"This book describes how Rome conquered the world with citizen-soldiers. Like many expansionist states throughout history, Rome instilled something violent and vicious in its soldiers, making them more effective than their opponents. But unlike other civilizations, it did so with part-timers. The Romans perfected civic militarism in a way no other civilization has. It transformed average farmers into ambitious killers capable of conquering the Mediterranean"--...

A narrative history of the Roman Empire from the point of view of the "barbarian" enemies of Rome. Rome's history follows a remarkable trajectory from its origins as a tiny village of refugees from a conflict zone to a dominant superpower. But throughout this history, Rome faced significant resistance and rebellion from peoples whom it regarded as barbarians: Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Goths, Vandals, Huns, Picts and Scots. Based both on ancient historical...