Colin Wells was a British historian of ancient Rome, and a scholar and archaeologist of classical antiquities and Punic history. His work delved deeply into this era, emphasizing archaeological discoveries that illuminated the life and culture of antiquity. Wells brought a fresh perspective to historical study, connecting meticulous research with a broader historical context. His legacy lies in how he brought the complexity and richness of the ancient world to modern readers.
This sweeping history of the Roman Empire from 44 B.C. to A.D. 235 has three purposes: to describe what was happening in the central administration and in the entourage of the emperor; to indicate how life went on in Italy and the provinces, in the towns, in the countryside, and in the army camps; and to show how these two different worlds impinged on each other. Colin Wells's vivid account is now available in an up-to-date second edition.