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The History of Ancient Rome
- Narrated by: Garrett G. Fagan
- Length: 22 hrs and 40 mins
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The History of Ancient Rome
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Summary
Even today, the influence of Ancient Rome is indelible, with Europe and the world owing this extraordinary empire a huge cultural debt in almost every important category of human endeavor, including art, architecture, engineering, language, literature, law, and religion. At the peak of its power, Rome's span was vast. In the regional, restless, and shifting history of continental Europe, the Roman Empire stands as a towering monument to scale and stability, unified in politics and law, stretching from the sands of Syria to the moors of Scotland. And it stood for almost 700 years.
In this series of 48 spirited lectures, you'll see how a small village of shepherds and farmers rose to tower over the civilized world of its day and left a permanent mark on history. In telling Rome's riveting story, Professor Fagan draws on a wealth of primary and secondary sources, including recent historical and archaeological scholarship, to introduce the fascinating tale of Rome's rise and decline, including the famous events and personalities that have become so familiar: Horatius at the bridge; Hannibal crossing the Alps during Rome's life-or-death war with Carthage; Caesar being assassinated before a statue of his archrival Pompey; The doomed lovers Antony and Cleopatra; the mad and venal emperors Nero and Caligula; the conversion of Constantine.
The course also addresses one of history's greatest questions: Why did the Roman Empire fall? And you'll learn why most modern scholars believe that the empire did not "fall" at all, but, rather, changed into something very different - the less urbanized, more rural, early medieval world.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
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What listeners say about The History of Ancient Rome
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ellis
- 16-08-19
Informative and Thought provoking
I thought this audio book was brilliantly done, rather than a chronological tick box exercise the speaker is adept at explaining wider themes and explaining the different narratives that make up the history of the Roman Empire without just listing dates and events.
He also has a good sense of humour at points when going into some of the more bizzare events that happened.
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- john
- 20-07-17
Great Roman history
I must say i thoroughly enjoyed these lectures,I have never been to a university lecture in my life before only college lectures on engineering so I didn't really know how I would cope with this Roman history course,I must say I was most impressed with the narration and the content of the lectures,I have read quite a bit of Roman history so I was acquainted with the subject but these lectures seem to make the issues much clearer to me now.
Highly recommended
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tinsiuol
- 22-11-17
The Narration of some of the lectures is choppy
Prof Fagan makes a bit too many pauses and hence brings the narration to a halt at times.
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- Victor Kossoski
- 29-06-23
Superb performance
The subject was fascinating but it wouldn’t have been as addictive had it not been for Garrets awesome performance - very passionate and engaging
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ryan
- 25-01-17
The very best of the Great Courses.
What did you like best about this story?
The lectures were very well structured, a necessity considering the grand scale of the course. Narrative lectures were regularly separated by those focussing on more detailed discussion.
What about Professor Garrett G. Fagan’s performance did you like?
Professor Fagan came across as very enthusiastic throughout, regularly throwing in amusing anecdotes and matching the tone of his subject matter perfectly. I have since bought all of his work with the Great Courses and hope he will do another soon.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
If I could I would, as a lecture series it's far too long for that.
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- Doyle
- 20-09-18
well crafted and very informative.
Good introduction and great for anyone who is a casual life-long learner. highly recommended it. lecturer knows his stuff too
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- Paul Martin
- 21-10-15
Great Narrator
Thoroughly enjoyed listening to Professor Garret G. Fagan's narration...a great unfolder of stories. His commentary is well balanced, always offering a measured interpretation of the facts.
My favourite lecture so far.
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- Martin
- 01-05-22
excellent scholarly overview
this is easily one of the best of the great courses so far. Dr Fagan offers us an entertaining but scholarly sweep through the history of the beginning of Rome, the Republic and the imperial period.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and if you are even vaguely interested in the period, you will too.
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- Sam
- 13-10-21
Absolutely fantastic
Startlingly clear. Gripping. Right amount of speed vs depth. Bear with it past the 1st couple of lectures on methodology. It gets better fast.
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- Ian
- 03-04-21
Brilliant narration, superb content
Can’t recommend this highly enough. Fagan’s delivery is engaging, learned as well as witty. It’s a tragedy that he died so young... this is a fine testimony to an historian who would no doubt be on our screens now, a la Mary Beard or Michael Scott, if he had still been around.
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