SPQR by Mary Beard: A Decade On, Still Reshaping Roman History
Published more than ten years ago, Mary Beard's 'SPQR' offers a fresh perspective on traditional narratives of Roman history. With sales exceeding hundreds of thousands and translations into more than twenty languages, it remains a cornerstone in the field of Roman studies. Beard opens her narrative in 63 BC, when Cicero exposed the Catiline conspiracy, providing insight into a well-documented society. The text depicts Rome as a metropolis of over a million, characterized by both opulence and suffering, while analyzing sources as subjective interpretations. It underscores the integration of the conquered and the importance of citizenship. The title 'SPQR' emphasizes her focus on the Senate and the populace, concluding in 212 AD with the Edict of Caracalla, which extended citizenship to all free residents.
Key facts
- Mary Beard's 'SPQR' was published over a decade ago.
- The book has sold hundreds of thousands of copies in English.
- It has been translated into more than twenty languages.
- The narrative opens in 63 BC with Cicero and the Catiline conspiracy.
- Beard emphasizes Rome's integration of conquered peoples as a key to its success.
- The title 'SPQR' stands for Senatus Populusque Romanus.
- The book covers nearly a thousand years of Roman history.
- It concludes with the Edict of Caracalla in 212 AD.
- Beard uses scientific evidence like dental analysis and ice core data.
- The book challenges traditional portrayals of Roman women and emperors.
Entities
Artists
- Mary Beard
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Britain
- Palmira
- Herculaneum
- Greenland
- Tiber