Overview

A fresh narrative history of the rise of Rome's empire in Italy, that exposes the monumental expansion of the Roman familial, social, political, and militaristic way of living across Italy. Before the Romans could become masters of the Mediterranean, they had to first conquer the people of their own peninsula. This book explores the origins of Roman imperialism and the creation of Rome's early Italian empire, bringing new light and interpretations to this important but problematic period in Roman history. It explains how and why the Romans were able to expand their influence within Italy, often through the use of armed conflict, laying the foundations for their great imperial project. This book critically reexamines and reframes the traditional literary narrative within an archaeologically informed, archaic Italian context. Jeremy Armstrong presents a new interpretation of the early Roman army, highlighting the fluid and family-driven character which is increasingly visible in the evidence. Drawing on recent developments within the field of early Roman studies, Children of Mars argues that the emergence of Rome's empire in Italy should not be seen as the spread of a distinct

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9780197584972

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Reviews

This book invokes a fresh and new approach to Roman warfare. Armstrong lays out a different picture of Rome's military expansion, showing how the origins of its empire began with the individual activities of independent war bands that only gradually began to work together to take on larger conquests. Rather than viewing the construction of Rome's empire through the political lens of the Senate House, Armstrong centers his discussion on the development of warfare outside the city. It is a thoroughly engaging and well-written book that gives new insight into the early armies that laid the groundwork for Rome's empire. * Fred Drogula, Author of Cato the Younger * Children of Mars presents an engaging, challenging, yet accessible account of Rome's wars from the era of the kings through its conquest of Italy. It highlights the contingent nature of 'the Republic' as an ongoing conversation among a fluid network of families and clans that gradually came together to pursue their individual advantage though collaborative warfare. The story it tells differs profoundly from the usual narrative, yet intriguingly foreshadows the rise of the warlords at the Republic's demise. * Nathan Rosenstein, Author of Imperatores Victi and Rome at War *

Author Information

Jeremy Armstrong is Professor of Ancient History at the University of Auckland, New Zealand and the author of Early Roman Warfare: From the Regal Period to the First Punic War and War and Society in Early Rome: From Warlords to Generals.

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