SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

Mary Beard’s SPQR offers a sweeping narrative of the Roman world, tracing its trajectory from the legendary founding of the city to the reign of the Antonine emperors in the early third century. Rather than focusing exclusively on the exploits of emperors and generals, Beard integrates the perspectives of ordinary citizens, women, and slaves to present a more nuanced portrait of daily life. She challenges common stereotypes, arguing that Rome was a complex, multi-ethnic society where violence and stability coexisted, and where the boundaries between the city and its vast empire were constantly negotiated.

Description adapted from Open Library bibliographic data ↗.