Students often ask me for Roman Empire book recommendations. Listeners have as well. It is easy to find popular histories, but here I discuss eleven excellent hidden gems--books that are great for the causal reader, but robust enough that I’ve used them in my research and teaching. These aren’t popular titles, but they’re brilliantly crafted by leading academics, diving deep into Rome’s history, culture, religion and economy. Each book is well-written, accessible, and budget-friendly, perfect for history fans and students eager to explore Rome’s epic story.

Book List:

Rome: An Empire’s Story by Greg Woolf

The Fall of the Roman Empire by Peter Heather

Marcus Aurelius by Antony Birley

World Full of Gods by Keith Hopkins

The Rise of Christianity: A Sociologist Reconsiders History by Rodney Stark

Perpetua’s Journey: Faith, Gender, and Power in the Roman Empire by Jennifer A. Rea and Liz Clarke

From Caesar to Augustus: Using Coins as Sources by Clare Rowan

Hypatia: The Life and Legend of an Ancient Philosopher by Edward Watts

The Roman Empire: Roots of Imperialism by Neville Morley

The Roman Market Economy by Peter Temin

The Roman Empire: Economy, Society and Culture by Peter Garnsey and Richard Saller