The Fall of the Roman Republic

This book presents the first English translation to appear for over a hundred years of a key text, Books 36-40 of Cassius Dio's Roman History, which is not only the fullest surviving account of the last twenty years before the Roman Republic collapsed (69-50 BCE) but is also a vivid and compelling historical narrative.

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'That was how things stood in the city at the time. With no one in charge, murders were taking place almost every day and the elections could not be held.'

Books 36-40 of the Roman History by Cassius Dio (born ca. 163 CE), covers 69-50 BCE, the last twenty years before the Roman Republic collapsed in a long series of civil wars, leading to the monarchy of the emperors. Although Dio's history was written over 250 years later, it provides the fullest surviving account of this crucial period in Roman history and is a key source of information on many of the chief developments. Dio fashions his account of these years to foreshadow the coming civil war, exposing the violence and corruption of the political life of the time, and portraying the gradual eclipse of the great general Pompey by his younger rival Caesar.

Robin Waterfield's lively and up-to-date translation is accompanied by an introduction by John Rich, which sets Dio's work in its context and explores both literary and historical features of the text, and his portraits of major characters such as Pompey, Cicero, and Caesar. This edition also includes full explanatory notes, a glossary, and maps of Central Rome, Gaul, and the East.

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