A History of Rome under the Emperors

This book caused a sensation when it was published in Germany in 1992, and was front page news in many newspapers. For readers of English, it will be an authoritative survey of four centuries of Roman history, and a unique window on the German tradition of the last century. Theodor Mommsen (d. 1903) was one of the greatest Roman historians of the nineteenth century, and the only one ever to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. His fame rests on his The History of Rome as well as his work on Roman law and on the Roman provinces. But the work that would have concluded his history of Rome - which ran to the reign of Augustus - was never completed. This book represents that great lost work. In 1980 Alexander Demandt discovered in an antiquarian bookshop a full and detailed handwritten transcript of the lectures on the Roman Empire, which Mommsen gave for many years from 1863 to 1886, made by two of his students. This transcript has been edited to provide the authoritative reconstruction of the book Mommsen never wrote, A History of Rome Under the Emperors . Barbara and Alexander Demandt have carefully edited the text and provided detailed annotation and explanatory references. For the English edition, Professor Thomas Wiedemann has written an introduction which surveys Mommsen's position and influence in nineteenth century German scholarship and introduces his work for English speaking readers.

Table of Contents:
List of maps. Introduction. Alexander Demandt, Mommsen, Rome and the German Kaiserreich Thomas Wiedemann Abbreviations and Bibliography. The Berlin Academy Fragment A history of Rome under the Emperors I From Augustus to Vespasian Winter Semester 1882/3 [MH.I] 1. Augustus (44 BC-AD 14) a) The consolidation of the monarchy b) The princeps c) The institutions of government d) The provinces e) The imperial family and domestic politics 2. Tiberius (14-37) 3. Gaius Caligular (37-41) 4. Claudius (41-54) 5. Nero (54-68) 6. The Year of Four Emperors (68-69) 7. The Vespasian (69-79)A history of Rome under the Emperors II From Vespasian to Diocletian Summer Semester 1883 [MH.II] 1. General Introduction 2. Domestic Politics I a) Peoples and languages b) Monetary and fiscal matters c) The army d) Administration 3. Wars in the West a) Britain b) The Rhine Frontier c) Gaul d) Spain e) Africa 4. Wars on the Danube a) The garrison b) The Dacian War c) The Marcomannic War d) The Gothic Wars 5. Wars in the East a) Conflicts with the Prhtians b) Conflicts with the Sasanids and Palmyrans 6. Domestic Politics II a) The Emperor and the court b) The army and SenateA history of Rome under the Emperors III From Diocletian to Alaric Winter Semester 1885/6 and Summer Semester 1886 [MH.III] 1. General Introduction 2. Government and Society 3. A History of Events a) Diocletian (284-305) b) Constantine (306-337) c) The sons of Constantine (337-361) d) Julian and Jovian (355-364) e) Valentinian and Valens (364-378) f) From Theodosius to Alaric (379-410) Notes. Index.

About the Author :
Alexander Demandt is a Full professor of Ancient History at the Free University, Berlin. Barbara Demandt is a teacher at the Gymnasium for ancient languages in Berlin-Zehlendorf. Thomas Wiedemann is Reader in Ancient History at the University of Nottingham.

Review :
'Reading this book now puts you in touch with two worlds: ancient Rome and the austere scholarship of nineteenth century, pre-Wilhelmine Germany.' - Daily Telegraph 'The editors do a valiant job in their introduction, trying to catch something of the spirit of this extraordinary man.' - The Independent 'Historians of Germany as well as Rome may profit from this splendid volume.' - The Times 'It has been superbly done. Demandt gives the full story both of Mommsen's history and the Hensels' lecture notes, while Wiedemann puts Mommsen in his historical context.' - Peter Levi, Sunday Telegraph 'It is a marvellous book, striking in detail, lucid and pleasingly unfair in argument, deeply sound in its root feelings and prejudices and genuinely helpful. It is the best book for those who dislike the Roman Empire, and is often very funny, and what underlies the remarkably dotty view he takes, for example of Virgil, is in itself most illuminating. It is years since I came across such a great book.' - Peter Levi, The Spectator Books of the Year 'This edition, with its extensive notes, is a tremendous achievement and a gift to anyone interested in the full story of the Roman Empire.' - Contemporary Review