Famous Men of Ancient Rome: Lives of Julius Caesar, Nero, Marcus Aurelius and Others

Famous Men of Rome

by John Henry Haaren, Addison B. Poland

This captivating book offers young readers a memorable and meaningful introduction to the famous leaders and great men of ancient Rome. Its biographical sketches are chronologically arranged, from 753 B.C., the estimated founding of Rome, to A. D. 476, the fall of the Western Empire. Readers can compare and contrast the characters of these great men and see how their actions and ideas influenced Rome and the world.
The 30 chapters start with the legend of the orphans Romulus and Remus, who were raised by a wolf, and grew up to found the Eternal City. Children also meet a fascinating variety of actual historical figures, including Cincinnatus, who chose to be a farmer instead of a dictator, Nero, the mad emperor, and the warlike Julius Caesar. They'll encounter Marcus Aurelius, the emperor who used his own money to help the poor, and who walked the streets, greeting people and listening to their troubles so that he could be a better leader. Geared toward third- to seventh-graders, Famous Men of Ancient Rome is excellent both for reading aloud and for independent reading and study by students.

Genres: History, Ancient History, Nonfiction, Biography, School, Classics, Roman History

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1904

About the author

John Henry Haaren (born August 13, 1855, New York, New York – d. September 23, 1916, Brooklyn, New York) was an American educator and historian.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_He...

Reviews

[Saumen]

May be the best introduction of roman history for me!

From the past 2-3 years I continuously dug into roman history on and off, between reading other books. First I went to read plutarch but soon found it did have holes in timelines. It was tiresome to look up so many persons and events on wikipedia that Plutarch was referring.So then I tried to get a complete overview of roman history, possibly upto fall of roman Republic. I ran to and fro between pages of different books to create a gapless timeline of history. Also I have seen a number of videos on roman history on YT. But couldn’t achieve what I was intended to.

Actually roman records were destroyed when gauls sacked rome in 386 B.C so many histories were lost then. And its our misfortune that only 35 books out of 140 of Livys history of rome books are survived from antiquity. Such a loss to mankind! Also works of other roman historians also rarely survived to its full extanct.
.

Then about two days ago, I began to read this book. Mainly intended to the children, this book is not so bad when it comes to an adult like me. I get a more or less complete overview of roman history from Romulus to julius, in about 200 pages. So, all thanks goes to this book. But surely my past exposure to roman history definitely helped, at least I could guess what was coming.

Writing style of this book follows plutarchs "History through great men" philosophy, as it contains 28 notable romans of ancient time.They covers the period from 753 B.C to 476 A.D. Sure, this book is not elaborate for pundits and not jam-packed with characters and plethora of events like parallel lives. Smooth and easygoing, often teaches moral value of the lives discussed in this book.It also have some illustrations to capture your imagination.

A perfect read for me atleast and can recommend to anyone who are interested in roman history just like me.

[Eric]

Not bad. I wish it had more of the color from Livy, Plutarch, Eusibeus et al. For instance, the chapter on Constantine never mentions the Milvian Bridge, the Council of Nicaea, nor his last minute Baptism.

[Amelia Hawkins]

This is a great book for kids ages 7-10 ish, and enjoyable for adults who want to learn or refresh their memory about notable people of Ancient Rome. I also love the newest version Memoria Press has with photos of primary source Roman architecture, along with the illustrations of famous scenes of important events.

[Renee]

I found this a really interesting read (and for a former Latin student it was a nice overview of some history I had taken in high school). I think it would have been good to include a few more famous men such as Spartacus and maybe a little more info about the first emperors of Rome (Claudius, Nero, etc.).

[Sotiris Makrygiannis]

"Famous Men of Rome" by John H. Haaren is a compelling introduction to Roman history, offering young readers captivating biographical sketches of Rome's legendary figures. The book covers the lives of notable characters such as Romulus, Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Cincinnatus, and illustrates the journey of Rome from its mythological founding to its transition into an empire. Each chapter focuses on a specific figure, highlighting their contributions, virtues, and impact on Roman society.
Haaren's work emphasizes the interconnectedness of Roman and Greek cultures, showcasing how Greek thought, mythology, and customs influenced Roman civilization. Throughout the book, readers see the admiration the Romans had for Greek culture, despite their desire to maintain a distinct Roman identity. For instance, Numa Pompilius, Rome's second king, was inspired by Greek religious practices, while Marcus Furius Camillus used Greek military techniques to defend Rome. The Gracchi brothers also found inspiration in Greek political philosophy for their reforms, demonstrating the deep intellectual influence of Greek ideals on Roman governance.
The book also presents a nuanced picture of figures like Cato the Elder, who, despite his criticism of Greek luxury, could not escape the pervasive influence of Greek intellectual achievements. The lives of later figures such as Cicero and Scipio Africanus illustrate how Greek education and military strategies shaped Roman thought and success. Augustus, Rome's first emperor, embraced Greek culture as a means to enrich Roman civilization, promoting the arts and intellectual growth during his reign.
"Famous Men of Rome" successfully combines historical storytelling with educational elements, offering readers a glimpse into the foundational figures of Roman history while underlining the significant contributions of Greek culture to Rome's development. Haaren's narrative style makes these historical figures accessible and engaging, providing an enriching introduction to the history of one of the world's most influential civilizations. This book is ideal for young readers seeking a foundational understanding of Roman history, while also offering a broader perspective on how cultures influence and shape each other over time.

[Paige Gordon]

I have a copy of Plutarch’s Lives which I am planning on getting to sooner rather than later, but my son went through this book for school last year (and my daughter is doing it this year) so I figured it would be a fun place to start out in order to have some conversations with them.
Overall it was a great introduction/refresher on some of the most prominent names in Roman history and I really enjoyed it! Well worth the time.

[Fedel Palmero]

✅ Speed run across a number of famous historical Roman figures during the time of the republic to the downfall of the empire.

❌ Written for more junior high school audience and despite its simplified text, it was clumsy and poorly written.

✅ Identified a number of figures that I can explore/deep dive into independently ie: Cincinnatus

[Taylor Fisher]

Read this as part of my kids' homeschool history. I learned a lot and wish I had read it before I lived in Rome as a child! It made the sites I had seen come alive in new ways and connected a lot of disconnected history figures for me.

[David Anusontarangkul]

Interesting read about the history of Rome. I liked learning about how Rome expanded through its leaders and the wars.

[ava roxane]

This was a great book, full of the turbulent history of the Roman Empire, from its start as a city to nearly conquering the world!

[Becky Filipek]

I read this alongside my 5th grader as a history supplement. It really made me interested in knowing more about some of the Romans mentioned, if only I had the time.

[Lexi]

This was a good book. I like how each chapter explained the emperors and what they did. Some of the stories were like, are you serious! And then the others are like oh that is so cool!

[Kenneth Clayton]

Helpful introduction for me not know hardly any history of Rome to start building some knowledge of this empire.

[Jessica Perteet]

Great history of Rome in shorter chapters that my kids enjoyed.

[Rachael Stoldt]

School book for ancient history. It spurred some interesting conversations about the Bible and where this particular history fit in the biblical timeline.

[Gary]

I had no idea that these books were so well written. This is history from one in love with the characters and skilled at reaching young minds.

[Catie]

Great book for homeschool history and citizenship studies.

[Sophie]

Did this with my students… a) Memoria Press is painfully bad and b) this book, while not the worst, is just a poor attempt at imitating Plutarch for kids.

[Blubonnet1]

06/25/2024

[Laura Luck]

A great introduction to the history of Rome. Looking forward to going through a study of this with my oldest son this coming school year.

[Silvany]

Pretty good 😊

[Jktmauk]

This book is perfect for grammar and middle school students. They love the stories of Rome's greatest heroes, and it isn't watered down like most history books today. Highly recommend. Boy's especially will love it. (There are several editions out now but this one by Memoria Press has great full color photos that add a lot.)

[Mckinley]

Lots of wars of course but also plenty of stories about (mostly) men and about Rome. From the founding up to the Roman Empiror Constantine and then a quick account for the remaining rulers.

[Laura]

I read this book aloud to my kids for school. They really enjoyed the book, and so did I. It is a great overview of Roman history framed by the men of the time.

[Julia]

Very interesting. Read with the boys, 9 and 11. I look forward to reading Famous Men of the Middle Ages.

[Dawn Roberts]

A great addition to ancient history for elementary and middle school

[Catherine]

Read for school. A very understandable book that draws you into Roman culture and explains gaps. Nero, Romulus, and more.