A great history of Rome from its supposed inception in the 8th century BCE to the extension of citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire in 212 CE. Professor Beard avoids the part of the story that usually concerns us, its end, and instead discusses the development of the republic and its progression to imperial Rome. (Certainly, our concern for modern parallels is understandable; was Mr. Trump ever called "little boots"?) The author spends considerable time discussing not only what we know, but also how we know it. I found this aspect of the history fascinating, especially how she uses her extensive knowledge to interpret the possible motivations of the great ancient speakers, and why some are preserved and others lost to us. The chapter on the lives of common people is also very good, including, as evidence, Pompeian graffiti and the details of the tombs of various artisans.

My notes include:
The number 40,000 may have been used in ancient times to mean a very large number, as in our use of "millions".
The reminder that ancient peoples had no maps.
A reminder from Prof. Beard of the meaning of average life expectancy, i.e. that some people have always lived as long as they do today, and that the principal determining factor is infant mortality.
The working title of The Great Gatsby was Trimalchio at West Egg.
Caesar apparently never said, "Et tu, Brute?", it was an invention of Shakespeare.
I had mistakenly thought that the months of July and August were added, but they were renamed. August had been Sextilis.
Biscuits were handed out at Roman sacrifices and they were stamped with the emperor's likeness. [!]
The story in the Talmud that Emperor Titus had his brain devoured by a gnat after he destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem.
Why the Colosseum has its name.
In ancient Greece and Rome, slaves were only permitted to give testimony under torture.