I used to read a lot about the roman empire, as a kid in the pre-internet days. And I'm slowly rediscovering my old interest. I think everything about the roman empire is fascinating. Both the school of thoughts, the stories about the emperors, the social structure and the society in general, as well as the stories from the battlefield. I know much of it -especially the brave stories about the emperors, is myth and legend, and it's probably a more complicated matter to distinct between fact and fiction. But I would be happy to have some comprehensive books about the rise and fall of the empire, for the winter months Any reccomendations ?
Antony Kamm has a nice introductory book called The Romans: An Introduction which you can pick up for $5 used. Brian Campbell also has a introductory volume called The Romans and their world (Yale 2011). Either of those will cover all the basics of the history, as well as touch on the cultural, political, and social aspects of the Roman world.
I would suggest these by the late Will Durant:
1944: Caesar and Christ. New York: Simon & Schuster. 1950: The Age of Faith. New York: Simon & Schuster.
The first book deals with the founding of Rome, the Republic, and the Augustan transition into a Roman Empire.
The latter of these two books deals somewhat with the last days of the Roman Empire in the West, and much more with the Byzantines.