Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an electronic advanced copy of this book.

I have to confess that I was expecting this book to be a pop-history style retelling of all the well-known sensational stories of Ancient Rome, and I must say that I was completely and utterly wrong. Not only is this book well-researched and filled with citations and insights that many similar books lack, but it's also very pleasant to read and engage with.

I'm someone who is very enthusiastic about Ancient Rome, not in the sense many imagine, but rather in the sense that I like deconstructing many of the popular narratives we have about it. And this book also does a very good job at challenging the common narratives and assumptions some make by taking sources at face value. It makes sure to add contexts that we don't always hear and even delves into particular aspects of Roman culture and society at different points for further depth.

The book doesn't hold Ancient Rome, and particularly the Roman Empire, as a peak of human achievement, as some types of people do, pointing out critiques and even questioning some old (or more recent) scholarship that pushed certain narratives. Instead, it ties its complexities and issues to our current world, showing what a big role Rome has in Western societies even today.

A really wonderful rundown of ancient Roman history that, while short, has a surprising amount of depth and insight.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

I don't know about the shortest history of Rome; not when school history reports are a thing. Or when there are kids' books on the history on Rome, but yes, I know that's not what the author meant. Still, pointing it out to be difficult. Because I can. It really is an amazing, concise history of the Roman Empire for anyone at an advanced reading level.

I say advanced reading age because I was reading at this level in middle school. For parents thinking about buying it for those younger readers, please be aware topics like rape and murder are addressed. This is an adult history book. Not one for children.

This is perfect for any adult interested for a more concise history on Rome.

Would definitely recommend this book.

If you've ever wanted a crash course in how one city of ambitious weirdos took over the known world, this is a great place to start. The Shortest History of Ancient Rome is quick, engaging, and surprisingly effective at connecting the dots across a thousand years of power struggles, political pivots, and public spectacles.

Ross King keeps things moving at a tight pace. He covers the major phases—Kingdom, Republic, Empire—with clarity and just enough commentary to make you think twice about how much of our modern systems still echo ancient Rome. It reads like a conversation with your smartest friend, the one who casually ruins you with a single sentence about how history repeats itself in high-definition.

I gave it four stars because while it’s efficient and well-written, there were moments where I wanted more depth. The book sometimes skims past the messy complexity in favor of momentum. But as a starting point or refresher, it works beautifully.

Perfect for history nerds, recovering Latin students, or anyone trying to make sense of modern collapse through the lens of ancient empire.

I recently read a historical fiction based on Rhea Silvia and the legend of the twins who founded the city of Rome, and it inspired more interest in the story and the actual origins of Rome and the empire it became. I've purchased other "Shortest History" books for my high school age son who is fascinated by different countries and their histories, so I was excited to find one for Ancient Rome. The author does a great job of providing a condensed history without skipping over important events or the kinds of details that actually make history interesting, and incorporating the occasional tongue-in-cheek humor to keep readers engaged. I was most intrigued by the chapter covering the eruption of Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii. I appreciated that the book included some illustrations of artwork, statues, and maps. Highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Ancient Roman history but who might not be ready to do extensive research on their own.

Its a good, basic coverage of the history of ancient Rome. Definitely not "the shortest" - just an average length for a history book. Nothing groundbreaking but a good all over introduction to the subject.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book at 23% or 53pgs. It just wasn’t what I was looking for based on how it was advertised.