Opening with a description of the origins of the great civilization of ancient Rome, this book looks at the seven Etruscan kings, the republic, and the imperial era, including the civil wars and the rise and fall of the Caesers. It ends with an account of the decline and fall of Rome, and the Roman legacy. In between, aspects of Roman life are looked at, including politics, religion, art, science and everyday life. This book forms part of a series of reference works which provide a major look at the way of life, beliefs and achievements of the ancient culture. Its emphasis is on primary source material, both textual and illustrative and numerous contemporary quotations offer insights into how life was actually lived.