Famous Men of Rome: Annotated

Famous Men of Rome

by John Henry Haaren, A B Poland

"Famous Men of Rome" features twenty-nine stories covering the history of Rome from its founding to the last emperor. You will read about the lives of Horatius, Camillus, Caesar, Cicero, and many others. The biographies of Famous Men of Rome are in chronological order and the whole book will bring you through the three stages of Ancient monarchy, republic, and empire. Although women are not the "famous" individuals listed in the book, the notable women of the time definitely play roles in the stories. Famous Men of Rome is faithful to this vision of learning history through biography. The chapters cover eleven centuries, from the legendary founding of Rome to its slow, unraveling in the early centuries after Christ. Each chapter is a fascinating read.

Genres: History, Ancient History, Nonfiction, Biography, School, Classics, Roman History

164 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1904

About the author

John Henry Haaren (born August 13, 1855, New York, New York – d. September 23, 1916, Brooklyn, New York) was an American educator and historian.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_He...

Reviews

[Saumen · Rating 4 out of 5]

May be the best introduction of roman history for me!

From the past 2-3 years I continuously dug into roman history on and off, between reading other books. First I went to read plutarch but soon found it did have holes in timelines. It was tiresome to look up so many persons and events on wikipedia that Plutarch was referring.So then I tried to get a complete overview of roman history, possibly upto fall of roman Republic. I ran to and fro between pages of different books to create a gapless timeline of history. Also I have seen a number of videos on roman history on YT. But couldn’t achieve what I was intended to.

Actually roman records were destroyed when gauls sacked rome in 386 B.C so many histories were lost then. And its our misfortune that only 35 books out of 140 of Livys history of rome books are survived from antiquity. Such a loss to mankind! Also works of other roman historians also rarely survived to its full extanct.
.

Then about two days ago, I began to read this book. Mainly intended to the children, this book is not so bad when it comes to an adult like me. I get a more or less complete overview of roman history from Romulus to julius, in about 200 pages. So, all thanks goes to this book. But surely my past exposure to roman history definitely helped, at least I could guess what was coming.

Writing style of this book follows plutarchs "History through great men" philosophy, as it contains 28 notable romans of ancient time.They covers the period from 753 B.C to 476 A.D. Sure, this book is not elaborate for pundits and not jam-packed with characters and plethora of events like parallel lives. Smooth and easygoing, often teaches moral value of the lives discussed in this book.It also have some illustrations to capture your imagination.

A perfect read for me atleast and can recommend to anyone who are interested in roman history just like me.

[Amelia Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for kids ages 7-10 ish, and enjoyable for adults who want to learn or refresh their memory about notable people of Ancient Rome. I also love the newest version Memoria Press has with photos of primary source Roman architecture, along with the illustrations of famous scenes of important events.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a really interesting read (and for a former Latin student it was a nice overview of some history I had taken in high school). I think it would have been good to include a few more famous men such as Spartacus and maybe a little more info about the first emperors of Rome (Claudius, Nero, etc.).

[Sotiris Makrygiannis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Famous Men of Rome" by John H. Haaren is a compelling introduction to Roman history, offering young readers captivating biographical sketches of Rome's legendary figures. The book covers the lives of notable characters such as Romulus, Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Cincinnatus, and illustrates the journey of Rome from its mythological founding to its transition into an empire. Each chapter focuses on a specific figure, highlighting their contributions, virtues, and impact on Roman society.
Haaren's work emphasizes the interconnectedness of Roman and Greek cultures, showcasing how Greek thought, mythology, and customs influenced Roman civilization. Throughout the book, readers see the admiration the Romans had for Greek culture, despite their desire to maintain a distinct Roman identity. For instance, Numa Pompilius, Rome's second king, was inspired by Greek religious practices, while Marcus Furius Camillus used Greek military techniques to defend Rome. The Gracchi brothers also found inspiration in Greek political philosophy for their reforms, demonstrating the deep intellectual influence of Greek ideals on Roman governance.
The book also presents a nuanced picture of figures like Cato the Elder, who, despite his criticism of Greek luxury, could not escape the pervasive influence of Greek intellectual achievements. The lives of later figures such as Cicero and Scipio Africanus illustrate how Greek education and military strategies shaped Roman thought and success. Augustus, Rome's first emperor, embraced Greek culture as a means to enrich Roman civilization, promoting the arts and intellectual growth during his reign.
"Famous Men of Rome" successfully combines historical storytelling with educational elements, offering readers a glimpse into the foundational figures of Roman history while underlining the significant contributions of Greek culture to Rome's development. Haaren's narrative style makes these historical figures accessible and engaging, providing an enriching introduction to the history of one of the world's most influential civilizations. This book is ideal for young readers seeking a foundational understanding of Roman history, while also offering a broader perspective on how cultures influence and shape each other over time.

[Taylor Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as part of my kids' homeschool history. I learned a lot and wish I had read it before I lived in Rome as a child! It made the sites I had seen come alive in new ways and connected a lot of disconnected history figures for me.

[David Anusontarangkul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read about the history of Rome. I liked learning about how Rome expanded through its leaders and the wars.

[A.R. Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book, full of the turbulent history of the Roman Empire, from its start as a city to nearly conquering the world!

[Becky Filipek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this alongside my 5th grader as a history supplement. It really made me interested in knowing more about some of the Romans mentioned, if only I had the time.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I like how each chapter explained the emperors and what they did. Some of the stories were like, are you serious! And then the others are like oh that is so cool!

[Kenneth Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful introduction for me not know hardly any history of Rome to start building some knowledge of this empire.

[Jessica Perteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history of Rome in shorter chapters that my kids enjoyed.

[Rachael Stoldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

School book for ancient history. It spurred some interesting conversations about the Bible and where this particular history fit in the biblical timeline.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea that these books were so well written. This is history from one in love with the characters and skilled at reaching young minds.

[Catie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for homeschool history and citizenship studies.

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did this with my students… a) Memoria Press is painfully bad and b) this book, while not the worst, is just a poor attempt at imitating Plutarch for kids.

[Blubonnet1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

06/25/2024

[Laura Luck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to the history of Rome. Looking forward to going through a study of this with my oldest son this coming school year.

[Jktmauk]

This book is perfect for grammar and middle school students. They love the stories of Rome's greatest heroes, and it isn't watered down like most history books today. Highly recommend. Boy's especially will love it. (There are several editions out now but this one by Memoria Press has great full color photos that add a lot.)

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of wars of course but also plenty of stories about (mostly) men and about Rome. From the founding up to the Roman Empiror Constantine and then a quick account for the remaining rulers.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book aloud to my kids for school. They really enjoyed the book, and so did I. It is a great overview of Roman history framed by the men of the time.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Read with the boys, 9 and 11. I look forward to reading Famous Men of the Middle Ages.

[Dawn Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to ancient history for elementary and middle school

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for school. A very understandable book that draws you into Roman culture and explains gaps. Nero, Romulus, and more.