A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Arthur E. R. Boak

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By Abil Kile Posted on Nov 15, 2025
In Category - Neval
Boak, Arthur E. R. (Arthur Edward Romilly), 1888-1962 Boak, Arthur E. R. (Arthur Edward Romilly), 1888-1962
English
Ever wonder how a small Italian village grew to rule the Mediterranean, then fell apart? Arthur Boak's classic 'A History of Rome to 565 A.D.' isn't about dusty dates—it's the ultimate origin story. The book's main question is both simple and huge: How did Rome do it? What combination of brilliant engineering, brutal politics, and sheer stubbornness built an empire that lasted centuries? Boak walks you through the whole epic, from the mythical twins Romulus and Remus to the final days of the Western Empire. It's the complete, fascinating saga of ambition, power, and the surprising fragility of even the greatest civilizations. If you've ever been curious about the foundations of Western history, start here.
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adopted on disputed points or to take notice of divergent opinions. Therefore, to show the great debt which I owe to the work of others, and to provide those interested in particular problems with some guide to more detailed study, I have given a list of selected references, which express, I believe, the prevailing views of modern scholarship upon the various phases of Roman History. I wish to acknowledge my general indebtedness to Professor W. S. Ferguson of Harvard University for his guidance in my approach to the study of Roman History, and also my particular obligations to Professor W. L. Westermann of Cornell, and to my colleagues, Professors A. L. Cross and J. G. Winter, for reading portions of my manuscript and for much helpful criticism. A. E. R. BOAK. University of Michigan, October, 1921 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PAGE THE SOURCES FOR THE STUDY OF EARLY ROMAN HISTORY xiii PART I THE FORERUNNERS OF ROME IN ITALY CHAPTER I THE GEOGRAPHY OF ITALY 3 CHAPTER II PREHISTORIC CIVILIZATION IN ITALY 7 CHAPTER III THE PEOPLES OF HISTORIC ITALY 13 The Etruscans; the Greeks. PART II THE EARLY MONARCHY AND THE REPUBLIC, FROM PREHISTORIC TIMES TO 27 B. C. CHAPTER IV EARLY ROME TO THE FALL OF THE MONARCHY 25 The Latins; the Origins of Rome; the Early Monarchy; Early Roman Society. CHAPTER V THE EXPANSION OF ROME TO THE UNIFICATION OF THE ITALIAN 33 PENINSULA: _C._ 509–265 B. C. To the Conquest of Veii, _c._ 392 B. C.; the Gallic Invasion; the Disruption of the Latin League and the Alliance of the Romans with the Campanians; Wars with the Samnites, Gauls and Etruscans; the Roman Conquest of South Italy; the Roman Confederacy. CHAPTER VI THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ROME TO 287 B. C. 47 The Early Republic; the Assembly of the Centuries and the Development of the Magistracy; the Plebeian Struggle for Political Equality; the Roman Military System. CHAPTER VII RELIGION AND SOCIETY IN EARLY ROME 61 CHAPTER VIII ROMAN DOMINATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: THE FIRST PHASE—THE 67 STRUGGLE WITH CARTHAGE, 265–201 B. C. The Mediterranean World in 265 B. C.; the First Punic War; the Illyrian and Gallic Wars; the Second Punic War; the Effect of the Second Punic War upon Italy. CHAPTER IX ROMAN DOMINATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: THE SECOND PHASE—ROME 89 AND THE GREEK EAST The Second Macedonian War; the War with Antiochus the Great and the Ætolians; the Third Macedonian War; Campaigns in Italy and Spain. CHAPTER X TERRITORIAL EXPANSION IN THREE CONTINENTS: 167–133 B. C. 99 The Spanish Wars; the Destruction of Carthage; War with Macedonia and the Achæan Confederacy; the Acquisition of Asia. CHAPTER XI THE ROMAN STATE AND THE EMPIRE: 265–133 B. C. 105 The Rule of the Senatorial Aristocracy; the Administration of the Provinces; Social and Economic Development; Cultural Progress. CHAPTER XII THE STRUGGLE OF THE OPTIMATES AND THE POPULARES: 133–78 B. C. 125 The Agrarian Laws of Tiberius Gracchus; the Tribunate of Caius Gracchus; the War with Jugurtha and the Rise of Marius; the Cimbri and the Teutons; Saturninus and Glaucia; the Tribunate of Marcus Livius Drusus; the Italian or Marsic War; the First Mithridatic War; Sulla’s Dictatorship. CHAPTER XIII THE RISE OF POMPEY THE GREAT: 78–59 B. C. 151 Pompey’s Command against Sertorius in Spain; the Command of Lucullus against Mithridates; the Revolt of the Gladiators; the Consulate of Pompey and Crassus; the Commands of Pompey against the Pirates and in the East; the Conspiracy of Cataline; the Coalition of Pompey, Cæsar and Crassus. CHAPTER XIV THE RIVALRY OF POMPEY AND CAESAR: CAESAR’S DICTATORSHIP: 59–44 166 B. C....

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Forget everything you think you know about dry history books. Arthur Boak's A History of Rome to 565 A.D. reads like the most ambitious biography ever written—the biography of a city that became a world.

The Story

This isn't a plot with characters in the traditional sense, but the character is Rome itself. Boak traces its incredible life story. We see its scrappy beginnings as a cluster of huts, watch it develop a unique political system (the Republic), and follow its relentless expansion through wars and diplomacy. The narrative builds to the dramatic shift from Republic to Empire under Augustus, explores the centuries of imperial rule—the good, the bad, and the truly bizarre emperors—and then carefully examines the long, complex process of decline and transformation. The story doesn't just end with a fall; it shows how Rome changed into something new, ending with the world of the early Byzantine Empire.

Why You Should Read It

What makes Boak's work special is its clarity and balance. He connects the dots between military conquests, economic policies, social changes, and even religious shifts. You see how a decision in the Senate could ripple out to affect a soldier on the German frontier or a merchant in Alexandria. He makes you understand the why behind the what. Reading it, you get a real sense of momentum—the feeling of watching this immense political machine operate, succeed, strain, and eventually fracture under its own weight and external pressures.

Final Verdict

This is the perfect book for anyone who wants a single-volume, authoritative, and readable guide to ancient Rome. It's ideal for a curious beginner who wants the full timeline without getting lost, or for a fiction reader who loves Roman-era novels and wants to understand the real backdrop. It's not a light beach read, but it is a profoundly satisfying one. Think of it as your comprehensive, reliable map to the greatest empire the West has ever known.



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Christopher Lopez
1 month ago

Five stars!

4
4 out of 5 (1 User reviews )

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