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Comprehensive Catalogues

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History

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Period-specific studies

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Books and Websites about Books

RR_Bronze_Rarities

History

There are thousands of history books that address the Roman Republic and this is not the place to survey them. However I have a number of favourites that are particularly good in breathing life into ancient coins, ranging from tiny introductory handbooks to multi-volume academic works.

My Favourites

Classics, A Very Short Introduction, John Henderson, 2000

This tiny book, the story of a Greek temple in Arcadia, is a gem that everyone should read. It is relevant to Roman Republican numismatics because of its crisp and compelling illumination of the historical methods used to establish everything we know about the ancient world.

The Roman Republic, Andrew Lintott, 2000

A miniature history of the Republic (100 pages, small format) from an eminent historian.

Rubicon: the last years of the Roman Republic, Tom Holland, 2003

A history of the Imperatorial period written with the colour and readability of good fiction.

The Roman Republic, Michael Crawford, 1978

A surprisingly in-depth analysis of Republican history considering its small paperback format. Inevitably, given Crawford’s interest in the subject there is a good focus on economic history based on his own work.

Atlas of the Roman World; Tim Cornell & John Matthews, 1982

An illustrated history with great maps, readable as a stand-alone book as well as being a reference. It is particularly good in understanding the early Republic, not well covered in most modern books. I do not recommend The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome (1995), its maps are poor quality and since most cover the entire Mediterranean they are useless for details.

Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World, Princeton University, 2000

A 1:500,000 scale large format topographical atlas of the Mediterranean world, this is a real luxury purchase. No-one actually needs an atlas as detailed, beautiful and expensive as Barrington if you are just looking for the major mint cities and battle-grounds, but it is wonderful to browse the ancient Roman world as the Romans would have visualised it. The battles, troop movements and alliances of the ancient world make much more sense when seen in their topographical context so that you realise that towns 100km apart on the same river valley or coastline are ‘closer’ than towns 20km apart but separated by mountains with no connecting ancient road.

Ancient Rome from the early Republic to the assassination of Julius Caesar; Matthew Dillon & Lynda Garland, 2005

This is a fascinating source-book, a collection of inscriptions and writings, as well as references to coins, intended to illustrate the breadth of social, political and economic history of the Roman Republic. The range of topics is amazing (from “the market price of a comedian” to “growing senatorial hostility towards Caesar”), the extracts are edited down to the very best lines, and there are illuminating commentaries throughout. Great to dip into. Coins are referenced in many places as historical source documents. Anyone who bought “The Mammoth Book of How it Happened: Ancient Rome” (2003), a source-book aimed at the best-seller market, should throw it away and buy this book instead, the Mammoth book consists of lengthy extracts without comment or context, as dull as this is sparkling.

Chronicle of the Roman Republic, Philip Matyszak, 2003

An illustrated history of the Republic told through the lives of its great leaders. Many coins illustrated. With today’s trend towards ignoring history prior to the civil wars of 49-30BC, this book puts Flamininus, the Scipios, Marius etc. on their proper pedestal.

The History of Rome, Theodore Mommsen, 1854-56

This is a Nobel-prize winning (Literature, 1902) history of Rome from the earliest times to the death of Caesar. It has wonderful use of language as befits a Nobel laureate. His interpretations, particularly of party politics in the late Republic, do not always accord with modern views but this doesn’t detract from the facts or the storytelling. The original has 3 volumes and 2000 pages but there are inexpensive abridged versions that retain the best aspects of the work.

The Cambridge Ancient History, Volumes VII(2), VIII, IX, X, 1989-1996

Definitive, authoritative, expensive but surprisingly readable. In my view it is worth the high cost because there is a freshness and novelty to the text, a sense of reading the newest and very best interpretation, that results from the various authors having personally researched their material – right down to the archaeological dig - rather than merely replaying the works of others.

Parallel Lives of the Greeks and Romans, Plutarch

Plutarch is perhaps the most accessible ancient historian for the Roman Republic (Livy and Polybius are hard work). If interested in other ancient sources I suggest you first get Dillon and Garland’s book, it will give you a taste of what else is out there (e.g. Cicero’s letters). The Loeb edition is the classic translation of Plutarch, now out of copyright it is available free on the LacusCurtius website:

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/home.html

Steven Saylor and Colleen McCullough’s novels

Although fiction, these two extended series of novels are historically accurate and bring to life the main characters of the last 100 years of the Republic from Marius to Antony, as well as daily life. Saylor’s books are a zippier light read, McCullough’s are ideal for long holidays. Other authors are either less good (Alan Massie) or downright bad (JM Roberts’ SPQR series).