Imperial Rome

Great Ages of Man

by Moses Hadas

Chronicles the history of the Roman Empire from Augustus to Hadrian, focusing on the reigns of particular emperors and illuminating Roman politics, trade, agriculture, social customs, military practices, and education

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Historical, Reference, Italy, Art

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Moses Hadas (1900–1966) was an American teacher, one of the leading classical scholars of the twentieth century, and a translator of numerous works.

Raised in Atlanta in a Yiddish-speaking Orthodox Jewish household, his early studies included rabbinical training; he graduated from Jewish Theological Seminary of America (1926) and took his doctorate in classics in 1930. He was fluent in Yiddish, German, ancient Hebrew, ancient Greek, Latin, French, and Italian, and well-versed in other languages.

His most productive years were spent at Columbia University, where he was a colleague of Jacques Barzun and Lionel Trilling. There, he took his talent for languages, combined it with a popularizing impulse, to buck the prevailing classical methods of the day—textual criticism and grammar—presenting classics, even in translation, as worthy of study as literary works in their own right.

This approach may be compared to the New Criticism school: even as the New Critics emphasized close reading, eschewing outside sources and cumbersome apparatus, Hadas, in presenting classical works in translation to an influx of post-war G.I. Bill students, brought forth an appreciation of his domain for those without the specialized training of classicists.

His popularizing impulse led him to embrace television as a tool for education, becoming a telelecturer and a pundit on broadcast television. He also recorded classical works on phonograph and tape.

Reviews

[Leonard Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine entry in the Time/Life "Great Ages of Man" series, which is much better than it has any right to be. Great use of art, engaging prose by Hadas, and a nice blend of classical reference and modern anthropological insight.

[Jessica DMJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very neat, but outdated illustrated and brief text on the history of Rome. Hadas does overglorify Rome and some myths (such as Caligula making his horse a senator) are presented as fact, but this is a good starter text or coffee table book for those interested in Rome.

[Foxtower · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit I never read history books, but as an art reference I look at the pictures! This book could use more pictures, yet as a focus on a certain period it contains more than enough samples of art and architecture of the era to serve as a good reference to art the period.

[Jonathan Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great, short overview. Was very interesting reading about the end of the Republic and Caesar and Pompey in broader strokes, after having listened to the Hardcore History version of events.

[Ricardo Cifuentes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro de 1971, pero que contiene nociones introductorias y condensadas muy buenas, ademas de presentar una cronología ordenada, tiene apartados que desarrollan temas importantes del imperio.

[Kili · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The late American-born Classist Moses Hadas’ 1965 edition of the book, Imperial Rome, is the history of the Ancient Roman Empire from its beginning until the reign of the Emperor Justinian of the Eastern Roman Empire compiled the Ancient Roman Legal Code into the Justinian Code in 529 CE (166). The book is for the series of Time-Life Books’ Great Ages of Man. Moses Hadas was a Professor of Greek at Columbia University in New York City. Hadas was a translator of Ancient Roman Latin language writers, Tacitus and Cicero. Hadas’ book is dated, but it is still worth reading if one is interested in the historiography of the history of the Ancient Roman Empire. The book, Imperial Rome is readable. It is impressive that the water aqueduct in Segovia, Spain built by Ancient Roman Engineers was still in partial use by the city of Segovia in 1965 (31, 164). The book has a beautiful layout, and each chapter is followed by a photo essay. The photo essay on “Masters of War” (89-101) includes models of the Siege of Avaricum in present-day France and the Battle of Cynoscephalae in present-day Greece made for the book. There is one section at the end of the book on Famous Ancient Romans (182-183). At the end of the book, there is a Timeline. Even though it was dated I did not regret spending time reading the book, Imperial Rome.

[Rosanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to read something about the grandeur that was Rome, read this book. It is not too long nor is it too short. It does not bore you with the immaterial. But gives you just about the right amount of information for you to have a clear picture of imperial Rome. :-)

[Foxtower · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit I never read history books, but as an art reference I look at the pictures! This book could use more pictures, yet as a focus on a certain period it contains more than enough samples of art and architecture of the era to serve as a good reference to art the period.

[Victor Orozco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. It offers great insight into the rise of Rome, from its fabled origins, founding as a Kingdom, becoming a Republic to finally an Empire. A very good read. A.

[James Violand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of Roman history.

[Amber Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and gave lost of amazing pictures!

[Yemima Yulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roman legacy for the world in all its glory. A good read for everyone.