The new edition of Mary Beard, "Emperor of Rome", is available now.

Ancient Rome matters. The history of empire, conquest, cruelty, and excess is something we constantly compare to the present day. Its myths and stories - from Romulus and Remus to the rape of Lucretia - still touch us. Its discussions on citizenship, security, and individual rights continue to influence our own debates on political freedoms today.

"SPQR" offers a new perspective on Roman history from one of the world's leading classicists. It not only explores how Rome evolved from an insignificant village in central Italy into a power controlling territories from Spain to Syria, but also how the Romans thought about themselves and their achievements, and why they remain significant to us. Covering 1,000 years of history and shedding light on the key elements of Roman culture, from slavery to running water, as well as exploring democracy, migration, religious controversies, social mobility, and exploitation in the broader context of the empire, this is a definitive history of ancient Rome.

"SPQR" is their abbreviation for their state: Senatus Populusque Romanus, "the Senate and People of Rome".