15 of the Best Books on Roman History – Book Riot

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If historical eras were pet choices, ancient Rome would probably be a dog; nearly everyone likes it, some people are really into it, and its one of the first go-to examples whenever people talk about the subject. Ancient Rome has loomed large in factual and fictional writing pretty much since the era ended indeed, some of the most influential and best books on Roman history were written while it was still happening and the Roman world has provided the setting for everything from films and TV series to comics (vive lAsterix!)

With the wealth of information out there on Roman history, its sometimes difficult to know where to begin as a new reader and researcher in the field. The Roman Empire lasted for over a millennium and spanned a huge chunk of the world; there are hundreds of different sub-fields to study, and thousands of important events and figures that had an impact on this crucial period in human history. Whether a reader wants to learn about the early days of Rome, when it was a small town in Italy instead of the massive global force it would become, or look into the final years of the Roman era as it became the Byzantine Empire, there is plenty for budding historians to grapple with. These books are just a few of the great entry points into the field of ancient Roman history.

While there are many interesting texts for scholars of ancient Rome to read and study, the field of Roman history is dominated by white authors, and there are few texts by authors of colour available. This is part of a wider issue with a general underrepresentation of historians of colour, both in academia and in historical publishing. However, new media is an area where historians of colour have been able to share their research and perspectives, and there are several excellent podcasts out there focusing on Black history and history from the perspectives of other people of colour, such as Witness Black History, The Black History Buff Podcast, Historically Black, and Asian American History 101.

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If you want to dive deeper into the history of the ancient world, try 100 Must-Read Books about Ancient History. If you want to theme your reading around a significant day in Roman history, check out 6 Books About Rome for the Ides of March.

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15 of the Best Books on Roman History - Book Riot