Roman History: Resources

History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illuminates reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity. (Cicero)

I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble. (Augustus Caesar)

Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away. (Marcus Aurelius)

History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies and misfortunes of mankind. (Edward Gibbon)

The history of ancient Roman civilization is very well represented on the Internet. I imagine this is due to the fact that most people are fascinated by anything Roman. Hollywood has done its best to romanticize the Romans and their habits. The murder of Julius Caesar, the construction of aqueducts, paved roads and the Coliseum, gladiatorial contests, chariot races, Nero fiddling while Rome burned, Christians and Jews thrown to the lions, blood sports -- all this is part of our collective image of the Romans. And let us not forget the Romulans from Star Trek!

Collected here are a series of links that will get you started on your discovery of ancient Roman civilization. The list is far from exhaustive but there is enough here to get you going.

While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall
     stand;
When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall;
And when Rome falls -- the world. (Byron)

More Information
The Aeneid of Virgil (MIT)
Ancient Roman History Timeline
Augustus: Images of Power (Mark Morford, Virginia)
Daily Life in Ancient Rome (Vermont)
The Deeds of Augustus, by Augustus (MIT)
De Imperatoribus Romanis
Diotima: Women and Gender in the Ancient World
Exploring Ancient World Cultures: Rome (Evansville)
LacusCurtius (Bill Thayer, UChicago)
The Histories of Tacitus (MIT)
Livy's History of Rome (Perseus)
Maps of the Roman Empire
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (MIT)
The Roman Revolution
Roman Slavery (Miami University)
Stoicism (William Connolly)