Roman History, Volume I

Author: (German) Theodor Mommsen, translated by Li Jiannian, edited by Li Shumo
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The new edition of The History of Rome is very different from the previous one. This mainly refers to the first two volumes, which cover the first five centuries of the Roman state. At the very beginning of the historical narrative, it is determined and arranged in terms of content and form by its own nature. For earlier periods, due to the lack of boundaries in the study of historical sources and the difficulty in determining and connecting their timelines, historians face the challenge of finding satisfaction for others and even for themselves. Although the author of this book has strived to overcome these difficulties in research and presentation, there are still many things to be done before presenting it to the public, and revisions are needed in many places. A series of new studies, such as the state law status of Roman subjects, the development of creative and plastic arts, have been incorporated into this edition according to the size of their achievements. In addition, many small gaps have been filled, the writing has been made more vivid, the content richer, and the overall layout clearer and more comprehensible. Moreover, in the third volume, the internal relations of the Roman society during the Carthaginian Wars are not merely summarized as in the previous edition, but are given due detailed description based on the importance and complexity of the matters. A fair judge, perhaps first and foremost the one who has undertaken a similar task, will understand that such revisions were necessary and thus request understanding. In any case, the author gratefully acknowledges that the public's judgment has not emphasized the obvious flaws and shortcomings of this book, but rather, whether praise or criticism, has been directed at those parts that have been completed or concluded. Additionally, the author has done his best to arrange the appearance of this book more appropriately. Varro's chronology of Rome is retained in the main text; marginal symbols indicate the corresponding years BC. In year comparisons, 1 year of Rome corresponds to 753 BC and 6,4 Olympiad; although considering the different start dates of the year, the Roman solar year begins on March 1st, and the Greek year on July 1st, according to more accurate calculations, 2 years of Rome correspond to the last ten months of 753 BC and the first two months of 752 BC, and also to the last four months of 6,3 Olympiad and the first eight months of 6,4 Olympiad. Roman coins and Greek coins are converted as follows: As and Sesterces, Denarii and Attic Drachmas are considered equal. All amounts above 100 Denarii are based on the current gold value of the corresponding weight, and all amounts below 100 Denarii are based on the current silver value of the corresponding weight. Thus, one Roman pound (＝327.45 grams) equals 4000 Sesterces, so according to the gold-silver ratio of 1:15.5, the Roman pound is converted to 304