Providing a broad historical context for the period, Andrew Lintott begins with a description of the process through which a collection of villages developed into Rome, the dominant city of the Mediterranean. He goes on to explain how the structure and institutions of Roman society developed during the reign of Augustus, describing its economic base and its workings, and demonstrates how the shift from Republic to Empire affected the public and private lives of individuals. Written in a highly accessible style, and incorporating the most recent scholarship, this book offers fascinating insights into Augustus"s Rome, and serves as an ideal introduction to the subject for students with no prior knowledge.