WHY GOING TO ROME IS IMPORTANT
The descendants of the first settlers on the hills overlooking a ford across the Tiber River eventually controlled most of Europe, the Near East, and North Africa for centuries. Still today, a millennium and a half later, the legacy of this extraordinary achievement by the Romans exerts a powerful influence in a rich variety of spheres worldwide—not least among them, architecture, art, language, literature, law, and religion. Although the writings and material remains that survive are inevitably no more than a tiny, random sample of what once existed, there is still quite enough to impress and engage us, and to permit a fair degree of insight into many dimensions of the nature and development of Roman civilization. Of course there are aspects— related to politics or strategy or social practices, to name only three areas—which we can never hope to understand fully.
Even so, that does not deter a large body of interested inquirers from continuing to formulate questions and discuss answers as part of an ongoing dialogue. This activity has proved especially fruitful since the mid-nineteenth century: From then onwards, at an increasing pace, advances in scholarship, technology, and exploration have hugely improved the control and appreciation of the material at our disposal. These advances have also led to many exciting new discoveries, as well as stimulating ventures into fresh areas of inquiry over a broader range than ever. The expanding pursuit of inquiry, discovery, and (re)evaluation is sure to continue. Current knowledge, interests, and opinions are by no means fixed or exhausted; each generation chooses its own mix of elements in Roman history.
The distinctiveness of this book lies in its synthesis of the Roman state’s changing character and expansion from earliest beginnings to the fourth century A.D.
The archaeological scope would be the evolving nature of the Roman com¬munity, its state institutions, and forms of rule, together with its expansion and some of the consequences. Next to no background knowledge would be expected, nor any acquaintance with languages (ancient or modern) other than English. For Rome’s history to unfold most meaningfully for newcomers to it, we concluded that the presentation needed to be mainly, though by no means invariably, narra¬tive.
Yet since we are covering a truly vast canvas in terms of time, space, and hu¬man interaction, many topics and trends can only be touched on here, despite the fact that it would in principle be possible to discuss them at length in their own right. An important feature that distinguishes our treatment from others now available is that its focus on Rome’s political and institutional history is coupled with an awareness of how such a narrative is inseparable from social, cultural, economic, art hisstorical, and other types of history.
In Transit
A Guide to Intelligent Travel
Sunday Preview
3 Jul 2009 at 12:00pm
by By New York Times
In this Sunday's Travel section, Mary Duenwald, deputy editor of the Op-Ed page of The New York Times, explores Cape Cod through the eyes and words of Mary Oliver, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet.
Q&A: Day Trips From Limerick
2 Jul 2009 at 4:32pm
by By David G. Allan
"I'll be staying in Limerick and I would like to make short one- or half-day trips when I have free time."
Travel Deals: A 400th Birthday for Bermuda
2 Jul 2009 at 12:00pm
by By Hilary Howard
Bermuda is offering several money-saving packages at some of its most luxurious hotels.
The Fabric of Italian Art
2 Jul 2009 at 9:00am
by By Hilary Howard
The Italian fashion house Missoni, known for its kaleidoscopic fabrics, is the subject of the exhibition "Workshop Missoni: Daring to be Different."
Places You've Seen at the Movies
1 Jul 2009 at 6:00pm
by By Hilary Howard
The creators of "Museyon Guides' Film + Travel," a new travel guide trilogy, locate some of the most memorable scenes from the movies and organize them into books.
Photo of the Week
1 Jul 2009 at 3:17pm
by By The New York Times
Bicycles abound in the fashionable beach town Forte dei Marmi on Italy's Tuscan coast.
Travel Deals: Discounts at a Beijing Hotel
1 Jul 2009 at 11:10am
by By Allison Busacca
The Opposite House, a trendy 99-room boutique hotel in Beijing is offering two deals.
Q&A: Cricket in Johannesburg
30 Jun 2009 at 4:58pm
by By David G. Allan
"My friends and I are planning to go to Johannesburg to watch the finals of the Indian Premier League Cricket. We wanted some advice on what we could do."
Honduras Travel Ban
30 Jun 2009 at 12:04pm
by By Michelle Higgins
The State Department is recommending that American citizens defer all non-essential travel to Honduras following the military ousting of President Manuel Zelaya.
Travel Deals: Up to 60 Percent Off Guided Tours
30 Jun 2009 at 9:01am
by By Allison Busacca
From 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST today, Intrepid Travel is offering 15 to 60 percent off its 400-plus trips.
Travels in Cyberspace: The Monday Report
29 Jun 2009 at 7:36pm
by By Denny Lee
Highlights from Lapham's Quarterly, "Croatia's lusty Riviera town," seeing Hawaii from a Volkswagen camper, and more.
Practical Traveler: Canceled Flight? Mobile Service Offers Alternatives
29 Jun 2009 at 2:30pm
by By Michelle Higgins
TripIt offers a new tool that can help you avoid some of that drama when your flight is delayed or canceled.
Travel Deals: Discounts and Free Nights at Omni Hotels
29 Jun 2009 at 12:01pm
by By Allison Busacca
Last-minute Fourth of July deals, many of which extend through the fall.
Tour Central Park, Celebrity-Style
29 Jun 2009 at 10:02am
by By The New York Times
Dozens of celebrities are offering offering guided tours of Central Park highlights - from Wollman Rink to the Alice in Wonderland statue. But it's all done over cellphone.
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