Ten Caesars

Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine

By: Barry Strauss

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

Best-selling classical historian Barry Strauss tells the story of three-and-a-half centuries of the Roman Empire through the lives of 10 of the most important emperors, from Augustus to Constantine.

Barry Strauss’ Ten Caesars is the story of the Roman Empire from rise to reinvention, from Augustus, who founded the empire, to Constantine, who made it Christian and moved the capital east to Constantinople.

During these centuries, Rome gained in splendor and territory, then lost both. The empire reached from modern-day Britain to Iraq, and gradually, emperors came not from the old families of the first century but from men born in the provinces, some of whom had never even seen Rome. By the fourth century, the time of Constantine, the Roman Empire had changed so dramatically in geography, ethnicity, religion, and culture that it would have been virtually unrecognizable to Augustus.

In the imperial era, Roman women - mothers, wives, mistresses - had substantial influence over the emperors, and Strauss also profiles the most important among them, from Livia, Augustus’ wife, to Helena, Constantine’s mother. But even women in the imperial family faced limits, and the emperors often forced them to marry or divorce for purely political reasons.

Rome’s legacy remains today in so many ways, from language, law, and architecture to the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Strauss examines this enduring heritage through the lives of the men who shaped it: Augustus, Tiberius, Nero, Vespasian, Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Diocletian, and Constantine. Over the ages, they learned to maintain the family business - the government of an empire - by adapting when necessary and always persevering no matter the cost. Ten Caesars is essential history as well as fascinating biography.

©2019 Barry Strauss (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

Excellent

A great history of Rome with the most important Caesars on the fore front. Highly recommend.

where's. Claudius?

Very good. Great narration. Endless research learned yet..... an hour spent on Nero and 5 minutes on Claudius. I can see not giving Caligula a chapter but I was interested in learning facts about Claudius and dismissing the many myths as the author did with Nero and the others. Disappointed.

The ten Caesars

If you like ancient history, you will like his book. I highly recommend listening to this book

Fascinating insights into ten pivotal Caesars

I have read a fair amount of Roman history, but this book gave me an overarching view of the effects of these ten pivotal Caesars on the total Roman empire and much of the world beyond and after it.

Good not great

Morey does a fantastic job with the reading.

Strauss is frustrating as a writer. He frequently asserts the absurd as fact. More importantly, he presents Constantine with Christian worship rather than a hard assessment of the man. Very frustrating at times.

Good for beginners

If you have a good understanding of the history of Rome, skip this book. Few new insights I haven’t read elsewhere. As 1 book covers 10+ emperors, it is understandably difficult to develop the bios much. But for a beginner it is a fine overview.

Comprehensive review or introduction

Arthur Morey has a noninvasive voice that makes listening pleasurable. Strauss has provided an easy introduction or review of, as the title states, ten Roman Caesars. The writing is clear and accessible, and the content is fulfilling. It is certainly a good way to familiarize with such characters and their times and actions that may incite one to further reading.

Great story, great history. Confusing names?

This is a great, well researched story about the ten Caesars. Narration was great. My problem, not the authors problem, was keeping track of all the confusing names. I do recommend this book, just keep a note pad and pencil in hand.

Extraordinary romp through Imperial Rome

A truly insightful capsulary history of Rome told with enthusiasm and appropriate speculative nuance and color.

finest and most precise account of 10 Caesars

I've read many accounts of each of the seizures and I believe this is one of the most concise that I have read. well written, well narrated, and most intriguing.