Beginning with the founding myths of Romulus and Remus and a succession of probably fictitious kings, celebrated historian Anthony Everitt charts the development of Rome: from its origins as a small market town in the 8th Century, through various forms of patrician government, up to Caesar's victory in the Civil War that defeated the Republic and kick-started the Empire. Using recent archaeological evidence and historical facts, and a wealth of legend and anecdote, Everitt shows how Rome grew - both internally, via ever more ambitious construction projects, and externally, through successful military campaigns. In doing so, he highlights that society's parallels with the modern world. But the brilliance of Roman strategising was not enough to ensure its greatness and even as Rome grew, its constitution began to break down, with subtle politics ceding to violence and civil war, and wealth and power corrupting the republic's virtues. With the empire poised to begin, Rome found that it was triumphant everywhere but within the city itself.