Augustus Caesar’s World
Reviewed by Edward Garboczi
Augustus Caesar’s World follows Foster’s approach by focusing on the life of the second Roman Emperor, covering the years 44 BC to 14 AD. Augustus was an 18-year-old boy in 44 BC when his Uncle Julius, who had declared himself to be the first Roman Emperor, was assassinated. The book covers all the events – civil war, revolution, conspiracy, which led to Augustus becoming the second Roman Emperor in 27 BC. Even up to modern times, the simple family name of “Caesar” became synonymous with “king” – “Kaiser” in Germany and “Tsar” in Russia, for example. Foster spends many words on these events, and the personalities who shaped and participated in these events. Just for this alone, this book gives a fascinating, very readable, slice of ancient Roman life. But there is so much more as the author reveals the mesh of history. We see the first King Herod, called Herod the Great, and his close relations to the growing Roman power, his vile family life, and his influence on Judea, where, during Caesar Augustus’ reign, a baby was born, the Incarnate Son of God. Genevieve Foster brings in the people who were living in Gaul, the old name for France, who had been conquered by Julius Caesar, and the Germanic tribes, who resisted Roman rule for centuries. The people and events in China and Japan, the Mayans and Incas in South America, and the accomplishments of the Greek and Jewish culture of the day, all play a part in the narrative. And did you know that Chinese silk was transported to Rome in those days? The ancient world was covered with such trading routes – a prime source of connections in the mesh of history.

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