Customer Reviews
A good introduction to ordinary life under the Ceasers. - By: Bruno, 15 Sep 2008 
A very short introduction to life under the Roman Empire would be a more accurate title, though to say this isn't really a criticism of this solidly written primer. It more than succeedsin giving a flavour of what it meant for the ordinary citizen to live under Roman rule, though perhaps those wanting to learn about the Empire for the first time would probably like a few more chronological narratives.
I did found the book to be a little patchy. It seems to get bogged down a little earlyin over detailed comparisons of how this obscure townin Asia Minor paid homage to the Emperor compared to another obscure townin Asia Minor down the Roman road. However, it more than comes to life when discussing matters such as the Christian conversion of the empire, a subject particularly illuminated by the author's approach of looking at the man on the street - here giving us the mindset of both the early persecuted Christians & the sense of bewilderment, mixed with sadism & fear, of the Amphitheatre crowds who watched them being tortured, burnt & thrown to the Lions.
The final chapter, the inevitable look at Rome through the eyes of later ages (itself interpreted through the subjective lens of 21st century fashionable post-modernist academia) isn't quite as revealing as it could have been. But, allin all, the book serves its purpose ; to convey a sense of the ordinary & mundane that is often obscured by the magnificence of the most legendary of empires.
Slim but powerful Introduction - By: Jon Chambers, 17 Jan 2008 
This excellent introduction to the Roman Empire is succinct & selective rather than superficial. Its compass ranges from the iconography of the Imperial cult to contemporary perceptions of Romein the cinema.
Far from being a conventional, political history centred on the Roman elite, Kelly is most impressive when trying to recreate the ordinary lives of the silent & all but invisible majority, who have left no historical trace & only the faintest of impressionsin the archaeological record. He is especially interesting & perceptive when writing about elusive topics like population studies within the Empire. Hard evidence on such matters is, naturally, very scant. Kelly uses statistical models & contemporary demographic studies of the developing world to reach his conclusions, some of which are startling - for example, the life expectancy at birth for emperors who died from natural causes between the 1st & 7th centuries: 26.3 years (no greater, therefore, than the life expectancy of peoplein much poorer & less privileged social groups).
This slim volume manages to be authoritative, concise & thought-provoking. Anyone wanting to follow up some of the issues raised, meanwhile, can make good use of its extensive bibliography.
Excursions through Imperial Rome - By: Peter Reeve, 25 Jun 2007 This Very Short Introduction is blessedly free of the typos that usually infect this otherwise excellent series, & for once, the illustrations are relevant, indeed central, to the text. There is a timeline & a very useful map at the end of the book, but the text itself is not a conventional, chronological narrative of the rise of Empire. It is rather a series of essays on a selection of topics, covering the period from Augustus to Commodus, that is, from around 30 BC to about AD 190. These excursions through aspects of the subject are concerned almost as much with how history is rewritten & reinterpreted as it is with the actual facts of history. There is an emphasis on architecture, particularly as an expression of social status & political ideology, an emphasis that will suit the taste of some readers more than others. The prose is clear & very readable, with the occasional topical, colloquial flourish ("The Empire writes back", "Through the keyhole") which can seem somewhat forced. Authoritative & illuminating, this little book is an essential addition to the reading list of anyone interestedin ancient history.
Roman empire - By: Spider Monkey, 05 Nov 2006 This is a brilliant introduction to this topic. It is no way dry or dull to read & gives great insight into Roman life & how they administered their empire. It looks at symbolsin Roman architecture & how they are used to increase the legend of the empire & emperor, as well as link into local tradition to prevent dissent. It also looks at local life & households, as well as Christians & their martyrdomin the Colosseum. You can find out what aspects of the empire intrigue you most before going on to the massive range of books out there that are more specific. Simply superb.
