I am a fan of the authors work and I loved this. It well written, detailed but readable. I recommend this to everyone.

The ambition of this author to render comprehensible the relationship between Rome and the other super-power of the age Persia should be praised, and he has been largely successful. It is a highly complex history, not least because of the various political leaders ruling over a vast territory. Persia as a region at this time was ruled by the descendants of a general of Alexander the Great, as had happened in Egypt, so this is not country of Xerces and Darius. However, that said I now feel I have a better understanding of how Rome conducted its diplomacy with equals, something we rarely see with most histories of her expansion.

I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in the history of Rome, although I would probably advice to obtain a physical book as you will need to reference maps etc fairly frequently.

Some time back I read a book about the Mongolians, in particular at the western edges of their advance, and how those kingdoms related to what I know as the Crusader States. It completely blew my mind because I've read a bit about the 'Crusades' general era, and that book made me realise just how western-focussed my understanding had been: the invading Europeans connecting back to Europe and maybe Egypt (thanks to Saladin); maybe you'd hear about the Golden Horde occasionally. But interacting with the Mongols was HUGELY important.

This book does a similar thing for Rome. My focus has always been on the Republic and early principate, so maybe that has had an influence. But in my reading, Crassus' loss at Carrhae is present but (at least in my hazy memory of what I've read), it's almost like Parthia comes out of nowhere to inflict this defeat. Persia then looms as the Big Bad, but I think that dealing with the Germanic tribes and the Goths etc seem to take a lot more space. Even for the eastern empire, which is definitely not my forte, regaining Italy etc and fighting west and north (and internally) seems to get more attention.

And then you read a book like this. It is, of course, heavily leaning in the other direction; that's the entire point, to start redressing some of the UNbalance that otherwise exists. These two empires could be seen as, and describe themselves as, the "two eyes" or "two lanterns" of the world (those are Persian descriptions); for basically their entire collective existence they were the two largest empires in this area (China probably rivalled them at least at some points, but although there were tenuous commercial connections, they're really not interacting in similar spheres). It makes sense that the relationship between them, and how they navigated that relationship, should be a key part of understanding those two empires.

Goldsworthy does an excellent job of pointing out the limitations in ALL of the sources - Greco-Roman, Parthian, Persian - and clearly pointing out where things could do with a lot more clarity, but the information just doesn't exist. Within that, he's done a really wonderful job at illuminating a lot of the interactions between Rome and Parthia/Persia. And he also clearly points out where he's skipping over bits for the sake of brevity, which I deeply appreciate in such a book.

It's not the most straightforward history book of the era. It covers 700 years or so, so there's a lot of dates, and a lot changes in this time as well - republic to principate to later empire, for Rome; Parthian to Persian; countless civil wars on both sides. A lot of leaders with the same or similar names, unfamiliar places names, and all of those things that go towards this sort of history book requiring that bit more attention. I definitely wouldn't recommend this as My First Roman History Book! But if you're already in the period and/or area, I think this is an excellent addition to the historiography. Very enjoyable.

Adrian Goldsworthy writes historical fiction that are as informative as a history book and history book that are as entertaining as novel.
This is a well researched book that made me learn about a part of the Roman history that was new to me.
It was an excellent read
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Unfortunately I'm not able to read and review this book at the moment. I tried sending the review copy to my Kindle but for some reason this is not working right now. If the publisher sees this and know of a way I can read this book on my Kindle (reading on my phone is too hard on my eyes) you can always email me at: xbookfever11@gmail.com

Really good history book! It was very engaging and felt like I was reading fiction. Goldsworthy should consider writing historical fiction!

Goldsworthy is great, I've read several of his books and he is always so good at conveying the subject matter. The Rome/Persia conflict is always on the fringe of discussions/books about Rome but Goldsworthy fronts it here. Excellent addition to both Goldsworthy's bibliography and also the Roman catalogue.

Readers of Goldsworthy books (fiction and non-fiction) only need to know that this is up to his usual standards. Your good to go with this one. Those coming at it fresh can expect skilful narrative history that effortlessly marries telling detail and broad-brush explanations. Each chapter tells its own story and they work like episodes in a grander narrative with a dramatic tension that builds, with twists and turns. It is not a flashy book; it’s just something you will read fully engaged and with great pleasure.

What’s the story? Rome and Parthia squared off for centuries: Goldsworthy covers that encounter from roughly 150BCE to around 650CE. There is a greater range of evidence for the Roman side and that for the early part of the book it is the story of Rome expanded out to its eastern border and then dominated and sought to defend it. A more equal balance is struck for the crucial encounters from around 200CE to 650CE (from chapter 10 through to the end).

But perhaps that last paragraph misses what he actually offers, which is the story of a region shaped through imperial clashes, but somehow managing to be greater than them. This region is normally seen as a Roman periphery - a bit to the right on the map of where our historical attention is usually drawn. But Goldsworthy offers the Near East as a viable centre: its geopolitical structure (its geography) and the rich and distinctive culture that both thrived and shattered and exerted its own transformative pressure. It was this region that made Rome and Persia.

I loved the way the book’s real subject is the region and how the history of the Roman Empire was really best seen from here. I knew about Crassus, Augustus, Shapur I and Valerian (the only Roman Emperor ever taken prisoner) and the later wars of Justinian against Khusro I (mid-C6) and then of Heraclius against Khusro II (600-630). But it’s great to have a book that sticks with this story and tells it through.

Wow!! I was completely captivated from the beginning and couldn't put the book down and was sad I had to say goodbye to my book friends when I got to the end. The author kept me on the edge of my seat through the twists and turns, ups and downs and incredible romance.