Rome and Persia: The Seven Hundred Year Rivalry

A history of the seven-hundred-year rivalry between Rome and Persia, the ancient world's two great superpowers. The Roman empire stretched from Britain to the Sahara and from the Atlantic coast to the Euphrates, imposing peace and prosperity across an unprecedented expanse. Its only true rival lay in the east, where the Parthian and then Persian empires controlled major cities and trade routes to distant lands. This was territory Alexander the Great had conquered, a vision of glory that captivated Greeks and Romans alike. Historian Adrian Goldsworthy traces seven centuries of conflict between these two powers, examining how they evolved in relation to each other. Despite constant military clashes, trade between the empires benefited both, and mutual respect prevented either from permanently destroying the other. The book reshapes understanding of this major rivalry in world history.