The Rise of Rome

By: The Great Courses, Gregory S. Aldrete

Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete

Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

The Roman Republic is one of the most breathtaking civilizations in world history. Between roughly 500 BCE to the turn of the millennium, a modest city-state developed an innovative system of government and expanded into far-flung territories across Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. This powerful civilization inspired America's founding fathers, gifted us a blueprint for amazing engineering innovations, left a vital trove of myths, and has inspired the human imagination for 2,000 years.

How did Rome become so powerful? This mystery has vexed historians from the ancient Greek writer Polybius to 21st century scholars. Today, removed as we are from the Roman Republic, historians also wonder what it was like to be a Roman citizen in that amazing era. Beyond the familiar names of Romulus, Caesar, Octavian, Brutus, and Mark Antony, what was life like for the ordinary people? And what did the conquered peoples think of this world power?

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2018 The Teaching Company, LLC; 2018 The Great Courses

Another series of awesome lectures

10/10 Would listen again. I’ve started to listen to Great Courses while at work, and it’s reignited my passion for history. I will continue to listen voraciously for as long as I can find new material.

Excellent story teller

Nothing compares to the history of ancient Rome, especially the Punic wars. Could’ve been slightly more detailed for my personal taste, but this is still valuable for all ranges of students.

An Easy Entry Course

This is a great course with the quality that one comes to expect, but will be very remedial if you've listened to other courses on the topic. I would note that the professor is an excellent speaker who does a great job presenting the course, and it DOES develop certain individuals a bit better than some others, but it's certainly not an overall standout. If you're interested in Roman history and want something a little more in-depth, I enormously recommend the two courses presented by Professor Garrett G. Fagan. Those two courses (The History of Ancient Rome and Emperors of Rome) present essentially all of the information detailed here and more, albeit in two courses.

Great overview

This audiobook is the perfect fit for someone who is just getting into Roman history. It hits all the major historical points and covers the societal aspects of Rome that lead it down the path of domination of the Mediterranean. If you are looking for something more in depth, I wouldn’t say this provides that as much. This is much more a glance over course. I would still say it is a 9/10 and Gregory S. Aldrete does a great job.

very good

this book was very good I would suggest it to anyone you will like it

Concise, Well-Delivered, Relevant

An excellent teacher with a solid grasp of the history of Rome, also without the bias some folks have for their subject.

Loved It!

Very comprehensive and engaging. I would look forward to my commute just so I could continue learning the history of Rome.

a really good look at rome.

i like these lectures and this one was one of the better ones. i highly recommend.

Good lecture

This is great lecture and extremely informative. If you are looking for info on early Rome then this is for you

the circle of line

hightlights are the chapeter on Cícero and the Last one. the rest is just fine