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Showing posts from March, 2025

Why the Roman Past Feels So Present: A Review of Anthony Everitt's The Rise of Rome

How often do you think about the Roman Empire? For me, it wasn’t a frequent thought until recently. With the release of Gladiator II , I decided to revisit the first film and found myself much more invested in its world and themes. While many had issues with Gladiator II , I thoroughly enjoyed it—the action, spectacle, and immersive theatre experience made it one of the most engaging historical films I’ve seen in a long time. It may not be entirely accurate, but it did what a great historical film should do: spark curiosity. That excitement led me to pick up The Rise of Rome: The Making of the World's Greatest Empire by Anthony Everitt, eager to explore the real history behind the legendary civilization that inspired the film. I didn’t conduct extensive research on where to start reading about Rome, but this book caught my eye when its cover stood out to me, and I was determined to explore more about Rome. While I’m sure there are more detailed or scholarly works available,  The R...