virgil, the poet who composed the Aeneid, the national epic of Rome * Cicero, the statesman, lawyer, and orator * Nero, who became emperor at age 16 and went on to rebuild Rome after a disastrous fire and to foster peace throughout his empire The biographies span the years 396 B.C. to A.D. 410. Each includes a handy fact box that lists birth and death dates and the major accomplishments of each person profiled. In addition, abundant illustrations and specially commissioned maps, an appendix chronicling the lives of legendary heroes andheroines of early Rome, a table of Roman emperors and their reigns, a family tree that traces the Julian and Claudian families, a timeline, a glossary of Roman terms, an index of Romans by profession, and suggestions for further reading all add to the usefulness of this exceptional reference. Withfigures from fields as diverse as literature, politics, the military, and philosophy, Ancient Romans provides a comprehensive examination of the origins of modern civilization.

Author Biography

Rosalie F. and Charles F. Baker III are the editors of Calliope: World History for Young People and both are former teachers.

Table of Contents

The Relentless Rise to Power (396-78 B.C.)	p. 11
Camillus (Marcus Furius Camillus)	p. 13
Scipio Africanus (Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus)	p. 16
Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato)	p. 23
Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus)	p. 29
Terence (Publius Terentius Afer)	p. 32
The Gracchi Brothers (Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus and Gaius Sempronius Gracchus)	p. 36
Marius (Gaius Marius)	p. 42
Sulla (Lucius Cornelius Sulla)	p. 48
More Ancient Romans to Remember	p. 54
Prosperity and Power (73-30 B.C.)	p. 62
Spartacus	p. 64
Crassus (Marcus Licinius Crassus)	p. 68
Pompey (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus)	p. 73
Caesar (Gaius Julius Caesar)	p. 81
Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero)	p. 90
Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius)	p. 97
Catullus (Gaius Valerius Catullus)	p. 103
More Ancient Romans to Remember	p. 107
An Empire Emerges (30 B.C.-A.D. 37)	p. 113
Augustus (Gaius Octavius)	p. 114
Agrippa (Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa)	p. 122
Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro)	p. 126
Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus)	p. 131
Livy (Titus Livius)	p. 136
Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)	p. 140
Tiberius (Tiberius Claudius Nero)	p. 145
Livia (Livia Drusilla)	p. 151
More Ancient Romans to Remember	p. 155
The Empire Expands (A.D. 37-98)	p. 161
Claudius (Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus)	p. 162
Nero (Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus)	p. 167
Agrippina the Younger (Agrippina Minor)	p. 172
Seneca (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)	p. 175
Vespasian (Titus Flavius Vespasianus)	p. 179
Domitian (Titus Flavius Domitianus)	p. 184
Martial (Marcus Valerius Martialis)	p. 188
Tacitus (Publius, or Gaius, Cornelius Tacitus)	p. 191
Pliny the Younger (Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus)	p. 195
More Ancient Romans to Remember	p. 200
Preserving the Roman World (A.D. 98-410)	p. 209
Trajan (Marcus Ulpius Traianus)	p. 210
Hadrian (Publius Aelius Hadrianus)	p. 215
Juvenal (Decimus Junius Juvenalis)	p. 220
Marcus Aurelius (Marcus Annius Verus)	p. 223
Septimius Severus	p. 227
Diocletian (Diocles)	p. 231
Constantine the Great (Constantine I)	p. 235
Theodosius the Great (Theodosius I)	p. 240
More Ancient Romans to Remember	p. 243
Legendary Heroes and Heroines of Early Rome	p. 249
Ancient Roman Emperors	p. 254
Julian and Claudian Families	p. 255
Timeline of Events in the Roman World	p. 256
Glossary	p. 258
Further Reading	p. 261
Index of Ancient Romans by Profession	p. 263
Index	p. 264
Maps
The Mediterranean World, 218 B.C.-201 B.C.
Early Italy and Early Rome, 250 B.C.
The Roman World under Julius Caesar, 49 B.C.-44 B.C.
Imperial Rome, 27 B.C.-A.D. 408
Roman Provinces at the Height of the Empire, A.D. 117
The World of Ancient Rome, 390 B.C.-A.D. 410
Cities in Italy, 396 B.C.-A.D. 408
The Roman Forum, 27 B.C.-A.D. 408
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