The beginnings of Rome are now being revealed by an ever-increasing body of archaeological evidence, much of it unearthed since the 1970s. This new material has made it possible to trace the development of Rome from its beginnings as an Iron Age village to the major state which became a Mediterranean power. This work uses the results of up-to-date archaeological techniques as well as taking current methodological debates into account. Covering the years 753 BC to 264 BC, it offers new perspectives on major questions such as Rome's relations with the Etruscans, the conflict between patricians...

Cities in the ancient world relied on private generosity to provide many basic amenities, as well as expecting leading citizens to pay for bread and circuses - free food and public entertainment. This collection of essays by leading scholars from the UK and USA explores the important phenomenon of benefaction and public patronage in Roman Italy. Ranging from the late republican period to the later Roman Empire, the contributions cover a wide range of topics, including the impact of benefactions and benefactors on the urban development of Roman Italy, on cultural and economic activity, and on...

This collection of essays by leading scholars from the UK and USA explores the important phenomenon of benefaction and public patronage in Roman Italy.