The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic

The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic by Mike Duncan is an absolute masterpiece that brilliantly captures the tumultuous period leading up to the fall of the Roman Republic. As a history enthusiast, I found this book to be both enlightening and captivating from start to finish.Duncan's meticulous research and engaging writing style make complex historical events accessible and fascinating. He has a remarkable ability to weave together the political, social, and economic threads of the era, providing a comprehensive understanding of the factors that contributed to the Republic's decline. The book delves into the lives and actions of key figures with vivid detail, making them come alive on the pages.One of the standout aspects of this book is Duncan's narrative flair. He balances scholarly rigor with a storytelling approach that keeps the reader hooked. Each chapter is structured to build suspense and intrigue, making it hard to put the book down. The way he connects historical events to contemporary parallels adds an extra layer of relevance and insight.The Storm Before the Storm also excels in its ability to provide context and clarity. Duncan explains the significance of each event and decision, making it easy to follow the complex political machinations and power struggles. His analysis is sharp and thought-provoking, shedding light on the consequences of corruption, ambition, and social unrest.Overall, The Storm Before the Storm is an outstanding work of historical non-fiction. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Roman history or the dynamics of political power. Mike Duncan has created a compelling and informative narrative that will stay with readers long after they have turned the last page. I highly recommend this book to history buffs and general readers alike. Five stars!

The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic by Mike DuncanMike Duncan has found a niche in history that he laid out in an easy to read, and very enjoyable format.At the front of the book there are two very general maps of the regions discussed, that actually ended up sufficing well as they show the relevant areas in sufficient detail.I took screen shots of those two maps for faster access, which made traveling through the various regions an adventure. Additional maps dispersed throughout the book, would have been sincerely appreciated.This book takes the reader on an historical journey from chapter to chapter, and was a real pleasure to read, it is informative and well writtenDuncan's writing style held my interest throughout, I felt I learned from it, which brings a smile.Duncan is on par with many of the leading writers of our day, I look forward to reading more from him

Quite interesting and well worth the read if you're interested in the subject at all. Very nearly a blow by blow description of the beginning of the end.

The collapse of the Roman Empire and the fall of Rome have been dealt with in more books, movies, and articles, purely factual and fictionalized, than I can guess at. However, just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, it didn’t fall in one. In THE STORM BEFORE THE STORM Mike Duncan starts with events taking place long before Rome actually falls. He carefully covers many of the factors leading to the collapse of Rome. Naturally, as with any work of ancient history, some of the ideas Duncan brings up are debatable, but THE STORM BEFORE THE STORM is well researched and documented. It is also completely readable. Readable, but to some extent disturbing. To paraphrase, the old saw “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it” comes to mind. I’m not sure it was Duncan’s intention, but some of the parallels between the events in THE STORM BEFORE THE STORM and the much more recent history of the United States struck me as unpleasantly obvious.

Read this book in my trip across Europe and finished it on the Trevi steps in Rome. Page turner the whole way through!

El período entre las guerras púnicas y la guerra de las Galias no es lo suficientemente tratado, o al menos, no es divulgado con la misma celeridad que estos grandes eventos. Leer cómo poco a poco las tradiciones y tabúes que mantuvieron la República durante 500 años colapsaban cual piezas de dominó, y las diferencias entre los optimates y los populares se acrecentaban más y más, no podía parar. Lo terminé en un mes. Un excelente trabajo de divulgación.

An excellent book on the Roman Republic between the Gracchi and Sulla. Well written, with a look at the inner workings of Roman politics with its twists and turns. Impressive descriptions of the main characters (Scipio Aemilianus, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, Marius and Sulla), but also of lesser known politicians such as Livius Drusus, Scaurus or the Metelli. Given the corruption and incompetence of the elites, which led to an upsurge in populism, the use of political violence and the prosecution of political opponents, we may now be experiencing our “storm before the storm”. It could be a warning...

Reads like a novel, finished this in two sittings. And very thought provoking.

Cadeau

The autor tell us how Rome transformed itself from a republic to the empire we all know. The book Is written in such a way you can't wait for the next chapter. Strongly recommanded for the hustory of rome's lovers