Why We're All Romans - by Carl J Richard (Paperback)

About the Book

This lively account of Roman administration, law, engineering, architecture, art, and literature traces 1,200 years of history from Rome's inception to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. This engaging yet deeply informed work not only examines Roman history and the multitud...

Book Synopsis

This lively account of Roman administration, law, engineering, architecture, art, and literature traces 1,200 years of history from Rome's inception to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. This engaging yet deeply informed work not only examines Roman history and the multitude of Roman achievements in rich and colorful detail but also delineates their crucial and lasting impact on Western civilization.

Review Quotes

At this critical moment in our history, Carl Richard recovers for us the deepest roots of American order. In clear and lively prose, he guides us through Roman civilization and its influence on the West, artfully melding entertaining anecdotes with spot-on analysis. Why We're All Romans is a superb summary of Roman history, one that will both delight and instruct the reader.

In Why We're All Romans, America's premier intellectual historian surveys the culture of the ancient Mediterranean with scholarly acumen and humane wit. Whether discussing Roman law, architecture, history or 'the Romanization of Christianity, ' Carl Richard's well-written and informed account is an excellent introduction to the ancient culture that shaped the United States and is still important for American freedom and creativity.

Lively account of Ancient Rome.

Richard (history, Univ. of Louisiana, Lafayette; Greeks & Romans Bearing Gifts: How the Ancients Inspired the Founding Fathers) gives us another work on classical influences, aimed at educated but nonexpert readers. Taking a broader focus than in his previous titles, he does not limit his study only to influences on early America but seeks to demonstrate how Roman culture influenced later Western culture in nearly all disciplines, including law, engineering, literature, and philosophy. Working on this monumental scale over such well-trod ground requires some deftness, and . . . Richard's prose is clear and engaging (he cites excerpts from his previous Twelve Greeks and Romans Who Changed the World). . . . An entertaining and informative book for readers interested in a broad view of Western reception of Roman culture.

Richard (Univ. of Louisiana at Lafayette) has written a readable, accessible overview of ancient Roman society and history. Organized thematically, the book examines a wide variety of topics, including Roman engineering, philosophy, and literature. Each chapter provides a succinct summary of Roman contributions in these fields, along with a description of how these contributions have affected later periods in Western history. Richard's overall argument is that the Romans deserve credit for helping to transmit both Greek and Jewish ideas into Western civilization, as well as for their own unique contributions, especially in the fields of architecture, engineering, and law. The book includes a one-chapter account of Roman political and military history, beginning with the founding of the city of Rome and stretching through the fall of the Roman Empire. . . . This book is a useful basic overview of Roman history. Summing Up: Recommended. General and undergraduate collections


The author makes his case in an engaging and entertaining way. . . . He writes with remarkable clarity. His description of the Latin language as 'vigorous and precise' could well apply to his own prose, and the text is enlivened by his wry humor. Richard has a particular knack for selecting anecdotes that are telling and often amusing. . . . His historical assessments . . . are consistently balanced and perceptive. . . . This book will serve as a very good introduction to the ancient Romans and their achievements, and readers with a prior knowledge of the topic will profit from the author's insights.

About the Author

Carl J. Richard is professor of history at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.