The History of Rome Volume I (Books 1-8)

Titus Livy was one of the most prolific and widely read writers in Ancient Rome. Determined to immortalize the accomplishments of the Roman Empire, he dedicated his life to documenting its glory.

The History of Rome is his masterpiece. He worked on it for decades, publishing it in installments and turning both contemporary events and those that occurred several centuries earlier into a sprawling epic. It eventually totaled 142 books (each taking the form of a long chapter).

The full text narrated the legends of Aeneas, the fall of Troy, and a complete history of Rome, from its foundation to the death of Emperor Augustus. Livy emphasized Rome’s great triumphs and embellished accounts of Roman heroism, creating a powerful sense of drama in his history. This led him to achieve fame and fortune.

Although only Books 1 to 10 and 21 to 45 have survived, The History of Rome is still one of the most important works on the Roman Empire available to modern historians. The remaining parts of the manuscript take the reader on a magnificent journey from the mythical founding of Rome to the epic struggle to defeat Perseus in 168 BC.