This is the very beginning of my efforts to create a pinned Master List of history books that I’ve read and would recommend. I’m starting with Roman History, as that is my most read subject, and will continue to fill this topic out with additional books and ancient sources (check the updates for added sections/books). More topics will be added in the near future.
I’ve included a quick note and excerpts from descriptions for each book, along with buckets for five-star reads, the “best of the rest” and biographies. I may tweak how I do this in the future and feedback is always welcomed!
In the future I will be vetting and adding community recommendations, especially to fill out topics where I’m lacking. I'll also be linking to select short/long-form reviews (if available) if you want more thoughts on these books.
UPDATES
3/13 created "English History", added 8 books. Added 2 books to "Roman History".
3/21 created "Mesopotamia/Near East", added 8 books. Added links to buy for all books.
ROMAN HISTORY
The Five Star Bunch
Details the civil wars that led to the Fall of the Roman Republic and the establishment of the Roman Empire with tremendous flair.
Description: “Rubicon paints a vivid portrait of the Republic at the climax of its greatness—the same greatness which would herald the catastrophe of its fall. It is a story of incomparable drama.”
Explores a very messy family doing Very Important Things. A great follow-up to Rubicon.
Description: “...Intrigue, murder, naked ambition and treachery, greed, gluttony, lust, incest, pageantry, decadence—the tale of these five Caesars continues to cast a mesmerizing spell across the millennia.”
A comprehensive, objective and well-researched take that will give you a great foundation of knowledge for how the Empire fell.
Description: “...relates the extraordinary story of how Europe's barbarians, transformed by centuries of contact with Rome on every possible level, eventually pulled the empire apart.”
A rare pro-Carthiginian account of the epic battle between two superpowers for domination of the Western Mediterranean. (will be cross-posted in African history as this is moreso a Carthiginian story than a Roman one)
Description: “Drawing on a wealth of new research… resurrects the civilization that ancient Rome struggled so mightily to expunge. This monumental work charts the entirety of Carthage's history, from its origins among the Phoenician settlements of Lebanon to its apotheosis as a Mediterranean empire whose epic land-and-sea clash with Rome made a legend of Hannibal and shaped the course of Western history… reintroduces readers to the ancient glory of a lost people and their generations-long struggle against an implacable enemy.
21 profiles of 21 women in chronological order from the earliest days of Rome through the Imperial period. Entertaining and informative.
Description: “This is a history of women who caused outrage, led armies in rebellion, wrote poetry; who lived independently or under the thumb of emperors. Told with humor and verve as well as a deep scholarly background… highlights women overlooked and misunderstood, and through them offers a fascinating and groundbreaking chronicle of the ancient world.”
The Best of the Rest
General, cultural overview covering the 8th century BC to ~212 AD.
Description: “...examines not just how we think of ancient Rome but challenges the comfortable historical perspectives that have existed for centuries. With its nuanced attention to class, democratic struggles, and the lives of entire groups of people omitted from the historical narrative for centuries…”
Explores the period leading up to the Fall of the Roman Republic by focusing on the years between 146-78 BC where several domestic issues came to a head.
Description: “...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…”
Goldsworthy is a good man, and thorough.
Description: "... examines the painful centuries of the superpower’s decline. Bringing history to life through the stories of the men, women, heroes, and villains involved... uncovers surprising lessons about the rise and fall of great nations... this is the story of how an empire without a serious rival rotted from within, its rulers and institutions putting short-term ambition and personal survival over the wider good of the state."
Makes sense of a garbled period of history with fascinating profiles on important figures of the age.
Description: “...each of the three greatest immediate contenders for imperial power - Theoderic, Justinian, and Charlemagne - operated with a different power base but was astonishingly successful in his own way. Though each in turn managed to put back together enough of the old Roman West to stake a plausible claim to the Western imperial title, none of their empires long outlived their founders' deaths… a captivating narrative of the death of an era and the birth of the Catholic Church.”
Accessible overview that unpacks Rome’s path to empire. Works great as an introduction to Ancient Roman history.
Description: “Rome’s decline and fall have long fascinated historians, but the story of how the empire was won is every bit as compelling. With The Rise of Rome, one of our most revered chroniclers of the ancient world tells that tale in a way that will galvanize, inform, and enlighten modern readers.”
A unique angle to a well-known battle and delightfully sassy in some of its arguments. Very strong on military matters.
Description: "... brilliantly conveys how Rome amassed a giant army to punish Carthage’s masterful commander, how Hannibal outwitted enemies that outnumbered him, and how this disastrous pivot point in Rome’s history ultimately led to the republic’s resurgence and the creation of its empire... reveals how Cannae’s legend has inspired and haunted military leaders ever since, and the lessons it teaches for our own wars."
A unique angle written with incredible insight and wit.
Description: “...examines a trove of real-life homicides from Roman history to explore Roman culture… we see how the Romans viewed life, death, and what it means to be human… An entertaining and informative look at the unique culture of crime, punishment, and killing in Ancient Rome.
An honest effort to reconstruct the life of Spartacus without attempting to reimagine his history by filling in the gaps with conjecture.
Description: “...the extraordinary story of the most famous slave rebellion in the ancient world, the fascinating true story behind a legend that has been the inspiration for novelists, filmmakers, and revolutionaries for 2,000 years.”
Straightforward recounting of one of the most important moments in Roman History.
Description: “...two powerful men remained in Rome—Antony and Caesar’s chosen heir, young Octavian, the future Augustus. When Antony fell in love with the most powerful woman in the world, Egypt’s ruler Cleopatra, and thwarted Octavian’s ambition to rule the empire, another civil war broke out… essential history that features three of the greatest figures of the ancient world.”
Makes the case that a revolution was necessary for Rome to correct its disastrous course.
Description: “...a profound and unconventional treatment of a great theme - the fall of the Republic and the decline of freedom in Rome between 60 BC and AD 14, and the rise to power of the greatest of the Roman Emperors, Augustus. The transformation of state and society, the violent transference of power and property, and the establishment of Augustus' rule are presented in an unconventional narrative, which quotes from ancient evidence, refers seldomly to modern authorities, and states controversial opinions quite openly.”
Scholarly counterargument to the theory that the fall of the Roman Empire was more of a transition.
Description: “...contends that a key problem with the new way of looking at the end of the ancient world is that all difficulty and awkwardness is smoothed out into a steady and positive transformation of society. Nothing ever goes badly wrong in this vision of the past. The evidence shows otherwise.”
Biographies (description excerpts will be added soon!)
Messalina by Honor Cargill-Martin
Augustus by Anthony Everitt
Cicero by Anthony Everitt
Hadrian by Anthony Everitt
Caesar by Adrian Goldsworthy - 5*
Agrippina by Emma Southon - 5*
ENGLISH HISTORY
The Five Star Bunch
My first dive into English history. Sweeping in scope, super accessible, and with an eye for the story.
Description: "...vividly resurrects this fierce and seductive royal dynasty and its mythic world... This is the era of chivalry, of Robin Hood and the Knights Templar, the Black Death, the founding of Parliament, the Black Prince, and the Hundred Year’s War. It will appeal as much to listeners of Tudor history as to fans of Game of Thrones."
Jones is excellent at boiling down complex subjects like this and making them accessible to a general audience.
Description: "...the actual historical backdrop for Game of Thrones... describes how the longest reigning British royal family tore itself apart until it was finally replaced by the Tudors... this is a bold and dramatic narrative history that will delight listeners who like their history with a healthy dose of bedlam, romance, and intrigue."
Incredible detail on the end of the Plantagenets and rise of the Tudors. Main focus is on Edward IV and his two brothers' exploits.
Description: "... The story of three remarkable brothers, two of whom were crowned kings of England and the other an heir presumptive, whose antagonism was fueled by the mistrust and vendettas of the age that brought their family to power. The house of York should have been the dynasty that the Tudors became. Its tragedy was that it devoured itself."
The Best of the Rest
A straightforward recounting of this key battle with a heavy focus on the makeup and strategies of the opposing armies. Dry but decent enough.
Description: "... an examination of the military development of the two sides up to 1066, detailing differences in tactics, arms, and armor. The core of the book is a move-by-move reconstruction of the battle itself... places the battle in the military context of eleventh-century Europe."
Learn all about how England fought to become England!
Description: "... the turbulent history of these people across the next six centuries... It explores how they abandoned their old gods for Christianity, established hundreds of churches, and created dazzlingly intricate works of art. It charts the revival of towns and trade, and the origins of a familiar landscape of shires, boroughs, and bishoprics... see how a new society, a new culture, and a single unified nation came into being."
Biographies
Accessible and fascinating, learn about this stretch of history through the lens of this honorable fella.
Description: "...A leading retainer of five English kings, Marshal served the great figures of this age... and was involved in some of the most critical phases of medieval history."
Unique gambles to use present tense and start at the young Henry's apprenticeship, both of which paid off.
Description: "...one of the most intriguing characters in all medieval history, but one of the hardest to pin down... he saved a shattered country from economic ruin, put down rebellions, and secured England’s borders; in foreign diplomacy, he made England a serious player once more. Yet through his conquests in northern France, he sowed the seeds for three generations of calamity at home, in the form of the Wars of the Roses... a historical titan whose legacy has become a complicated one..."
A comprehensive look at an iconic figure. A couple slight slogs but overall a solid balance of story and information.
Description: "...records the many complex human dramas that swirled around Henry while deftly weaving in an account of the intimate rituals and desires of England’s ruling class... Packed with colorful description, meticulous in historical detail, rich in pageantry, intrigue, passion, and luxury... renders King Henry VIII, his court, and the fascinating men and women who fought for its pleasures and rewards."
MESOPOTAMIA/NEAR EAST
The Five Star Bunch
Sweeping in coverage, conversational in tone. A great introduction to multiple topics throughout history.
Description: "...the rich story of world history with the evolution of the Muslim community at the center. His story moves from the lifetime of Mohammed through a succession of far-flung empires, to the tangle of modern conflicts that culminated in the events of 9/11... introduces the key people, events, ideas, legends, religious disputes, and turning points of world history, imparting not only what happened but how it is understood from the Muslim perspective."
Translated from French. An academic and comprehensive THICC BOI powerhouse and a great book to have handy for reference.
Description: "...attempts to understand how such an Empire emerged, developed, and faded. Though firmly grounded in the evidence, the author’s discussions do not avoid persistent questions and regularly engages divergent interpretations and alternative hypotheses. This book is without precedent or equivalent, and also offers an exhaustive bibliography and thorough indexes."
Reads like a tense, page-turning novel. Helped shape the way I thought about America's relationship with the Middle East.
Description: "... brings to life the 1953 CIA coup in Iran that ousted the country’s elected prime minister, ushered in a quarter-century of brutal rule under the Shah, and stimulated the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and anti-Americanism in the Middle East."
The Best of the Rest
Academic yet readable with an emphasis on archaeology.
Description: "...the gripping story of how the end was brought about by multiple interconnected failures, ranging from invasion and revolt to earthquakes, drought, and the cutting of international trade routes... a sweeping panorama of the empires and globalized peoples of the Late Bronze Age... shows that it was their very interdependence that hastened their dramatic collapse and ushered in a dark age that lasted centuries."
Leans on recent archaeology to re-write/update the history of the Old Assyrian, Middle Assyrian and Neo-Assyrian periods. A no frills, solid piece of work.
Description: "...tells the epic story of Assyria and its formative role in global history... nearly two centuries of research now permit a rich picture of the Assyrians and their empire beyond the battlefield: their vast libraries and monumental sculptures, their elaborate trade and information networks, and the crucial role played by royal women."
A "popular history" narrative, told with Holland's usual flair. Covers the Persians and Greeks fairly equally.
Description: "In the fifth century BC, a global superpower was determined to bring truth and order to what it regarded as two terrorist states. The superpower was Persia, incomparably rich in ambition, gold, and men. The terrorist states were Athens and Sparta, eccentric cities in a poor and mountainous backwater: Greece... examines a conflict of critical importance to both ancient and modern history."
An honest attempt at telling the "Persian version" of Achaemenid history often told by Greek and other Western sources.
Description: "...the epic story of this dynasty and the world it ruled. Drawing on Iranian inscriptions, cuneiform tablets, art, and archaeology, he shows how the Achaemenid Persian Empire was the world’s first superpower—one built, despite its imperial ambition, on cooperation and tolerance... the definitive history of the Achaemenid dynasty and its legacies in modern-day Iran..."
Sweeping and heavy on archeology. Brings to life figures that range from kings to average citizens.
Description: "...a gripping journey from the creation of the world's first cities to the conquests of Alexander the Great. The book is built around the life stories of many ancient men and women, from kings, priestesses, and merchants to brickmakers, musicians, and weavers. Their habits of daily life, beliefs, triumphs, and crises, and the changes that people faced over time are explored through their own written words and the buildings, cities, and empires in which they lived."
(TO BE CONTINUED)
