While we have written sources about the ancient Romans, our knowledge is limited by a lack of archaeological evidence. It was a forerunner to modern ideas about citizens’ rights and responsibilities. The ancient Romans had an idea of citizenship. Slavery was common in ancient times, but slavery wasn’t driven by ideology or religion instead, slaves were used for labor and support purposes. The military success of Rome was due to its large population and logistical advantages, which allowed it to field a huge army. In the Roman Empire, women had more rights than many other places around the world at that time. The role of women in society has changed over time. The Romans closely controlled their subjects’ religious beliefs, as well as how they expressed those beliefs. The Roman Empire had a strong influence on the political geography and ideas that are still prevalent today. The title of the book refers to a Latin phrase that means “The Senate and People of Rome.” This was used on Roman documents, coins, and buildings throughout history. Engaging with Roman civilization has relevance to our own understanding of modern times some events from Roman history are similar to debates in modern time (for example citizenship and security versus liberty). These ideas helped Rome, a small village on the swampy banks of the Tiber River, rise to become an influential empire. The key to Rome’s success was its openness to new ideas. The impact of historical figures such as Cicero, Julius Caesar, and Emperor Augustus on the growth of Rome is also addressed. These include citizenship and military service as well as religion and slavery. From there, it offers analysis of choice topics in Roman history.

The book opens with the Catiline conspiracy, a plot against Rome by one of its citizens. It covers the history of Rome from 753 BC to 212 CE, when Caracalla made all free adult males born within the empire Roman citizens. SPQR is a book on Ancient Rome written by Mary Beard.

Spqr by mary beard