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Ten Caesars

Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine

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Ten Caesars

By: Barry Strauss
Narrated by: Arthur Morey
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About this listen

 Bestselling classical historian Barry Strauss delivers “an exceptionally accessible history of the Roman Empire…much of Ten Caesars reads like a script for Game of Thrones” (The Wall Street Journal)—a summation of three and a half centuries of the Roman Empire as seen through the lives of ten of the most important emperors, from Augustus to Constantine.

In this essential and “enlightening” (The New York Times Book Review) work, Barry Strauss tells the story of the Roman Empire from rise to reinvention, from Augustus, who founded the empire, to Constantine, who made it Christian and moved the capital east to Constantinople.

During these centuries Rome gained in splendor and territory, then lost both. By the fourth century, the time of Constantine, the Roman Empire had changed so dramatically in geography, ethnicity, religion, and culture that it would have been virtually unrecognizable to Augustus. Rome’s legacy remains today in so many ways, from language, law, and architecture to the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Strauss examines this enduring heritage through the lives of the men who shaped it: Augustus, Tiberius, Nero, Vespasian, Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Diocletian, and Constantine. Over the ages, they learned to maintain the family business—the government of an empire—by adapting when necessary and always persevering no matter the cost.

Ten Caesars is a “captivating narrative that breathes new life into a host of transformative figures” (Publishers Weekly). This “superb summation of four centuries of Roman history, a masterpiece of compression, confirms Barry Strauss as the foremost academic classicist writing for the general reader today” (The Wall Street Journal). Ancient Europe Historical Rome Western Europe Ancient History Italy Middle Ages

Critic Reviews

"Narrator Arthur Morey makes listening to this examination of 10 notable Caesars, from Augustus to Constantine, an easy pleasure. He narrates with understanding and insight, providing the context of their times and delivering the sense of the text with appropriate nuances of judgment and feeling. He has a seemingly relaxed but attentive way of considering and conveying the material that makes his narration sound casual and smart at the same time. As he makes the audiobook sound like a series of informative stories, one might think simply sounding conversational is natural and easy. But it takes great talent, skill, and tact to sound so nonchalantly affable while giving the right interpretation with the right pronunciation, intonation, and clear but unobtrusive intelligence."
All stars
Most relevant
A very useful overview of this era of the Roman Empire. A candid and informative book, written in an engaging style with good narration. A very helpful insight into this period of Roman history and its emperors, as it reached the zenith of its power and influence in the Middle East. The growth of Christianity during this period was significant, and this book provides a useful secular insight into how Rome adapted and morphed to accommodate this shift. Well worth purchasing if you want to learn more about this significant epoch of history.

Excellent

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Ten Caesars provides a panoramic view of the Roman Empire. It is an ambitious piece of scholarship that is engaging and insightful. Barry Strauss provides a persuasive thesis on how Rome was able to endure over time and the spread of Christianity. A real joy.

A masterpiece

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