Rise of Rome: From the Iron Age to the Punic Wars (1000 BC - 264 BC)

In the late Iron Age, Rome was a small collection of huts arranged over a few hills. By the third century BC, it had become a large and powerful city, with monumental temples, public buildings and grand houses. It had conquered the whole of Italy and was poised to establish an empire. But how did it accomplish this historic transformation? This book explores the development of Rome during this period, and the nature of its control over Italy, considering why and how the Romans achieved this spectacular dominance. For Rome was only one of a number of emerging centres of power during this period. From its complex forms of government, to its innovative connections with other states, Kathryn Lomas shows what set Rome apart. Examining the context and impact of the city's dominance, as well as the key political, social and economic changes it engendered, this is crucial reading for anyone interested in Ancient Rome.

Review: Lomas' clear narrative and up-to-date archaeological knowledge is just the right combination to illuminate the fascinating story of the emergence of Rome as a world power. -- Christopher Smith, Director of the British School at Rome and Professor of Ancient History at St Andrews
Kathryn Lomas has excavated the complexities of myth, written sources and archaeological stratigraphy to produce her clear historical synthesis of the political foundations of early Europe. -- Simon Stoddart, Fellow in Archaeology, Magdalene College, Cambridge
Lomas shows great skill in uncovering reliable and fascinating information about an obscure and poorly documented period of history, and presenting it in an engaging and straightforward way. Her book is original for its extensive use of new archaeological evidence, and for telling the remarkable story of the Italian background to the rise of Rome. -- Timothy Cornell, Emeritus Professor of Ancient History, The University of Manchester
This is an admirably clear and engagingly written book. It offers an impressively wide-ranging and up-to-date synthesis, and does an excellent job of situating the city-state of Rome and its rise to hegemony in their wider Italian context. -- J.H. Richardson, Senior Lecturer in Classical Studies, Massey University
The remarkable story of how a great empire sprang from such innocuous beginnings is chronicled in this compelling work, which couples a sweeping narrative with a wealth of historical detail including maps, plans and illustrations. * History Revealed *
Lomas's fully reference and detailed, authoritative book admirably fulfils its remit to understand Rome in its wider Italian setting. -- Peter Jones * BBC History Magazine *
The strengths of this book are many. ... she writes in a lucid and engaging way. ... If one asks whether Lomas has achieved the goal that she set herself, the answer must be a resounding yes. -- Mark Grahame * Rivista *