Ten Caesars: Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine

What Happens When a Nation Loses Its Republic?

SUMMARY. This book is deceptively short but information-rich. Author Strauss masterfully chooses ten Caesars whose reigns can serve as “jump points” to span this high period of the Western Roman Empire. The book was well-researched yet interesting and easy to understand. Strauss appears to have visited numerous Roman sites, and comments first-hand on their features. By using these prominent Caesars as focal points, Strauss teaches Roman history and introduces the reader to Roman times. Strauss personifies the Caesars by describing them physically from their Roman coinage and surviving statuary, and by speculating about their personalities. He also delves into family relationships and their effect on ruling and succession. The author provides two excellent guides to understand the dynastic framework: a “cast of characters” and a “family tree” for each dynasty. Unfortunately, this material is in the back of the book and not readily discovered. This book reminded me that some of the Roman traditions contributed to the modern world, such as a republican government, a system of laws, and the proclamation of Sunday as a day of rest. But their times also echo current political issues. INTRODUCTION. This book covers a relatively short but important period of Roman rule. From the founding of Rome until the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire covered 2,206 years. The era of the Western Roman emperors covered 520 of those years. And, this book covers 368 years of that period. The book provides a relevant study of what governance was like after Rome lost its republic. Rome formed a republic in 509 BC. But in 44 BC, Julius Caesar became “dictator for life” ending the republic’s 465-year span. From that time until its demise, Rome existed under authoritarian rule. HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK. The initial Caesar in this book, Augustus, was Rome’s first emperor following Julius Caesar. Ruling for 41 years (27 BC-14 AD), Augustus was perhaps the prototype Caesar. The empire’s expansion rea...