Exploring Eras and Pivotal Events
A complete account of Rome’s conquest of Greece and Macedonia: from the alliance with Philip V to Flamininus’s victory at Cynoscephalae, the war against Antiochus III, the destruction of Corinth by Mummius, and the transformation of Greece into a Roman province, along with the profound economic, social, and cultural changes in Rome following these victories.
A comprehensive study of the causes, course, and consequences of the Roman agrarian and social revolutions: the economic roots in cheap imported grain and the spread of large estates worked by slaves, the reforms and tragic fate of the Gracchi brothers, the rise of Marius and the Social War, and the dictatorship and bloody restoration of Sulla that ended the first phase of the Roman Revolution.
A detailed examination of the oligarchic reaction after Sulla’s death: the corruption of government and courts, the rise of millionaires like Crassus, Atticus, and Lucullus, the changing role and freedoms of women, the moral resistance of Cato the Younger, the great slave revolt led by Spartacus, and the political maneuvers of Pompey and Cicero that set the stage for Caesar’s rise.
An exploration of Latin literature amid the turmoil of the Roman Revolution: Lucretius’s philosophical poem, Catullus’s passionate love lyrics and invectives, Sallust’s historical monographs, Cicero’s philosophical treatises and orations, and the scholarly efforts of Varro and Nepos to preserve and condense ancient knowledge.
A comprehensive account of the life and career of Gaius Julius Caesar: his early scandals and political apprenticeship, his rise through consulship and military command in Gaul, his conquest of Gaul and Britain, the civil war against Pompey, his dictatorship and sweeping reforms of Roman government, economy, and society, and his assassination by the conspirators led by Brutus.
This article examines the events following the assassination of Julius Caesar, the rivalry between Mark Antony and Octavian, the formation of the Second Triumvirate, and ultimately the collapse of the Roman Republic. It explores the roles of key figures such as Brutus, Cassius, and Cleopatra, showing how these conflicts led to the rise of the Roman Empire.
A comprehensive account of Octavian’s rise to power, the founding of the Roman Empire, his political, economic, and moral reforms, the religious and cultural revival, his family challenges, and his death as the architect of the “Roman Peace” that brought the longest era of prosperity in ancient history.
A vivid portrait of the literary and cultural flowering under Augustus: the motives behind his patronage of arts and letters, the revival of classical forms and Roman pride, the major poets (Virgil, Horace) and historians (Livy), the flourishing of libraries and public reading, and the erotic rebellion in the poetry of Tibullus, Propertius, and especially Ovid, whose exile marked the end of this brilliant era.
A narrative of the era of the emperors after Augustus to the end of the Flavian dynasty: Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, the three emperors of 69, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian; focusing on personal motivations, administrative reforms, wars, court corruption, and the transition from constitutional government to absolute monarchy, along with the cultural and moral influences of the period.
Will Durant in the third volume of The Story of Civilization examines the principles of literary style, correction of writing, and the lives of two prominent poets of the Roman Empire. Quintilian teaches eloquence and moral literary standards, Statius composes with tenderness and kindness, while Martial depicts everyday Roman life through sharp and realistic epigrams.
Will Durant describes the economic life of the Roman Empire under the early emperors. Agriculture shifted toward large estates and specialized crops like olives and wine, while industry remained mostly small-scale and household-based. Trade flourished across the Mediterranean thanks to excellent roads, ships, and engineering marvels such as aqueducts and harbors. Bankers and social classes supported a complex but ultimately unbalanced economy.
Will Durant in the third volume of The Story of Civilization examines Roman art, which was largely derivative of Greek models yet achieved originality in engineering, realism, and arched architecture. Romans despised living artists but revered past masterpieces. Architecture reached grandeur through vaults, domes, and vast baths; realistic sculpture and wall painting advanced; and the imperial capital became a magnificent, crowded metropolis.
