Explore the 6 titles currently associated with Theodor Mommsen in Literra’s catalogue. Each title opens its book page, with the available description and information about its collection.
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Theodor Mommsen’s History of Rome is an enormous attempt to explain how Rome developed from a small Italian community into the dominant power of the ancient Mediterranean—and how the political structures created by that expansion eventually broke down. Across five volumes, Mommsen moves from
Book I of Mommsen’s History of Rome examines the period before the Roman monarchy was abolished, tracing Rome’s legendary beginnings, early kings, institutions, religious traditions, social structures, and the gradual development of the community that would later become the Roman Republic
Book II follows the Roman Republic from the abolition of monarchy through the expansion of Roman power across Italy. Mommsen shows that the Republic was not a perfectly balanced constitutional system from the beginning
Book III follows Rome from the completion of its dominance in Italy into the explosive period of overseas expansion that brings it into conflict with Carthage and the Greek states. The Punic Wars are the obvious center, but Mommsen uses them to explore the economic and political transformation
Book IV, usually associated with the “Revolution” of Rome, turns from conquest toward the breakdown of the republican system itself. The central problem is that Rome has become too powerful and socially unequal for the old political structures to function as they once did
Book V examines Rome’s transition from Republic to military monarchy, focusing on the accumulation of power around individual commanders and the final transformation of constitutional government. Mommsen treats Caesar and Augustus not simply as unusually talented men but as products of a system
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