The Old Roman World : the Grandeur and Failure of Its Civilization.

From a modest settlement on the Tiber, Rome grew into a force that reshaped the ancient world. The narrative follows its early wars, the relentless drive of citizen‑soldiers, and the creation of a sprawling empire that stretched from Britain to the Near East. Along the way, the book examines how military discipline and a shared sense of destiny forged a new aristocracy and an unprecedented imperial system.

Beyond conquest, the author shows how Roman administration turned war into a science and governance into an art, sustaining centuries of relative peace and prosperity. He also traces the shift from martial vigor to luxurious excess, when wealth, landownership and political intrigue began to erode the civic spirit that had driven the Republic. The final sections consider the empire’s lasting influence—its legal codes, infrastructure, and the spread of Christianity—highlighting how Rome’s rise and fall continue to shape Western civilization.