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The Storm Before the Storm

The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic

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The Storm Before the Storm

By: Mike Duncan
Narrated by: Mike Duncan
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The creator of the award-winning podcast series The History of Rome and Revolutions brings to life the bloody battles, political machinations, and human drama that set the stage for the fall of the Roman Republic.

The Roman Republic was one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of civilization. Beginning as a small city-state in central Italy, Rome gradually expanded into a wider world filled with petty tyrants, barbarian chieftains, and despotic kings. Through the centuries, Rome's model of cooperative and participatory government remained remarkably durable and unmatched in the history of the ancient world.

In 146 BC, Rome finally emerged as the strongest power in the Mediterranean. But the very success of the Republic proved to be its undoing. The republican system was unable to cope with the vast empire Rome now ruled: rising economic inequality disrupted traditional ways of life, endemic social and ethnic prejudice led to clashes over citizenship and voting rights, and rampant corruption and ruthless ambition sparked violent political clashes that cracked the once indestructible foundations of the Republic.

Chronicling the years 146-78 BC, The Storm Before the Storm dives headlong into the first generation to face this treacherous new political environment. Abandoning the ancient principles of their forbearers, men like Marius, Sulla, and the Gracchi brothers set dangerous new precedents that would start the Republic on the road to destruction and provide a stark warning about what can happen to a civilization that has lost its way.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 Mike Duncan (P)2017 Hachette Audio Ancient Politics & Government Rome Italy Royalty Inspiring Thought-Provoking Eastern Roman Empire
Compelling Narrative • Accessible History • Chronological Organization • Historical Relevance • Conversational Tone
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I first got interested in Roman history thanks to Mike Duncan's podcast The History of Rome. This book is another excellent and in depth narration of the events around Sulla and the civil war. Mike Duncan covers it in his classic witty way that is enjoyable to listen to and he covers the material at a level that is accessible no matter your previous degree of knowledge.

Another gem

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I loved the history and story telling that made up the whole book. The amazing similarities with events that have happened today and the interesting relations that the Romans had one with another kept me interest and even sad know that it would end.

Great Story and Amazing History

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What would have made The Storm Before the Storm better?

What made HOR work to a broader audience was a combination of Mike's humor and commentary and that he set each week's show up usually with some kind of review or summary and recap the where we are in the larger picture. While Storm is actually a pretty nice compendium of this crucial era of Roman history, as a casual history buff that just LOVED HOR, this book was just a very long slog of names and places without recap or commentary to keep the reader interested.

What could Mike Duncan have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Perhaps, at least for the Audible version, Mike could have put in his great commentary and sarcasm (that actually made me laugh out loud in my car as I listened to his HOR podcast!) and done some kind of recap now and again as he moved between chapters or something.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Mike Duncan?

Yes

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I'm not a historian but just a history nerd. I'm sure the book was for a very good write up of the period and serious historians will find it a great compendium. I only rated this so low for what I'll call the broader and more casual listening audience.

Any additional comments?

THANK YOU MIKE DUNCAN!! for the wonderful work you have done over the years. I have sent you a small donation in the past and I Pre-Purchased this book mostly as a Thank You for all your hard work. I'm very happy that this has become a successful endeavor for you. YOU DESERVE IT!

Love History of Rome; Book was disappointing

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This is a great in depth look at the fall of the Roman Republic. If you have listened to Mike’s podcast The History of Rome you will enjoy this book.

Great companion to podcast.

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This book was a lot of fun to listen to, and endlessly fascinating. The stories of the Gracchi brothers, Marius, and Sulla were all so powerfully portrayed that they could influence the lives and characters of men today. Thanks Mike Duncan, it was a wonderful education.

Came here from the Podcasts

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Mike Duncan does a great job, loved his podcast as well, and the book did not disappoint!

Great!

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If the title of this review means something to you, get this book. If it doesn't, google it and look for the author's name. You now have months of listening ahead of you and you're welcome.

History of Rome

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The premise of this book, which studies the final stages of the Roman Republic before its transformation into the Roman Empire, and as was outlined in the opening chapter, is to identify where the United States may fall in its own history when compared to that of the Republic. This is an interesting premise indeed, with many potential answers. However, Mike Duncan in his, “The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic” never actually gives his answer to that question. I think throughout the book I expecting the author to take a stab at the question he posed at the outset; and the fact that he never did so left me a bit disappointed. That said, the book is still a wonderful, if brief, history of the final 100 or so years of the Roman Republic and is worth the read because of that alone.

While the history of the conversion to Empire, and that of the Empire itself is oft read and debated, that of this era of the Roman Republic is not so much understood. Duncan does a great job of describing this history in interesting detail, especially concerning specific reforms which contributed to vast changes affecting the future of the Republic. For example, it was during this period that voting privileges changed dramatically in Rome, now allowing for secret ballots. Similarly, there was a real problem with non-Roman citizens being allowed to illegally vote in elections; an act which overthrew several key races and led to further reforms, and down the road in the Republic’s trajectory, allowed for strengthened hands of the “dictators”. It was also during this era that the Republic changed to an all-volunteer army rather an army of only property owners. This act completely changed Rome. Soldiers were now professional and more beholden to their generals, rather than to the politicians in Rome.

Several segments of the book stand our as exhilarating history. The story of the never-ending Numidian war and the conflict with Jugurtha set the stage for future Roman growth; as did the conflict with the amazing conflict with the Cimbri warriors, from the area now known as Denmark, as that group was endeavoring to find a new homeland. Several key Roman leaders of the era were highlighted in detail; however, the story of Sulla and his rise to power was most interesting. His “prescriptions”, which is another way of characterizing the massacre of up to 3,000 political opponents, were a dark mark on him, but also set the stage for the transformation to Empire. The fact that Julius Caesar was on the list of those to be killed, but was in the end spared, is a twist of irony in the history of Rome.

On the whole, I really liked this book, and can definitely recommend it. The question of comparing the history of the Roman Republic to that of the United States is something for Duncan to handle in a future tome I suppose.

Classic History of the End of the Republic

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Would you consider the audio edition of The Storm Before the Storm to be better than the print version?

Mike Duncan who both wrote and presented is one of the best presenters out there so I guess the audio version is better, But I never read the book

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sulla

What about Mike Duncan’s performance did you like?

Great Par Nun Plus

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The end of the Roman Republic

Any additional comments?

Some of these questions are stupid. Like How do I know if the book is better or worse. I bought the audiobook not both. Did anyone buy both???

A Very Strong Follow Up to his Podcasts

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great book highly recommend this book. one if the best books on the republic i have read

great book one of the best i have read. highly rec

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