A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT WORLD. By M. Rostovtzeff. Translated
from the Russian by J. D. Duff. Vol. II. Rome. (Clarendon Press. 21s.)—The second and concluding volume of Professor Rostovtzeff's masterly sketch of ancient history is even better than the first, for here he deals not with many empires but with the one—that of Rome in its gradual rise and slow decline—on which he speaks with special authority. His brief account of early Italy, his rapid survey of the Republic's development, and his somewhat fuller account of the Empire are alike excellent. His later chapters summarize the main conclusion of his great work on the social and economic history of the Roman Empire, namely, that its decline was due not so much to particular economic changes as to the mental and moral decline of the old governing classes—a conclusion which has its bearing on modern nations, and not least on the author's own country. The book is superbly illustrated with hundreds of photographs of carefully selected buildings, sculptures, and other objects, all of which are annotated. We must add that Mr. Duff's translation reads like a good original. The two volumes form the best compact account of the ancient world that we have in English.
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