Rome and Persia: The Seven Hundred Year Rivalry

The extraordinary history of the epic rivalry between the ancient world’s two great superpowers.

"Magnificent." —The Spectator

The Roman Empire was like no other. Stretching from the north of Britain to the Sahara, and from the Atlantic coast to the Euphrates, it imposed peace and prosperity on an unprecedented scale.  Its only true rival lay in the east, where the Parthian and then Persian empires ruled over great cities and the trade routes to mysterious lands beyond. This was the region Alexander the Great had swept through, creating a dream of glory and conquest that tantalized Greeks and Romans alike. 

Tracing seven centuries of conflict between Rome and Persia, historian Adrian Goldsworthy shows how these two great powers evolved together. Despite their endless clashes, trade between the empires enriched them both, and a mutual respect prevented both Rome and Persia from permanently destroying the other.  

Epic in scope, Rome and Persia completely reshapes our understanding of one of the greatest rivalries of world history. 

“Epic history as it's means to be written! A splendid book that tells the story of the great imperial rivalry of the ancient world with narrative elan, scholarly authority, and a cast of extraordinary characters.” —Simon Sebag-Montefiore, author of The World: A Family History of Humanity