Emperors of Rome

By: Garrett G. Fagan, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Garrett G. Fagan

What sort of men were the Roman emperors (and were they all men)? What background and training, if any, prepared them for their awesome responsibilities? What depravities did they display? And what achievements can they claim: laws passed, monuments built, lands and peoples conquered?

Dive into these questions and more with this introduction to the complex personalities of emperors such as Augustus, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. These thirty-six gripping lectures bring to life the many emperors of Rome from the turn of the 1st century to the transition to the Middle Ages. For more than five centuries, these emperors-a checkered mix of the wise, the brutal, and the unhinged-presided over a multi-ethnic empire that was nearly always at war.

Professor Fagan takes you deep into ancient Rome, asking: How did this system of rule come about? What did it replace? And who were the colorful, cruel, and crafty men who filled the almost omnipotent post of emperor? One of the most intriguing questions about the emperorship is why it endured for so long.

As you witness the reigns of the successive rulers unfold, you will see how the office evolved with the political forces that sustained it, becoming more and more tightly bound to the military. Each step toward despotism was taken with a view toward expedience. But when that step became the new normal, it paved the way for the next step, and so on. As you explore these questions, you'll also study the amalgam of eyewitness reports, later compilations, archaeological remains, and inscriptions on monuments and coins. Contemporary accounts, when available, are not necessarily to be trusted, which means you play the role of detective, sifting for the truth of this spellbinding era.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2007 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2007 The Great Courses

Great listen! Definitely learned a lot.

I really enjoyed Professor Fagan's Emperors of Rome course. He has a stronger accent than what I'm used to hearing (I'm from the US) but after a few lecturers I got used to it. His lectures are highly informative and the guy really knows his stuff. I definitely recommend a listen for any fan of ancient roman history.

Absolutely amazing experience.

Fagan delivers again. Bringing the world of the emperors worlds alive with vivid detail and meticulous adherence to source material.

Very Interesting

I took this course after taking the professor's course on the History of Ancient Rome. I like this course better than the other, in part because of the organization and pacing. This course takes the listener through the history of the Roman Imperial system ending with Emperor Constantine. I can quibble with his choice of an ending point, but this is still an excellent course with much to recommend it.

A very good look at Ancient Roman leaders.

I like the lecture series in general. Professor Fagan really knows his stuff. This a great overview of the leadership of Rome. His other lecture on the history of Rome is also highly recommended.

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