
All Roads Lead to Rome
Why We Think of the Roman Empire Daily
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Narrated by:
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Sarah Durham
About this listen
Rhiannon Garth-Jones explores Rome's enduring legacy through three core themes: religion, empire, and culture. Each chapter examines how Rome’s history, governance, and mythology have been reimagined throughout centuries, and how these interpretations continue to shape our modern world.
Rome is not merely a city—it’s an enduring idea, a symbol of identity, power, and legitimacy that has shaped the course of history for over 1,500 years. This book embarks on an exploration of how the concept of Rome has been invoked by emperors, modern governments, religious leaders, and even pop culture icons, all using it to assert authority and influence society. Each chapter explores how Rome’s history, governance, and mythology have been reimagined throughout centuries, and how these interpretations continue to shape our modern world. By delving into Rome’s influence, readers gain a deeper understanding of the forces shaping today's global landscape.
For listeners of all things Roman, e.g. Emperors of Rome by Mary Beard, Rubicon, Dynasty and Pax by Tom Holland as well as The West: A New History of Old Idea by Naoise MacSweeney and The Map of Knowledge by Violet Moller.
©2025 Rhiannon Garth Jones (P)2025 AurumCritic reviews
'Brilliant. A fresh and highly engaging look at how Rome still shapes the world today, including bits of it the Romans had no idea even existed.'
—Jonn Elledge
'Rhiannon Garth Jones's stunning new history takes us on a deeply-researched journey through the overlooked legacies of Rome. She shows us that Romans were so much more than just swords and sandals; wherever there is empire – Ottoman, Russian, British, American – the spectre of Rome is never far away. This book will change the way you think about world history.'
—Raphael Cormack, author of Midnight in Cairo: the divas of Egypt's roaring '20s
'A fascinating and entertaining analysis of how Rome’s propaganda has colonized our collective imaginations, and what it says about us and them. All Roads Lead to Rome is an un-putdownable must-read for everyone who says they think about the Roman Empire daily, when they are actually thinking about myths and catchy PR.'
—Eleanor Janega, author of The Once and Future Sex: Going Medieval on Women's Roles in Society
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