The Roman Empire's unique selling point has always been its survival. Rome's empire, the largest state ever to exist in Europe, began with the conquest of its Italian neighbours in the late centuries BC and lasted more than 1,000 years in one form or another.

The imperial monarchy established by Augustus at the turn of the millennium was repeatedly imitated throughout the twentieth century. The Slavic title Czar is reminiscent of Caesar. Its eagles soar above the empires of Austria, France, and Mexico.

The following are some of the best volumes in a long and still expanding literature.

Pax by Tom Holland

Pax is a gripping narrative history of Rome at its peak of power. From the gilded capital to realms beyond the frontier, historian Tom Holland depicts ancient Rome in all its glory, including Nero's fall, the destruction of Jerusalem and Pompeii, the construction of the Colosseum and Hadrian's Wall, and Trajan's conquests. Holland vividly depicts the lives of Romans both ordinary and spectacular, from slaves to emperors, demonstrating that Roman peace was the result of unprecedented military violence.

Rome and Persia by Adrian Goldsworthy

The Roman empire was unlike any other. It imposed peace and prosperity on an unprecedented scale, extending from northern Britain to the Sahara and from the Atlantic coast to the Euphrates.

Its only true rival was in the east, where the Parthian and then Persian empires ruled over vast cities and trade routes to mysterious lands beyond. Alexander the Great swept through this region, inspiring Greeks and Romans alike with dreams of glory and conquest.

Historian Adrian Goldsworthy traces seven centuries of conflict between Rome and Persia, demonstrating how these two great powers evolved together. Despite their never-ending conflicts, trade between the empires enriched them both, and common ground prevented both Rome and Persia from permanently destroying the other.

Emperor of Rome by Professor Mary Beard

After shedding light on the Roman Empire's century-long history in SPQR, Beard focused on the emperors who ruled the country throughout its illustrious history in Emperor of Rome. Rather than providing a simple chronological account of the emperors from Caesar to Augustulus, Bears provides her trademark in-depth analysis on everything from the actual role and duties of the Roman Emperor to the intricate infightings that resulted in such deadly power struggles.

Rubicon by Tom Holland

Tom Holland, a beloved historian, describes the bloody and dramatic fall of the Roman Republic and how it was re-established as the Roman Empire in Rubicon. From Mark Anthony's doomed desires to the war between Julius Caesar and Pompey, investigate how the Romans came to lose sight of the representative democratic ways that they had once pioneered.

The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius

Suetonius, a scholar, worked as Emperor Hadrian's private secretary, allowing him access to the imperial archives. He would later use this insider knowledge to write one of history's most important biographical works, The Twelve Caesars, which covered the public and private lives of Rome's rulers throughout its colorful history, from Augustus to Nero and everything in between.

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