Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the book is how it challenges our linear view of history. Beard focuses on the first millennium of Rome, ending with Emperor Caracalla’s 212 CE grant of citizenship to all free inhabitants.
Instead of a neat narrative, she presents a story that was constantly being rewritten, reflecting on how Roman identity was reshaped over centuries. It's a journey through the evolution of civic identity, from the Republic to the Empire. Why It Still Matters SPQR.SPQRAlive.33.var
Beard doesn't start with facts, but with myths. She tackles the classic tale of Romulus and Remus and the wolf, explaining that this story was written centuries after it supposedly happened. It was, in essence, an early form of marketing. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the book