'The History of Rome' - Book Two (1855) by Theodor Mommsen

In 'The History of Rome' - Book Two - 'From the Abolition of the Monarchy in Rome to the Union of Italy', Theodor Mommsen continues his monumental chronicle of Roman history with a penetrating examination of the early Republic’s internal consolidation and its outward expansion across the Italian peninsula. Written in the mid-19th century but resonating with remarkable modernity, this volume captures both the grandeur and the fragility of Rome’s ascent from a city-state to a regional hegemon.

Mommsen’s approach blends rigorous scholarship with vivid, almost literary storytelling. He navigates the complex terrain of early Roman institutions, class struggles, and military campaigns with clarity and conviction. One of the book’s most compelling themes is the tension between patricians and plebeians, a dynamic he portrays not merely as a political conflict but as a foundational struggle that shaped the Republic’s legal and social evolution. His discussion of the Licinian-Sextian laws and the slow democratization of the Republic is nuanced, showing how reform was always shadowed by elite resistance and compromise.

Where Mommsen truly excels is in his treatment of Rome’s wars against the Etruscans, Samnites, and other Italic peoples. He presents these campaigns not simply as acts of conquest but as essential tests of Roman discipline, adaptability, and strategic genius. His admiration for Roman statecraft is evident, though he does not shy away from critiquing its brutality or ambition.

Yet, the volume is not without its Victorian biases. Mommsen’s implicit comparisons between Rome and 19th-century Prussia, particularly in terms of legal order and martial virtue, occasionally color his interpretations. Still, his judgments are rarely simplistic; he seeks to understand rather than to glorify.

In summary, Book Two of 'The History of Rome' is a masterful continuation of Mommsen’s broader project. It combines erudition with narrative force, offering both the specialist and the interested reader a compelling portrait of Republican Rome in its formative century. It remains, even today, a cornerstone of classical historiography.