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The Rise of Rome

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The Rise of Rome

By: The Great Courses, Gregory S. Aldrete
Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
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About this listen

The Roman Republic is one of the most breathtaking civilizations in world history. Between roughly 500 BCE to the turn of the millennium, a modest city-state developed an innovative system of government and expanded into far-flung territories across Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. This powerful civilization inspired America's founding fathers, gifted us a blueprint for amazing engineering innovations, left a vital trove of myths, and has inspired the human imagination for 2,000 years.

How did Rome become so powerful? This mystery has vexed historians from the ancient Greek writer Polybius to 21st century scholars. Today, removed as we are from the Roman Republic, historians also wonder what it was like to be a Roman citizen in that amazing era. Beyond the familiar names of Romulus, Caesar, Octavian, Brutus, and Mark Antony, what was life like for the ordinary people? And what did the conquered peoples think of this world power?

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2018 The Teaching Company, LLC; 2018 The Great Courses Ancient World Rome Ancient History Rome Great
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I heard Gregory speak on the Lex Fridman podcast, so thought I would check this out. Needless to say, I was blown away. Gregory's performance and delivery of this great course is an absolute pleasure to listen to. Will be on my list of re-listens for sure.

Outstanding

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Enjoyable overview of the Roman Republic. Whilst there are several topics within the lecture series that would have benefited from further elaboration and explanation, these lectures provide a great introduction to the Roman Republic.

Solid overview

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I was disappointed and surprised by the latin pronunciation of a lecturer specialized in ancient Roman history. It was rarely correct, either you expect to ear the ecclesiastical or the classical (restituta) one. Furthermore, many translations (and explanations) of latin words were at least arguable. For example, its comparison of ‘dignitas’ with the modern concept of fame, or ‘pudicitia’ with modesty, is misleading.
However, I must admit that I found the selection of anecdotes and key moments of Roman history exhaustive.
In conclusion, not to use as reference for latin pronunciation or translation but a good historic summary. Keeping that in mind, recommended.

Disappointing but yet useful

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