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Book Cover for: Before Augustus: The Collapse of the Roman Republic, Natale Barca

Before Augustus: The Collapse of the Roman Republic

Natale Barca

Based on a study of ancient sources and contemporary literature, this is a fast paced and compelling new account of the tempestuous last century of the Roman Republic.

The political process that culminated in the transition from Republic to Empire in ancient Rome began with the military reform of Caius Marius in the last decades of the 2nd century BC. Following the Civil War and Sulla's dictatorship, it developed further with the First Triumvirate of Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus, and two further civil wars. These wars, which saw Caesar pitted against Pompey, and Octavian fighting Anthony, ended in 27 BC with the rise to power of Octavian, the adoptive son of Caesar.

Before Augustus outlines a summary of the last years of the Roman Republic, weaving together the military, political, and social aspects. Scholar Natale Barca sets the protagonists within the complex societal and political system that they operated, analyzing their actions, and the epic battles that ensued.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Casemate
  • Publish Date: Jun 1st, 2023
  • Pages: 384
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 9.06in - 5.98in - 1.18in - 1.58lb
  • EAN: 9781636242323
  • Categories: Ancient - RomeMilitary - Ancient

About the Author

Barca, Natale: - Natale Barca is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. He has also been a visiting scholar researcher at the University of California, Berkely, CA, and an academic visitor at the University of London's Institute of Classical Studies. As well as being a member of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies (Roman Society), London, he is the author of fifteen monographs, many focused on the political and military history of Late Republican Rome.

Praise for this book

"...the author does an admirable job of showing just how complicated and interconnected all the great patrician families were and how their jealousies and rivalries ultimately led to their undoing and the end of the great Roman Republic."-- "New York Journal of Books"
"[A] seminal study drawing upon both ancient sources and on contemporary literature. [Before Augustus] is an impressively presented, extraordinarily informative, and exceptionally detailed and documented account of the tempestuous last century of the Roman Republic before it became fully transformed into the Roman Empire. Strong recommended..."-- "Midwest Book Review"
"[A] must-read for anyone interested in ancient history... Barca masterfully weaves together military, political, and social aspects, analyzing the actions of the key figures and the epic battles that ensued. Before Augustus is an excellent addition to the study of Roman history and a highly recommended read."-- "Books World"
"...like a compelling novel, [Before Augustus] is dense, clear, well documented. Barca, writing with the historical present, talks about everything: political intrigues, wars, big companies, political assassinations, consuls, the Senate, popular assemblies." (trans.)--SFOGLIA ROMA