Book excerpt: "The Romans" (500 B.C.—500 A.D.) provides an overview of the dramatic growth of Rome from a tiny agricultural village on the banks of the Tiber to an empire of several million square miles—the largest in the history of the world. Special emphasis is given to the sociology of life in Ancient Rome—the lives of ordinary women, children, families, and soldiers—as well as to the great political, cultural, and intellectual achievements which shaped the course of the Western world. The rise of Christianity, the lives of the emperors, as well as the internal and external conflicts which led to Rome's decline are all vividly documented in this richly illustrated text. Challenging map exercises and provocative review questions encourage meaningful reflection and historical analysis. Tests and answer keys are included.