The Age of Augustus

In this concise biography, Werner Eck, one of the world's foremost experts on the Roman empire, tells the extraordinary story of Augustus, Rome's first emperor. Using literary, archaeological, and legal sources, The Age of Augustus traces the history of the 'Roman revolution' in which Rome was transformed from republic to monarchy. The book provides a vivid narrative of Augustus' brutal rise to power, from the war against the assassins of Julius Caesar to his struggle against Antony and Cleopatra. It describes the key aspects of his reign, including the expansion of the empire, his relationship with the army and people, and his vast building projects in the city of Rome. In this English language edition, a new translation of Augustus' Res Gestae (with a short introduction) and a substantial bibliography have been added. This straightforward book is organized chronologically around Augustus' own account of his life, making it perfect for anyone approaching the subject for the first time.

Table of Contents:
Contents. Introduction: The Res Gestae of Augustus. 1. Augustus' Career in Overview: The Res Gestae. 2. Modest Origins, Powerful Relatives. 3. The Seizure of Power: Legalizing Usurpation. 4. The Triumvirate: Dictatorship Sanctioned by Law. 5. The Path to Formal Legitimation as a Ruler. 6. The Final Battles for Power: Actium and Alexandria. 7. A New Political Order: The Principate Takes Shape. 8. The Principate Develops Further. 9. The Princeps and the Roman Elite. 10. The Practical Implementation of Political Power: Governing the Empire. 11. A Standing Army. 12. War and Peace: Expanding the Empire. 13. Rome, the Augustan City. 14. The Quest for Political Continuity: The Succession. 15. Augustus' Death and the Future of the Empire. Time Line. Appendix: Translation of Augustus' Res Gestae. Bibliography.

About the Author :
Werner Eck is Professor of Ancient History at Cologne University. He is one of the foremost Roman imperial historians in the world, having published 13 books and over 250 articles on this period. His main field of Research is the social history of the Roman empire, Roman epigraphy and history of the early church. He is co-editor of the Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik. His publications include Die Verwaltung des romischen Reiches in der Hohen Kaiserzeit, (Bd. 1, Basel 1995, Bd. 2, Basel 1998; Das senatus consultum de Cn. Pisone patre, (with A. Caballos and F. Fernandez, Munich 1996); Tra epigrafia, prosopografia e archeologia. Scritti scelti, rielaborati ed aggiornati, (Rom 1996). Sarolta A. Takacs is Associate Professor of Classics at Rutgers University. She is the author of lsis and Sarapis in the Roman World (1995) and has edited a number of books, including a critical co-edition with Professor Cynthia Damon of the Senatus Consultum de Cn. Pisone Patre (American Journal of Philology vol. 120.1 [1999]), originally published by Professor Eck.

Review :
'Werner Eck is an eminent Roman historian, and this is a very good book. It provides a compact, clear, balanced survey of Augustus' career and achievements, and a just assessment of his larger place in history.' Professor Christopher Jones, Harvard University "It is an excellent handbook for students, and far surpasses any potential rivals." Mark Humphries, National University of Ireland, Maynooth "His narrative (in this fine translation) is readable, rarely obscure and fluently glosses difficult terms and concepts in a way that obviates the need for a glossary. Moreover, he skillfully handles difficult constitutional matters ... without confusing the beginner, points out controversial issues, and marks his divergences with current scholarly opinion." Bryn Mawr Classical Review "The book provides a narrative of Augustus' achievements and expenditures on behalf of the Roman res publica, and seems destined to replace Brunt and Moore 1967 and other commentaries on the Res Gestae as a textbook of Augustan politics. With Zanker 1988 and White 1993 it would form the backbone of a course on the age of Augsutus. Eck is of course a recognized authority. He is the pre-eminent Roman administrative historian, prosopographer, and epigraphist of our time." The Classical Journal