A groundbreaking and comprehensive history of the Roman Peace from one of the leading historians of the ancient world Best-selling author Adrian Goldsworthy turns his attention to the Pax Romana; the famous peace and prosperity brought by the Roman Empire at its height in the first and second centuries AD. Yet the Romans were conquerors; imperialists who took by force a vast empire stretching from the Euphrates to the Atlantic coast. Ruthless; Romans won peace not through coexistence but through dominance; millions died and were enslaved during the creation of their empire. Pax Romana examines how the Romans came to control so much of the world and asks whether traditionally favorable images of the Roman peace are true. Goldsworthy vividly recounts the rebellions of the conquered; examining why they broke out; why most failed; and how they became exceedingly rare. He reveals that hostility was just one reaction to the arrival of Rome and that from the outset; conquered peoples collaborated; formed alliances; and joined invaders; causing resistance movements to fade away.
#936631 in Books 2010-02-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.94 x 1.26 x 7.14l; 2.22 #File Name: 0300164203592 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Superbly Written and Exciting Overview of Himalayan ClimbingBy J. BlilieI enjoyed this book more than any climbing book I've read in many years. It is superbly written and meticulously researched and annotated. As I approached this book; I felt its size and heft; looked at the text and saw the smallish font and the amount of print on each page; and I thought; oops; this might be a tough slog.Nothing could be further from the truth. I'd been in a spate of reading thriller novels and this book was more un-put-down-able than nearly every one of those novels. This book was a page-turner throughout and only indulged in tiny doses of navel gazing; when called for by the individuals being described. This is the story of mountaineering in the Himalaya from the earliest historical accounts to the 2000s; told like a fireside tale. Gripping and full of life.It would help to have some knowledge of the climbing history and the terrain covered to get the most out of this book; but it really does provide plenty of detail. As with any NF book that moves across the land in its story; it's a good idea to have an atlas or maps handy if you need to orient yourself.The emphasis is on the fourteen 8000-meter peaks; their first ascents; and other of the very highest peaks in the range. This is understandable; since these were; for nearly the entire history of Himalayan climbing; the greatest challenges: Just getting to the top of the greatest peaks. They were the lodestones of almost all climbers until the 1960s. Therefore; many of the smaller; more technical peaks are not covered (though some of the most famous and earliest are.) The book also focuses on other firsts; such as first ascents by climbers of various nationalities and by women.By the time of the 1970s and beyond; when the range was opened to far more expeditions (and commercial trips) a severe selection of which climbs were to be covered had to be made. I think the climbs covered in the later periods reflect the interest of most readers of climbing narrative. You may not find your favorite ascent from the 1970s through the 2000s covered in detail (or at all); but a good selection of "firsts"; news-worthy; and; especially; influential climbs are covered well. The intent of the book seems to be to indicate key climbs that drove the mountaineering ethic and climbing style in the Himalaya (including commercialization); and the authors accomplished this well. And did it in a very entertaining and readable style. Bravo!Highest recommendation.Regarding the charge of anglo-centrism: Well; yes; they tailored the book for the British and American reader. And they primarily used feet for elevations and miles for distances. Tailoring your book for the intended audience? Wow; who knew?!19 of 19 people found the following review helpful. An Uplifting ReadBy Gary M. OlsonThis is an excellent history of mountain climbing in the Himalaya. Isserman and Weaver do a masterful job; not just of recounting the history; but placing the efforts in political and cultural context. There were long periods where access to these mountains was restricted or forbidden. There has also always been a competitive thread to the missions; as climbers tried for all kinds of "firsts." Of course the history is filled with both triumphs and tragedies; and the authors tell these stories in a most engaging way. I have only two small nits with the book. First; it ends in the mid 90s; even though the book was published this year. And second; while there are lots of photos and maps; I wish there were more of the latter; as I kept looking for the mountains; glaciers; towns; and other geographical entities. But these aside; this is an altogether wonderful book.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great book with some flawsBy Global NomadAll has been said about the problem with maps; and I concur. I also agree with the reviewer from Spain about the anglo saxon and anglophile bias of the book.I would add that the authors are unfair and judgmental when talking about climbers of recent years. The old amateur (noble; romantic; selfless and idealistic) vs pro mountaineer (self centered; materialistic and unfeeling) comparison ignores the fact that the "gentlemen" of the old days came from the privileged classes and did not have to worry about how to make a living AND pay for expeditions. I particularly disliked the portraying of John Roskelley obviously colored by Andy Harvard and Peter Lev's opinions (see acknowledgments and bibliographies). Anyone who read accounts of the 1976 Nanda Devi expedition knows that Harvard and Lev were at odds with Roskelley almost throughout the trip.Otherwise a fascinating; gripping history of Himalayan climbing; told in the context of the times of each expedition; with portrait of mountaineers not only as athletes but as men and women with the qualities and flaws of the era of which they were the products.
