Ancient Rome is the story of the greatest empire the world has ever
known. Focusing on six turning points in Roman history, Simon Baker's
absorbing narrative charts the rise and fall of a political machine
unmatched in its brutality, genius, and lust for power. From the
conquest of the Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC to the destruction
of the empire at the hands of barbarian invaders 700 years later, we
discover the pivotal episodes in Roman history. At the heart of this
account are some of the most powerful rulers in history--men like Julius
Caesar, Augustus, Nero, and Constantine. Putting flesh on the bones of
these legendary figures, Baker looks beyond the dusty caricatures to
explore their real motivations, ambitions, intrigues, and rivalries. The
superb narrative, full of energy and imagination, is a brilliant
distillation of the latest scholarship and a wonderfully evocative
account of ancient Rome.