Rome's rise to world power took place through many stages along a long and eventful path, beginning from small agrarian and urban origins to the ancient empire. The crucial turning points in this historical process occurred during the time of the Roman Republic, which comes to life in this comprehensive account. Klaus Bringmann vividly describes the key milestones and turning points in over 500 years of Roman history. Overviews of longer time periods alternate with depictions of significant, consequential events in both internal and external history—such as the war against Carthage or the conflict surrounding the reform efforts of the Gracchi. Close-ups introduce the protagonists of the Roman Republic: the legendary Brutus, who is said to have expelled the last of the Roman kings, and the proverbial...