Travel the Roman empire and discover the great diversity of its peoples and cultures. The book shows the importance of the Roman army in conquering and controlling the empire, and how the empire was held together by the Emperor and by his officials and laws. The economic power of Rome depended on raw materials from all over the empire: metals, stone and food. Rome's success lay in its inclusiveness, with many distinct cultures flourishing within its boundaries. People practised many different religions and spoke many different languages, but they were unified by Roman civilization. Sam Moorhead shows how the most successful empire in human history was organised, and why understanding the Roman empire helps us to understand better our world today.

Author Biography

Sam Moorhead, voted 'Archaeologist of the Year 2011' by readers of Current Archaeology, is the National Finds Adviser for Iron Age and Roman Coins in the Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum.