Guy de la Bédoyère is a freelance writer and broadcaster who took a history and archaeology degree at Durham University, followed by a history degree at the University of London specialising in Roman history, with papers in US history. Next came an MA in Roman Empire archaeology at University College, London. He has written many books on his specialist field of Roman Britain and is well-known for his numerous appearances on television, especially Channel 4's Time Team in Britain. He has also written books on a variety of other historical subjects, including the papers of Samuel Pepys, and is a Fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society. His other interests include playing the piano, travelling in the United States, and studying genealogy. He lives in Lincolnshire, England.

Introduction.

Part I: Romans â?" The Big Boys of the Ancient World.

Chapter 1: The Romans: Shaping Their World and Ours.

Chapter 2: Itâ?(tm)s the Cash That Counts: Roman Social Classes.

Chapter 3: Stairway to the Stars: The Greasy Path to Power.

Chapter 4: Rural Bliss â?" Roman Dreamland.

Chapter 5: When We Were Soldiers.

Part II: Living the Good Life.

Chapter 6: The Urban Jungle.

Chapter 7: Making the Roman Machine Work.

Chapter 8: Entertainments: Epic and Domestic.

Chapter 9: Divine Intervention.

Part III: The Rise of Rome.

Chapter 10: Kings? No, Maybe Not â?" Republicans.

Chapter 11: This Town Isnâ?(tm)t Big Enough for All of Us â?" Seizing Italy.

Chapter 12: Carthage and the First Two Punic Wars.

Chapter 13: While Weâ?(tm)re at It â?" Letâ?(tm)s Conquer Everywhere Else, Too.

Part IV: When Romans Ruled the World.

Chapter 14: Reform and Civil War.

Chapter 15: Daggers Drawn â?" The Fall of the Republic.

Chapter 16: Augustus and the Caesars â?" Plots, Perverts, and Paranoia.

Chapter 17: The Five Good Emperors.

Part V: Throwing the Empire Away.

Chapter 18: More Civil War, Auctioning the Empire, and Paranoid Lunatics.

Chapter 19: The Age of the Thug â?" The Third Centuryâ?(tm)s Soldier Emperors.

Chapter 20: East Is East and West Is West: Diocletian and Constantine.

Chapter 21: The Barbarians Are Coming! The End of Rome.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 22: Ten Turning Points in Roman History.

Chapter 23: Ten Interesting and Occasionally Good Romans.

Chapter 24: Ten (Mostly) Bad Romans.

Chapter 25: Ten of Romeâ?(tm)s Greatest Enemies.

Chapter 26: Ten (or So) Great Roman Places to Visit.

Index.