The Romans

A 2,000-Year History

By: Edward J. Watts

Narrated by: John Curless

An acclaimed scholar tells the full, breathtaking history of Rome, from its emergence in the Iron Age to the capture of Constantinople in the thirteenth century

When we think of “ancient Romans” today, many picture the toga-clad figures of Cicero and Caesar, presiding over a republic, and then an empire, before seeing their world collapse at the hands of barbarians in the fifth century AD.

The Romans does away with this narrow vision by offering the first comprehensive account of ancient Rome over the course of two millennia. Prize-winning historian Edward J. Watts recounts the full sweep of Rome’s epic past: the Punic Wars, the fall of the republic, the coming of Christianity, Alaric’s sack of Rome, the rise of Islam, the Battle of Manzikert, and the onslaught of the Crusaders who would bring about the empire’s end. Watts shows that the source of Rome’s enduring strength was the diverse range of people who all called themselves Romans. This is the Rome of Augustus, Marcus Aurelius, and Constantine, but also Charlemagne, Justinian, and Manuel Comnenus—and countless other men and women who together made it the most resilient state the world has ever seen.

An expansive, eye-opening portrait, The Romans is the definitive history of Rome and its citizens.

Fantastic all around

Awesome book, awesome narrator fantastic choice to add to your collection.
Best book I have purchased in quite some time thank you very much

An amazing and ambitious work of history

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ — Review of The Romans: A 2,000-Year History by Edward Watts

My goodness—this book is a 900-page monster! Edward Watts takes on the impossible task of telling the entire story of Ancient Rome in one volume… and somehow pulls it off. From the early monarchy to the republic, the rise of the empire, the late imperial centuries, all the way to the Byzantine world and the final fall of Constantinople, it’s all here. If you want the whole sweep of Roman history under one roof, this is the book.

One of this book’s best features is how well it works as a reference. Have a question about Ancient Rome? Flip to the table of contents or the index and you’ll find what you need. It’s the kind of book you read once, and then keep within reach because you’ll be dipping back into it again and again.

Of course, with any “all-in-one” volume, not everything gets the attention everyone hopes for. Some readers have grumbled about how little Roman Britain receives—Where’s Hadrian’s Wall?—but honestly, I thought Watts handled the balance well. He gives you the military and political highlights, but he also goes out of his way to emphasize the adaptability and innovation that let Rome survive (in one form or another) for two entire millennia. That theme alone makes the book worth reading.

My only complaint is that once we move fully into the Byzantine period, the names, dynasties, and shifting politics get so dense that I had trouble keeping it all straight. But that might be more of a “me problem” than a “Watts problem”—Byzantine history is notoriously complex.

All told, this is a wonderful and ambitious work. If you want to understand Roman identity across two thousand years—how the idea of “Roman” evolved, endured, and reinvented itself—this is a must-read. A massive book, yes, but a massively rewarding one.

Lacked motivational interest

One of the worst audiobooks that I have experienced. Reviews inaccurate. Would appreciate a refund. I kept listening hoping for improvement.