
The gripping story of one of history's most important and yet little-known wars, the campaign culminating in the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, whose outcome determined the future of the Roman Empire.
Following Caesar's assassination and Mark Antony's defeat of the conspirators who killed Caesar, two powerful men remained in Rome--Antony and Caesar's chosen heir, young Octavian, the future Augustus. When Antony fell in love with the most powerful woman in the world, Egypt's ruler Cleopatra, and thwarted Octavian's ambition to rule the empire, and another civil war broke out. In 31 BC one of the largest naval battles in the ancient world took place--more than 600 ships, almost 200,000 men, and one woman--the Battle of Actium. Octavian prevailed and subsequently defeated Antony and Cleopatra, who eventually committed suicide. The Battle of Actium had great consequences for the empire. Had Antony and Cleopatra won, the empire's capital might have moved from Rome to Alexandria, Cleopatra's capital, and Latin might have become the empire's second language after Greek, which was spoken throughout the eastern Mediterranean, including Egypt. In this riveting and exciting history, Barry Strauss, ancient history authority, describes this consequential battle with the drama and expertise that it deserves. The War That Made the Roman Empire is essential history that features three of the greatest figures of the ancient world.The War That Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium is 304 pages long.
Wonderful book
Derived From Web , Mar 23, 2022
I have read all the books by Barry Strauss - all of which have been great reads. However, this one may be his best! It is a wonderfully written, well researched story of love, betrayal and war. I couldn t put it down. A great read! A great read! ''
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A Hinge of History
Derived From Web , Mar 22, 2022
It is said that the past is a different country. It is also settled and something we take for granted. It is easy to forget that for women and men living in that foreign clime it was contemporary times and there was nothing settled about it. It is so with major events such as the Battle of Actium, so it is with major events such as the So - So - Battle of Actium. If the Battle of Actium had gone the other way, who knows that our contemporary present might be different in our many ways. This book covers the lead up to the decisive battle and its aftermath. This great naval battle was bound to be a hinge of history with Octavian on the one side and Marc Antony and Cleopatra on the other. Barry Barry Strauss, an excellent historian and author, is an excellent writer. A wonderful combination makes a riveting story and his readable prose. I thought I was familiar with the time, but I learned a lot from this book. What more could one ask for? Pleasant to read, informative and thought provoking, what more could one ask? Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher for the ARC.
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Fascinating
Derived From Web , Mar 22, 2022
I have received an eARC from NetGalley. An absolutely fascinating and fresh look at a war and a battle that everyone thinks they know everything about. Fans of Roman history need to put this on their must-read list!
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Recommended to buy:
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