Early Rome

With commanding skill, Thomas R. Martin tells the remarkable and dramatic story of how a tiny, poor, and threatened settlement grew to become, during its height, the dominant power in the Mediterranean world for 500 years. Encompassing the period from Rome's founding in the eighth century BC through Justinian's rule in the sixth century AD, he offers a distinctive perspective on the Romans and their civilization by employing fundamental Roman values as a lens through which to view both their rise and spectacular fall.

Rome whispers about a poison that looks like holy water. They call it Aqua Tofana—a saint-faced bottle passed hand to hand, a rumour with a price, a promise made to desperate wives behind shuttered windows. Men call it evil. Priests call it temptation. The streets call it justice. But Giulia knows what it really is: a brand built in the cracks of a city that leaves women no safe exits. When a quiet network of laundresses, servants and midwives begins to fray under pressure—boots on stone, coins offered for silence, and the Church leaning close—Giulia must protect the one person she ...

The Foundations of Faith series features important writings from the early Christian Church, with modernized language to make these influential works more accessible to today's reader. Included in Volume 1 are the following works: The Didache (The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) The First and Second Epistles of Clement The Epistle of Barnabas The Odes of Solomon The Epistle of Polycarp The Martyrdom of Polycarp The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus The Seven Prison Epistles of Ignatius Ignatius to the Ephesians Ignatius to the Magnesians Ignatius to the Trallians Ignatius to the Romans ...

In this entertaining and enlightening guide, best-selling historian Philip Matyszak introduces us to the people who lived and worked there. In each hour of the day we meet a new character - from emperor to slave girl, gladiator to astrologer, medicine woman to water-clock maker - and discover the fascinating details of their daily lives.

Discover the secrets of our past and unlock a deeper understanding of human development. Immerse yourself in the legacies of ancient civilizations and uncover the interconnectedness and impact they still hold today. Gain a comprehensive overview of the most pivotal societies that have shaped human history. Experience the achievements, beliefs, and complexities of ancient cultures through captivating narratives. Delve into the advancements of ancient China, the diverse culture of the Persian Empire, and the enduring legacies of the Maurya and Byzantine Empires. Learn about the foundational ...

Clement of Rome for Beginners brings you face-to-face with one of the earliest Christian leaders—a man who stepped into a divided community and restored harmony with nothing more than conviction, wisdom, and the courage to speak truth. His voice echoes across centuries because the problems he addressed are the same ones we wrestle with today: division, pride, fractured relationships, and a longing for genuine unity. This book gives you a front-row seat to the moment Christianity learned how to repair itself. Clement wasn’t a philosopher tucked away in an ivory tower. He was a steady ...

The extraordinary history of the epic rivalry between the ancient world’s two great superpowers. "Magnificent." —The Spectator The Roman Empire was like no other. Stretching from the north of Britain to the Sahara, and from the Atlantic coast to the Euphrates, it imposed peace and prosperity...

The Word is spreading faster than the men who carry it. In the gap between the voice and the page, a shadow is rising. 36 AD. The Resurrection is a living memory, and the Apostles are traversing the Roman Empire with a message that is setting the world on fire. But as house churches sprout from Jerusalem to Rome, a new danger emerges: distance. In the months it takes for a messenger to travel the Mediterranean, the living words of Jesus are being intercepted. In the shadows of the Roman underground, charismatic teachers are twisting the oral tradition, weaving a "secret" gospel of spirits ...

This is the story of the greatest empire the world has ever known. Simon Baker charts the rise and fall of the world's first superpower, focusing on six momentous turning points that shaped Roman history. Welcome to Rome as you've never seen it before—awesome and splendid, gritty and squalid. From the conquest of the Mediterranean beginning in the third century BC to the destruction of the Roman Empire at the hands of barbarian invaders some seven centuries later, we discover the most critical episodes in Roman history.

Rome, 609 AD. Empire is a fading memory. Repeatedly fought over and plundered, the City is falling into ruins. Filth and rubble block the streets. Killers prowl by night. Far off, in Constantinople, the Emperor has other concerns. The Church is the one institution left intact, and is now flexing its own imperial muscle. Enter Aelric of England: young and beautiful, sexually uninhibited, heroic, if ruthlessly violent He’s only here by accident. Without getting that girl pregnant, and the resulting near-miss from King Ethelbert’s gelding knife, he might never have left Kent. But here ...

In this second book of the Camillus series Marcus is pitted against enemies old and new. Publius Postumius is the hero of the hour, sacking the city of Bolae with its incredible treasures. Sent with a relief force to support his old enemy Marcus falls foul of an assassination attempt before his credibility is tested by the scheming of his old commander and he must choose between friendship and duty. Back in Rome tensions are rising as Postumius’s schemes grow and his soldiers rage against their former Tribune as the plebeians and patricians come to bloody conflict. Marcus is given his ...

Ever wondered if there were more writings from the first few centuries by Christians? Well the answer is - yes! There is much that the early Christians left us and they are available in this day and time. The New Testament is our rock to stand upon, but there are other works that we can glean from that are filled with godly wisdom and virtue. The 1st Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians is just that kind of work that can further your walk with Christ in this present day.

The Birth of the Church. The Shadow of an Empire. The Fire That Ignited the World. Jerusalem, 33 AD. Beneath a cloudless sky, the bustling streets of the holy city are overflowing with pilgrims from every corner of the known world. But the ordinary cadence of the ancient city is shattered when a blinding, celestial fire descends upon a modest upper room, crowning the men inside with unwavering, liquid light. For the diverse crowd watching in paralyzed awe—including rugged craftsmen, distinguished Hebrew scholars, and wealthy Roman patricians—the world will never be the same. The ...

This book retraces the origins of Rome by closely following the path laid down by the great ancient sources. It is neither a work of narrative fiction nor a product of modern speculation: it presents the story of the founder as it was transmitted by Livy, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, and Plutarch. From the Trojan roots of Aeneas to the dynastic crisis of Alba Longa, from the fate of Rhea Silvia to the tracing of the sacred furrow on the Palatine, the author reconstructs each decisive stage in the formation of Rome. The work examines the emergence of the earliest institutions, the role of the...

From the beginning, Rome was a hotbed of power, overweening ambition, desire, political genius, and corruption. Hughes details the turbulent years that saw the formation of empire and the establishment of the sociopolitical system, along the way providing colorful portraits of all the major figures, both political and cultural. For almost a thousand years, Rome would remain the most politically important, richest, and largest city in the Western world. 

This compelling historical thriller is set in the 3rd century A.D., against the backdrop of Christian persecution Fabius, a respected Roman magistrate, is a committed stoic who governs his life according to the principles of that philosophy. But devastating news upends his world: his ten-year-old niece has fallen gravely ill, and her death seems inevitable. Her parents—devout Christians—believe only a miracle can save her, and for that, they need an ancient relic whose whereabouts are unknown. Despite his natural skepticism, Fabius takes on the challenge of finding the sacred item. When...

Spy. Diplomat. Scholar. Adventurer. Princess. This is the untold story of Princess Kleopatra's coming of age before she met the men who would make her name live on in history. The cherished daughter of the powerful Greek pharaoh, King Ptolemy XII, she fought the treachery of her siblings, endured exile and betrayal, and defended the throne from hostile forces on every side. High drama and ancient history combine in this exhaustively researched account of the early life of Egypt's infamous queen, at once a beautiful seductress, brilliant politician, and the most powerful ruler of her time. ...

Immerse yourself in an epic narrative where every struggle, every victory, and every act of valor is a brushstroke on the canvas of history. This diligently researched and vividly recounted account is perfect for those who thirst for a story that echoes through the ages, illuminating the ideals that have shaped our own foundations of governance and justice.

The great Marcus Aurelius is dead, and now the Roman Empire buckles under the yoke of Commodus his cruel and capricious son. As trust in the old gods wanes, exotic faiths compete for devotees while the evolving Christian Church is plagued by rivalries which threaten to tear it apart. Two of Rome’s Christians face crises of their own. Callistus, the banker’s enslaved apprentice, cheated by a client and abandoned by his closest friend, finds himself running for his life. Marcia the emperor’s concubine, fearing for her own survival as well as the Empire’s, resolves to take the law into...

Half-sister to Emperor Honorius, unmarried and powerless, twenty-year-old Galla Placidia watches from the shadows as imperial policies are made and unmade. Her plans to gain power and influence are halted when the city is besieged and captured by a vast army led by Alaric the Visigoth. Taken hostage, travelling out of Italy, Galla Placidia falls in love and marries a barbarian king. At a time when Rome's power is fast dwindling, its authority diminishing year upon year, she embarks on a dangerous and remarkable journey towards the imperial throne.