I'm trying to read a few books about the Roman Empire. My story is based on what the Roman Empire will be like in the 2nd century but I wanted to also consider what it was like in the century prior and the century after. Can anyone help?
Hi there! Here are a few (mostly) recent texts which give a good overview of at least the later Roman empire:
Clifford Ando, Imperial Rome AD 193-284. (2012)
Averil Cameron, The Later Roman Empire, AD 284-430. (1993)
Hugh Elton, The Roman Empire in Late Antiquity: A Political and Military History. (2018)
Michael Kulikowski, The Tragedy of Empire: From Constantine to the Destruction of Roman Italy. (2019)
Stephen Mitchell, A History of the Later Roman Empire, AD 234-641. (2015)
As well, you might find that (translated) primary sources can also provide you with some interesting first hand accounts of this period. Here are a few larger names/titles which you should be able to find translations for fairly readily:
Tacitus, Histories (1st-2nd centuries CE)
Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars (1st-2nd centuries CE)
Cassius Dio, Roman History (2nd-3rd centuries CE)
Ammianus Marcellinus, Histories (4th-5th centuries CE)
Do note, however, that these primary sources will likely be very biased accounts, and not always an accurate depiction of the events at hand. As such, I would certainly begin with the secondary material above, to give you a foundation of the period first! Hope this helps!