The Rise of Rome: Books One to Five - Paperback

The Rise of Rome: Books One to Five by Livy

"The fates ordained the founding of this great city and the beginning of the world's mightiest empire, second only to the power of the gods"

This Oxford World's Classics edition presents Livy's monumental history of early Rome, covering the city's founding in 753 BC through its first major defeat in 390 BC. Written between 20 BC and AD 17, these five books capture Rome's transformation from a small settlement to a dominant Mediterranean power.

Historical Narratives and Legendary Figures

Romulus and Remus, the rape of Lucretia, Horatius at the bridge, the saga of Coriolanus, Cincinnatus called from his farm to save the state - these and many more are stories which, immortalized by Livy in his history of early Rome, have become part of our cultural heritage.

Books 1-5 cover the period from Rome's beginnings to her first great foreign conquest, the capture of the Etruscan city of Veii and, a few years later, to her first major defeat, the sack of the city by the Gauls in 390 BC.

Comprehensive Scholarly Edition

The historian's huge work, written between 20 BC and AD 17, ran to 12 books, beginning with Rome's founding in 753 BC and coming down to Livy's own lifetime (9 BC). This volume includes expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and detailed annotations that provide historical context.

Oxford World's Classics Quality

For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

About the Editor

T. J. Luce is Kennedy Professor of Latin Emeritus at Princeton University, bringing decades of classical scholarship to this authoritative translation and edition.

This paperback edition provides students, scholars, and history enthusiasts with access to one of the most important works of Roman historiography, essential for understanding the foundation myths and early political development of ancient Rome.