Students often ask me for Roman Empire book recommendations. Listeners have as well. It is easy to find popular histories, but here I discuss eleven excellent hidden gems--books that are great for the causal reader, but robust enough that I’ve used them in my research and teaching. These aren’t popular titles, but they’re brilliantly crafted by leading academics, diving deep into Rome’s history, culture, religion and economy. Each book is well-written, accessible, and budget-friendly, perfect for history fans and students eager to explore Rome’s epic story.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, the 1st-century Roman Stoic, sparks endless debate. His works, like Letters to Lucilius and On the Shortness of Life, preach virtue, simplicity, and resilience. Yet, Seneca amassed a fortune of 300 million sesterces, owned lavish villas and advised Nero. Critics call him a hypocrite. His Stoic writings inspire, but do they align with his actions? This tension defines his legacy. Was Seneca a true Stoic, or was he a fraud?

Listeners and students have asked me who my favorite Roman emperor is. Lists of the "best" emperors often highlight giants like Augustus, Trajan, and Marcus Aurelius—undeniably impressive for their conquests and governance. But my favorite, for personal reasons, is a man overlooked by many historians and dismissed by the writers of his time. A blue-blooded elite, he seized power in a chaotic coup, faced senatorial scorn, yet ruled effectively. He expanded the empire, improved infrastructure, and, remarkably, seemed to enjoy himself while doing it. Who is this underappreciated emperor? Check out the episode to find out.

Ancient Rome--the heart of an empire--was fed by a vast network of ships and storehouses that brought grain from distant lands like Egypt and Africa. The Roman state orchestrated this colossal effort, called the Annona, to feed its citizens, a feat unmatched in the pre-industrial world. But behind this marvel lay a darker story—rural farmers stripped of their harvests, urban masses dependent on handouts and a system driven by political ambition. Today, we’ll explore this complex machine that kept Rome alive and ask: was the Roman government’s grain dole system helpful or harmful?

In first-century Galilee, King Herod Antipas’s stable rule provided a relatively peaceful setting for Jesus of Nazareth, born around 4 BC, to emerge as a Jewish preacher, promoting repentance and the kingdom of God. Conversely, Judea faced turmoil under Roman prefects like Pontius Pilate. By around AD 30, Jesus entered Jerusalem, and was crucified within a week. But was Jesus a mere mythological figure, or did he really exist? Ancient sources outside the New testament canon in fact confirm that Jesus was real. Josephus’s Antiquities (AD 93–94) describes Jesus as a wise man crucified under Pilate; Tacitus’s Annals (AD 116) notes “Christus” suffered 'the extreme penalty'; Pliny the Younger’s letters (AD 112) affirm a growing movement of Christ-followers almost a century after Jesus' crucifixion.

Roman emperors governed a sprawling empire, from Britain to Syria—but how did they maintain control over such vast lands? Did they rely on spies to monitor their enemies and ensure loyalty? Enter the frumentarii, a mysterious group of soldiers originally tasked with grain supply. History reveals they evolved into agents of espionage, assassination, and taxation, serving emperors like Hadrian and Severus. This episode uncovers their shadowy roles—and why their power crumbled under Diocletian.

Did Romans trust their money? Roman officials required legal exchange rates, but not everyone obeyed them--especially when mints adulterated or debased precious metal coinage. Only scant evidence of rebellion survives, but there are hints that show Romans inventing new conventions--some quite elegant. How overt was monetary defiance? Marcus Cornelius Fronto, famed rhetorician and tutor to Emperor Marcus Aurelius, once told the emperor in a letter: “Cleave to the old coinage”. Romans trusted coins when they were reliable, but were skeptical of newly debased coin .

On March 15, 44 BC, Julius Caesar, appointed dictator for life, was assassinated by senators led by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius. Caesar’s dictatorship, his military conquests, populist reforms and unprecedented power seemed like the style of monarchy the Republic was meant to guard against. The conspirators against Caesar justified the killing as a constitutional defense against tyranny. Yet, their motives were questionable, and the outcome of the assassinate simply led to more tyranny. So was the assassination of Julius Caesar justified?