Good history book for this time period?

[dharper]

I'm looking forward to playing this game, but aside from the Punic Wars, I know almost nothing about the Roman Republic, let alone the other countries in the game. The empire after it, sure; the Diadochi before it, somewhat. The Republic? Not so much.

What would be a good place to learn more about the Mediterranean in this era?

 

[unmerged(6160)]

they're fictional, but the Colleen McCollough series is really very good for about 110-45 BCE

 

[Charest]

I suggest François Chamoux, the Hellenistic Civilisation, or the Greek Civilisation, or, best of all, both.

 

[Imperium Dei]

You'll find some such recommendations in this thread

 

[kierun]

You'll find some such recommendations in this thread

You beat me to it!

Lots of the books recommended there are very good.

 

[Raczynski]

they're fictional, but the Colleen McCollough series is really very good for about 110-45 BCE

Seconded

 

[Nikolai]

I had a great time reading the Swedish historian Grimberg's world history a few years back. He has several books centered around Greece and Rome. I don't know if he is available in English though. The books are quite old too, the last one was written in the 50s, but it's a great read nonetheless.

 

[SirGrotius]

I would say that Livy's Early History of Rome is essential reading and enjoyable to boot.

 

[Swamp Rat]

I would say that Livy's Early History of Rome is essential reading and enjoyable to boot.

And then top it of with Polybius. But the two authors collected works would probably prove a bit too bulky for a beginner on the subject. Probably going for a good introduction to the subject written by an historian would be the best course. Unfortunately im well into specialized reading in this subject so i dont really know of any good broad books on this.

 

[InnocentIII]

Sulla the Fortunate covers the social war and much of the internal struggle in Rome from around 100 BC. The Decline of the West talks about why it happened

 

[Tomdidiot]

Anything by Adrian Goldsworthy is good.

However, Goldsworthy focuses more on the wars and less on the political wrangling (except in his Caesar book)

He mainly draws from Polybius, so reading him should be like reading Polybius, with information inserted from other historians when Polybius' original text is missing. He also provides a lot of analysis.

 

[Piggy]

they're fictional, but the Colleen McCollough series is really very good for about 110-45 BCE

3rd'd

And while they are techincally fictional I believe she did alot of historical research to base them off.

As such I think these books could be called "historical fiction"

 

[unmerged(86561)]

I'm taking a Roman Civ. course in college right now. Our textbook is "A History of the Roman People" by Allen M. Ward. It is a textbook and a good one at that. But because its a textbook its a little pricey. Went for about $70 if I remember correctly. But this is a great book nontheless

 

[wiguy]

they're fictional, but the Colleen McCollough series is really very good for about 110-45 BCE

Would you say the books are entertaining? I'm looking for a new series to read (just finished the timeline-191 series by Harry Turtledove), and I'm looking into Masters of Rome. I'm not a historian, I just find history interesting. I'm worried that the 1000+ pages per book might be a little dense, or are they highly entertaining as well?

 

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Rubicon by Tom Holland.

 

[Fornadan]

Would you say the books are entertaining? I'm looking for a new series to read (just finished the timeline-191 series by Harry Turtledove), and I'm looking into Masters of Rome. I'm not a historian, I just find history interesting. I'm worried that the 1000+ pages per book might be a little dense, or are they highly entertaining as well?

I found those centered on Caesar a bit weak, but the first ones dealing with Marius and Sulla are well worth the read

 

[wiguy]

I found those centered on Caesar a bit weak, but the first ones dealing with Marius and Sulla are well worth the read

Thanks for answering, but you could you be a bit more specific? Are these books history books or books written for entertainment?

I'm reading a book now by David Downing, the Moscow Option. It's a fairly decent book when it comes to plausible outcomes of a few ahistorical situations, but it's not written for entertainment IMO, which makes it kinda boring and unengaging.

 

[Fornadan]

Thanks for answering, but you could you be a bit more specific? Are these books history books or books written for entertainment?

I'm reading a book now by David Downing, the Moscow Option. It's a fairly decent book when it comes to plausible outcomes of a few ahistorical situations, but it's not written for entertainment IMO, which makes it kinda boring and unengaging.

They are written for enterainment, but they appear well researched and you'll get a good overview of Roman politics by reading them.

iirc there are appendixes at the end where the author lay out which plot elements are her personal conjecture and reasons for doing so

 

[wiguy]

Sounds worth reading Thanks!

 

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Gibbon.