From the Gracchi to Nero: A history of Rome from 133 B.C. to A.D. 68 [Hardcover]

For anyone wanting a good narrative overview of the last years of the republic and the formative years of the principate this book is very useful. Sullards style is vivid and comfortable to read. However it is now, sadly, outdated and his views on the roman political system, means of social control(clientela)and on non-roman civilisations have now been outgrown by academic research in the twenty years since the last edition. Those wishing to see a more up to date view (for the late republic at least) should see Beard and Crawford's Rome in the late Republic, and perhaps the latest edition of the Cambridge Ancient History Volumes IX,X and XI (although you may have to go to your local library to read these as they are rather expensive). Nonetheless it is still useful to student and non-student alike, even if certain areas should be read with scepticsim, and there is currently no comparable complete overview of the period Scullard covers.

For almost fifty years, H. H. Scullard's text on Roman history, From the Gracchi to Nero: A History of Rome from 133 B.C to A. D. 68, has been a staple of introductory Ancient History courses. Scullard's writing is clear, concise, and for the most part it stays away from embellishment or falling into the trap of creating a coherent narrative. While the endless stream of names, dates, places and times can be difficult to keep track of, the book if collected into a mostly chronological and thematic selection of chapters revolving around a particular topic - The Gracchi, Pompey the Great, Julius Ceasar and so on.

The work is split into roughly two halves. The first deals with the time from the Gracchi brothers and their attempts at social reform, to the Second Triumvirate, when Octavian, Antony and Lepidus combined their power for the good of the Roman Republic. Along the way we learn of Brutus' treachery against Julius Ceasar, we learn of the rise and fall of Marius, who instigated reforms that allowed cracks to form in the previously impregnable Republic, and of poor Sulla.

The second half focuses on Octavian's massive success in making himself the sole ruler of Rome. He destroyed the Republic, shifted the power from the Senate to himself and, to a lesser extend, the People, and he also, somewhat amazingly, set in place a structure that would create peace for two hundred odd years, which would then go on to assist in the creation of modern Europe. Indeed, the 'universal peace' or Pax Romana of 27 B.C. or so until about 180 A.D. has inspired many nations and people's around the world to believe in the possibility of a further universal peace in our own (or their own) time.

These halves are bookended with examinations of the literature, architecture, philosophy and general lifestyles of the times. These parts are perhaps the most relevant for reader's interested in understanding the 'feel' of Ancient Rome during it's most turbulent and difficult times. The wars, betrayals and changes of the period from the Gracchi to Nero inspired names that are still great today - Virgil and his Aeneid, Horace and his satires, Livy and his magnificent history of Rome, Cicero and his speeches, Seneca and his philosophy. Scullard goes to great lengths to show that Ancient Rome was not beholden to Ancient Greece for its genius, instead it built upon the towers of Aristotle, Plato, Socrates and countless more to create its own mythology, its own art, its own method of artistic and creative expression.

How did Rome go from a small city state - of which there were many in Italy at the time - to the massive, 'world' spanning empire that it later became? Scullard surprisingly offers no hard and fast answers to this, though several reasons may be gleaned from the texts. The complex political machinations of the Roman Republic encouraged - almost demanded - that ambitious young men go off in search of war and conquest, and this of course led to ever expanding borders. But it was also the interplay between the Senators, the Consuls, the military and the People which ensured a constant and active debate regarding the spread of wealth and spoils from military activity. And, while it was rare (very rare), a man could rise from relative obscurity to become a 'novus homo' or new man - meaning he had risen to the ranks of the Senate and Consulship.

There are a lot of names and places mentioned throughout the text. At times, it can be overwhelming. Scullard is providing an introductory text, not an exhaustive text, though sometimes it could be wished he had slowed down a little to help put some of the minor players into perspective. The chapters focus on the major figures of the time, which leaves little to those who, while they achieved much and were certainly notable and effective during their lives, have not gone on and entered the pantheon of great Roman statesmen. This is a shame, and detracts from the overall value of the text. It is akin to knowing post-WWII history only through the American Presidents - sure, you would understand the gist of what has occurred in the last sixty years, but you lose a lot of the colour by not also knowing the details of the Russian, the Europeans, the British, and the minor players of all these countries.

In the fifth edition of this work, there are over one hundred pages of notes, which range from standard lists of further texts to read, to summaries of laws, lands, legions and literature. There are other summaries of course; happily, Scullard does not limit himself to the letter l. These notes are not necessary for a full understanding of the text, but they do go some way to combat the criticism that the minor characters are left merely as names and dates.

The fifth edition, published by Routledge, is a handsome book. The pages are thick and creamy, and the binding appears to be very strong. It was a pleasure to read from a utility perspective, as well as from the content within. Scullard's work is served well by Routledge, and both the neophyte Ancient Rome scholar and the casual enthusiast will find something - many things - to enjoy from this work. Well recommended.

A fine book and I loved it. The cover is scary to look at and there's something about the way the book is laid out inside that reminds one of library dust and spider webs. However this was a genuine delight to read, as smooth as butter, and I'm really glad I bought it. First published in 1959 apparently some of it has been superseded by recent historical advances. Nevertheless, the core story is still the same - from monarchy to republic to principate to decline. No one is going to make a Hollywood blockbuster of this publication unlike some other history of Rome books you might find in bookstores but that's the appeal, this book is for edification not entertainment and rightly so I affirm. The writing style is easy on the mind and I loved the sweep and the detail - neither too little nor too much. I hadn't heard of the Gracchi brothers until I read about them here but now they pop up in every other book I read. Most likely I just never paid close attention before now. All the usual suspects are here Sulla, Pompey, Caesar of course, Augustus, Cicero but also less well-known names like Crassus, the aforementioned Gracchi brothers and Cato. A good buy.