The History of Rome, Books 31-40: The Dawn of the Roman Empire

"The History of Rome" in Five Volumes #4

by Livy, J.C. Yardley (Translator), Waldemar Heckel (Introduction)

A new translation of the section of Livy's Histories covering the years 200-180 BC, during which Rome made decisive steps in becoming an Imperial power in the eastern Mediterranean, following their victory in the second Punic War with campaigns against Philip V of Macedon and Antiochus III the Seleucid Emperor. The introduction analyses Livy's arrangement of his material and traces the background to the events described in the text.

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

612 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

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

[AB · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the province he behaved as a dictator rather than a legate towards the consul, they said. His sole reason for going there had been to make clear to Greece, Asia, and all the potentates and peoples lying to the east, something of which Spain, Gaul, Sicily, and Africa had long been persuaded, namely, that one man was the head and mainstay of the Roman Empire, and that the state that ruled over the entire world lay in the shadow of Scipio, whose nod had the force of Senatorial decrees and directives from the people.

[Scipio Africanus'] spirit and personality were too great, and wedded to fortunes too great, for him to be able to stand trial and put himself in the demeaning position of pleading a case in court.


I have often heard that books 31-40 were among some of the best of Livy. I've spent hours reading up on the legal and formulaic phrasing that Livy uses here and spent several hours listening to a very interesting lecture on Livy's use of the term tota Italia . Having finished it, I can definitely agree with that. These books really feel like the beginning of the end. The height of virtue seen in the Second Punic war is over and the infighting and intrigue slowly creep into the annals until they explode with Livy's account of the trial of Scipio Africanus. The interactions between Rome and the east, especially in the 'freeing' of Greece are fascinating and there are a couple of moments where Livy pulls back the curtain a bit and shows the reality of the situation and what is to come.

I could go on and on, but I would really recommend these books out of any that I have read so far. Great stuff

[Jozef Vizdak · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We Romans possess as a gift of the gods those things which it is in the gods’ power to give; our spirit is controlled by our own will, and we have kept this, and still keep it, constant, notwithstanding the vagaries of fortune - success has not inflated it nor has misfortune diminished it.”

[James Violand · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is the same for each of his volumes: Livy is the quintessential historian of ancient Rome. He had his obvious flaws - no one could consider him unbiased in his approach, and he creates dialogue between historical figures that encourage the virtues of the citizens. Still, he is very entertaining. Each of his extant works - most of his books have been lost - presents a far nobler Rome than we have come to expect. Reading Livy is a luxury few are privileged to partake of. Fantastic.

[Zachary Rudolph · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There was, then, a nation on earth that waged war for the freedom of others, at its own expense and itself facing the hardship and danger; and it did this not for its neighbours ... but actually crossed seas to prevent an unjust empire existing anywhere in the world and to assure the primacy of rectitude, divine justice, and the law of man.”

[Magda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll prob never finish this book, or, at least, not anytime in a predictable (ha!) future, but I do enjoy reading it. It's easily understandable and fascinating for its history.