The History of Rome, Books 1 to 8

by Livy

An epic endeavor by a man genuinely enamored of his native Rome, Livy's "The History of Rome" was originally written in 142 books spanning the entire history of the Roman people up to Livy's day in the time of Augustus in the first century BC. While this Roman historian's monumental undertaking took most of his life, only 35 books still survive today. Livy begins with Aeneas' landing on Italy and the myth of Romulus and Remus' founding of Rome. He also thoroughly covers numerous wars, such as the Samnite Wars, the Punic Wars, and the Social War, as well as all of the rulers of Rome, including Julius Caesar, Nero, and Augustus. Though the work is a bit biased, its countless references to other sources are a testament of Livy's attempt to create an accurate, understandable history of the Roman Kingdom, and, later, the Republic. Simultaneously a glorification of Rome and a passionate warning to future Romans, "Ab Urbe Condita" reflects the magnificence and ignominy, the opinions and interests, and the myths and political realities of one of history's most remarkable civilizations. In this volume you will find books I-VIII of Livy's "Histories".

Genres: History, Classics, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Roman History, Reference

612 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 2010

About the author

Titus Livius (Patavinus) (64 or 59 BC – AD 17)—known as Livy in English, and Tite-Live in French—was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people – Ab Urbe Condita Libri (Books from the Foundation of the City) – covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditional foundation in 753 BC through the reign of Augustus in Livy's own time. He was on familiar terms with the Julio-Claudian dynasty, advising Augustus's grandnephew, the future emperor Claudius, as a young man not long before 14 AD in a letter to take up the writing of history. Livy and Augustus's wife, Livia, were from the same clan in different locations, although not related by blood.

Reviews

[Jocelyn Andersen]

Still Reading The History of Rome. Full of revelations about where many of our modern traditions came from. I hope I can update this review as I go.

[Tracy Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting

I love this book. I recommend this to anyone who wants to read about the history of Rome. Thank you.