Anthony A. Barrett Books

Drawing on new archaeological evidence, an authoritative history of Rome's Great Fire--and how it inflicted lasting harm on the Roman EmpireAccording to legend, the Roman emperor Nero set fire to his majestic imperial capital on the night of July 19, 64 AD and fiddled while the city burned. It's a story that has been told for more than two millennia--and it's likely that almost none of it is true. In Rome Is Burning, distinguished Roman historian Anthony Barrett sets the record straight, providing a comprehensive and authoritative account of the Great Fire of Rome, its immediate aftermath, and its damaging longterm consequences for the Roman world. Drawing on remarkable new archaeological discoveries and sifting through all the literary evidence, he tells what is known about what actually happened--and argues that the disaster was a turning point in Roman history, one that ultimately led to the fall of Nero and the end of the dynasty that began with Julius Caesar.Rome Is Burning tells how the fire destroyed much of the city and threw the population into panic. It describes how it also destroyed Nero's golden image and provoked a financial crisis and currency devaluation that made a permanent impact on the Roman economy. Most importantly, the book surveys, and includes many photographs of, recent archaeological evidence that shows visible traces of the fire's destruction. Finally, the book describes the fire's continuing afterlife in literature, opera, ballet, and film.A richly detailed and scrupulously factual narrative of an event that has always been shrouded in myth, Rome Is Burning promises to become the standard account of the Great Fire of Rome for our time.

This essential document for the study of Roman history traces the story of Rome from Romulus and the foundations of Rome to the reign of the Emperor Tiberius. It is especially valuable to historians and students for its vivid eyewitness account of the dramatic years that saw the Roman Empire emerge from the chaos left by the shattered Republic. Rendered with the non-specialist in mind, the translation--the first English language translation in nearly ninety years--seeks to remain faithful to the original while avoiding technical and obscure jargon. The volume includes a substantial introduction to Velleius' life and times, and to the literary context of his historical work, as well as generous and detailed notes on the text, a bibliography, map, glossary of unfamiliar terms, and an index.

The manual offers practical guidance on recognizing and foraging wild edible plants, making it an essential resource for anyone interested in building resilience through foraging. It provides detailed information on various species, including their habitats and uses, empowering readers to connect with nature and enhance their survival skills. Ideal for beginners and seasoned foragers alike, it emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices in gathering wild foods.

Few historical figures have had an impact on the popular imagination like the Roman emperor Caligula. But what can we believe about the incredible stories transmitted to us from ancient sources? This book presents translations of these sources-from ancient writers, coins, and inscriptions-as a guide to navigating inconsistent historical records.

Livia—wife of the first Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, and mother of the second, Tiberius— wielded extraordinary power at the center of Roman politics. In this biography of Livia, the first in English, Anthony Barrett sets aside the portrait of a cunning and sinister schemer to reveal Livia as a complex figure whose enduring political influence helped shape Roman government long after her death."An excellent biography of Livia-as appealing to the general reader as it is satisfying to the scholar."—Colin M. Wells, Trinity University, San Antonio"In reading Anthony Barrett’s biography of Livia, I not only learned about this remarkable woman, but also gained a meaningful appreciation of life and society in her time."—Howard Alper, President, The Royal Society of Canada"First-rate."—Mary Beard, Times Literary Supplement

Der römische Kaiser Nero gilt als verrückter und grausamer Herrscher, insbesondere wegen des Brandes von Rom am 19. Juli 64 n. Chr., den er angeblich selbst gelegt haben soll. In dieser Nacht soll er, begeistert von den Flammen, Verse über den Untergang Trojas rezitiert haben. Doch entspricht diese Darstellung den tatsächlichen Ereignissen? Der Althistoriker Anthony Barrett beleuchtet die Geschehnisse anhand antiker Quellen und archäologischer Funde und zeigt, dass der Brand das Ende der julisch-claudischen Dynastie einleitete. Er analysiert die historische Bedeutung des Brandes für das römische Weltreich, die Regierungszeit des letzten Kaisers dieser Dynastie und die wiederholten Brände im antiken Rom. Barrett hinterfragt die Beweislage der Vorwürfe gegen Nero und beleuchtet die Suche nach einem Sündenbock, die zur Christenverfolgung unter Nero führte. Um seine Beliebtheit zurückzugewinnen, führte Nero verbesserte Brandschutzmaßnahmen und Sühnerituale ein, doch das Gerücht, er sei für den Brand verantwortlich, blieb bestehen. Um die Anschuldigungen zu entkräften, ließ er brutale Maßnahmen gegen die Christen ergreifen, was als erstes großes Martyrium in die Kirchengeschichte einging. Diese Neu-Erzählung zeigt, wie der Brand von Rom zu einem entscheidenden Wendepunkt wurde.

Kniha, sepsaná kolektivem význačných badatelů v oboru antických dějin, líčí životy dvanácti nejzajímavějších a nejvlivnějších římských císařů (Augusta, Tiberia, Caliguly, Claudia, Nerona, Vespasiana, Hadriana, Marca Aurelia, Septimia Severa, Diokleciána, Konstantina a Justiniána) a je vhodnou studijní příručkou nejen pro čtenáře dosud neobeznámené s tématem, ale i pro ty, kdo již dějiny římské říše v hrubých obrysech znají. Součástí knihy jsou i ilustrace, doporučená literatura k dalšímu studiu na konci každé kapitoly, časová tabulka římských dějin, slovník odborných pojmů a rodokmeny dynastií. zdroj: kosmas.cz