‘Neither laws nor courts nor sense of shame remained.’

Lifted from Appian’s epic account of Roman history, The Civil Wars provides a fascinating insight into the tumultuous era of 133-35 BC: a time of bloodshed and unmatched anarchy in the Roman Empire.

The Romans were at the forefront of innovations that continue to shape the world we live in today: transport, education and public health, to name a few. But they were also responsible for some of history's most ruthless and violent battles. No one recorded it better than Appian, who devoted five whole books to the era's civil wars. In this fascinating volume, discover the Catiline conspiracy; the assassination of Julius Caesar; the rise and fall of the First Triumvirate and so much more. Candid and unsparing about the brutal realities of war, Appian’s work also paints a compelling portrait of the political power struggles simmering beneath the surface – struggles that erupted into a monumental battle for the Empire's crown.

Appian of Alexandria (95 – 165) was a Greek historian. After becoming a Roman citizen, he worked as an advocate, speaking in front of emperors such as Trajan, Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. A prolific writer, Appian wrote a huge amount on Roman history, particularly on civil wars, some of which still survives today.