69 AD: The Year of Four Emperors

Book Description

The Year of Four Emperors, so the ancient sources assure us, was one of the most chaotic, violent and frightening periods in all Roman history: a time of assassinations and civil wars, of armies so out of control that they had no qualms about occupying the city of Rome, and of ambitious men who seized power only to lose it, one after another. In 69 AD, Gwyn Morgan offers a fresh look at this period, based on two considerations to which insufficient attention has been paid in the past. First, that we need to unravel rather than cherry-pick between the conflicting accounts of Tacitus, Plutarch and Suetonius, our three main sources of information. And second, that the role of the armies, as distinct from that of their commanders, has too often been exaggerated. The result is a remarkably accurate and insightful narrative history, filled with colorful portraits of the leading participants and new insights into the nature of the Roman military Morgan ranges from the suicide of Nero in June 68 to the triumph of Vespasian in December 69. In between, three other emperors hold power. We meet Galba, old, tightfisted and conservative, who was declared emperor in June 68 and assassinated in January 69. Otho, once Nero's boon companion, who was responsible for murdering Galba, seized power in a coup in Rome in January 69 and, to everybody's surprise, committed suicide three months later in a vain attempt to end the civil wars. Vitellius, as indolent as he was extravagant, who was put forward by two ambitious lieutenants, recognized by the senate in Rome once they heard of Otho's death in April, and cut down by Vespasian's partisans in the last days of December. And then there is Vespasian, the candidate who looked least likely to succeed, but (according to Tacitus) was still the first to be improved by becoming emperor. A strikingly vivid account of ancient Rome, 69 AD is an original and compelling account of one of the best known but perhaps least understood periods in all Roman history.

Customer Reviews:

great read.......2007-06-27

The author demonstrates her skill as a historian but also demonstrates wonderful writing abilities.
This is a great read

The Leading Authority on Tacitus Has His Say.......2007-06-10

This is an excellent and very well written description and analysis of the tumultuous events of 69 AD. Morgan gives life to the personages and events of that year, and is so familiar with the actors on this stage that his strong likes and dislikes are evident. In the appendix is an outstanding essay of the Roman sources. Morgan relies almost exclusively on literary evidence and seems to feel that coins are not very significant as a source. He neglects the fact that while we do not know if the reverses are descriptive or prescriptive, they do tell us what the Romans thought was significant. Morgan also seems to hold the previous studies,such as the excellent "The Long Year 69 AD" by Kenneth Wellesley in contempt; dismissing much of what he says of the battles of Cremona because of Wellesley's military background!

This raises the first of my two stong objections to this book. Morgan's understanding, appreciation and analysis of military affairs is wanting. "Strategy as we understand it had not been invented." Morgan says on page 81; asserting that the Romans had no concept of strategy. He discusses the dual column Vitellian assault on Italy without explaining the obvious reason why they used two columns or the Vespesianic strategy in Northern Italy, and the Othonian naval strategy. Morgan also argues that ancient battles were "formulaic"; and ignored terrain considerations! In addition he argues that the legions were already "Germanized" in dress and armament by 69 AD; other authorities place this 300 years later!

Finally, he is disengenuous on what he calls "the secret of the empire" issue (Tacitus History I,4). This is the "discovery" by the armies that emperors could be made outside of Rome. He rebutes this by arguing that for the following century the succession was peaceful. Yet, this begs the issue. Tacitus and his contemporaries certainly believed that field armies could and would raise up candidates for the purple; and this would be the pattern for much of the period 180 t0 476 AD.

I recommend strongly that students of the civil war of 69 AD consult the superb militay analysis: "The Roman Empire Order of Battle for the Civil Wars 68-70 AD by Michael Lane published by the Society of Ancients.

3 losers 1 winner.......2007-02-12

The period of history is fascinating. However, the author was very long winded about describing the period. The author spends to much of the time recounting ancient historians and their views. The author could have made this period come to life a little bit more with energy.

End of an era.......2006-11-06

The author researches and analyses this difficult and chaotic year in roman history by relying mostly on the writings of Tacitus, without disregarding other sources. The book is a scholarly and clear explanation how and important shift in governance came to pass, when a divided and powerless senate and a discontent pretorian guard had to cede decisionmaking to the legions stationed outside of Rome herself and rule by soldier-emperors ensued

Interesting Topic.......2006-05-18

69 A.D.: The Year of Four Emperors is a very interesting book on a topic I knew very little about, though I've read books on other periods in Roman history. Professor Morgan's book is strong on analysis as he compares and contrasts the ancient sources, i.e. Tacitus, Plutarch, Dio, Seutonious, Josephus and the so called Common Source. Morgan also begins by mentioning the other books written on this period and what their strengths and weaknesses were.

The historical period in question begins with the reign of Nero and his suicide in 68 A.D. Nero's death marked the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and ushered in a brief period of usurpations starting with Galba, followed by Otho, then Vitellius and finally Vespasian who ushered in the Flavian dysnasty that would rule for over 25 years. We get glimpses of these four individuals, how they achieved the highest office in Rome, and what roles their supporters and opponents played, including the legions, various generals and other members of Roman society.

This was a very unsettled time in Rome's history (to say the least), but Morgan doesn't give it the impression of threatening the empire's survival. There are many brutal acts committed including those against some of the usurpers, one emperor's supporters against another would-be emperor's supporters, and Roman citizens in various locations, including Cremona and Rome itself. No one really comes off looking that good throughout this period of instability. I still felt the information was too sketchy on many points, which I guess shouldn't be surprising considering how long ago this was and the limited historical evidence.

Morgan is good in pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the ancient sources for this period, especially concerning Tacitus. As any student of history mustn't forget, those who write history often have their own agendas or biases, as Morgan discusses. The methods for writing and stylistic approaches were often very important for these early writers as well. The appendices at the end are very helpful. There are a few maps in this book, though I would have liked a few more.

Overall, this is an informative book written by an expert who knows his subject matter. I wish I could comment more intelligently on some of his interpretations, which could be open for debate I feel. This of course has a lot to do with the ancient sources and figuring out whose versions are more accurate. The views on Galba and Otho for example are discussed in one of the appendices to show some of these conflicting opinions. In terms of readability, I had to slow down more often for this book, partly due to my own lack of knowledge of this particular period in Rome's history. A good book.

Book Description

My Pal, Victor / Mi amigo, Víctor is a story that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for children and adolescent audiences. It captures the essence of true friendship and portrays a trustworthy message that gives positive reinforcement for those living with disabilities.

In the story, two young boys experience carefree camaraderie despite one boy's disability. Victor tells heart-booming ghost stories, claps the loudest at Dominic's baseball games, and performs a fabulous floating frog stroke. Fun and friendship overpower physical limitations.

Dominic and Victor enjoy the same adventures as many children—sleepovers, amusement parks, baseball, and simply "hanging out." Kids will see themselves in these engaging and often comical everyday activities. The fact that Victor is in a wheelchair doesn't come into play until the last page when Victor is shown in his chair. Even then, it's not a consideration as Dominic quips, "But, the most important thing about my pal, Victor, is that he likes me just the way I am."

Engaging illustrations capture the realistic and the fantasy world in this touching tale. A new twist on what makes friendship work. Physical conditions cannot, and do not, hinder the abiding friendship portrayed in this story. Bilingual children's picture book. Full text translation in English and Spanish. Key word vocabulary page in English and Spanish. Winner of ALA's Schneider Family Award

Selected for inclusion on the New York Suggested Reading List

Customer Reviews:

Bilingual/Disabilities.......2006-04-04

Synopsis: Dominic tells about all the things he does with his pal Victor and he portrays Victor to be a great friend. The two boys, Dominic and Victor do lots of fun things together. They look up at the clouds and Victor makes up stories about them. Victor says that they look like dragons, rocket ships and the pyramids in Mexico. He says, "My Pal Victor, tells great jokes." For example one of Victor's jokes was "If you mix a parrot and a pickle together what do you get?" Answer: "A pickle who wants a cracker." Victor goes to Dominic's baseball games to cheer for him. The boys go swimming. Victor tells scary ghost stories. Dominic tells how they love to ride rollercoasters together. Most importantly, Victor likes Dominic just the way Dominic is.

Evaluation: This story is realistic contemporary fiction. It is written in both Spanish and English. On every page English is on the top and Spanish is underneath it. Dominic and Victor are both Hispanic. Victor is handicapped. He's in a wheelchair. However, the reader does not see his wheelchair in the illustrations until the last page, and nothing about him being handicapped or different is in the text. Bertrand portrays Victor as a child who can do everything any child can do. He can even swim! The jokes in the story are slightly lame, but to children they may be funny. The answers to the jokes can be found on the last page along with vocabulary translated from English to Spanish. The theme is different from many other books with handicapped children in them being the fact that most books are from the perspective that the handicapped child is happy to be accepted whereas in this book the non-handicapped person is happy to be accepted just the way he is by a handicapped person. My Pal, VICTOR won the Schneider Family Book Award in 2005.

My Pal, Victor/Mi amigo, Victor.......2004-09-16

This is a simple story that any child can relate to. The author takes two boys through many fun experiences, emphasizing that the two are having fun and enjoying one another. By the end of the story, Victor's obvious difference doesn't seem to matter at all. The affirmation at the end doesn't smack of a "moral" that would otherwise make it too sweet.

Good bi-lingual book with a strong moral lesson.......2004-06-24

"My Pal Victor" is a great children's book that also teaches some beginning Latin American Spanish vocablulary and accepting others for who they are. Each page of the book has the text printed in both English and Spanish so it is easy to associate the English and Spanish words. The illustrations are colorful and will easily hold the interest of a young reader. The story line shows the strong friendship between Victor and Dominic.

I had a couple of other people take a look at the book and found that most people miss part of the surprise at the end of the book. Victor has a disability which would cause most people to end the book with a comment that they like Victor just the way he is, but the author turns this philosophy on its head when Dominic says that the most important thing about Victor is that he accepts Dominic just the way he is. What a wonderful conclusion and a great way to teach perspective. "My Pal Victor" is a recommended read.

Average customer rating:
Amistad 1 -
John A. Williams -
Manufacturer: Vintage Publishing -
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O02TDW

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AMISTAD 1
John A. And Charles F. Harris (editors) Williams
Manufacturer: Vintage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RB64AM

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Amistad 1

Manufacturer: Howard Univ Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
African-American Studies | Special Groups | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
jp-unknown2 | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0882580418

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Amistad 1
John A. & HARRIS, Charles F.(editors) WILLIAMS
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OPAMWM

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Amistad 1 Writings on Black History and Culture
Charles F. Harris
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NCX53Y

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Amistad 1. [Writings on Black History and Culture]

Manufacturer: Vintage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KS7TFG

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Amistad 1. Writings on Black History and Culture.
John Williams
Manufacturer: Vintage 1970.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000L5B59E

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Amor y amistad
Sheryl Kahn , Ann Braybrooks , Vanessa Elder , Rita Walsh-Balducci , and Disney
Manufacturer: Grupo Editorial Norma
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
General | 4 a 8 años | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
ASIN: 9580455317

Book Description

Esta es una fantástica recopilación de fábulas y cuentos de la tradición Disney que comparten el tema del amor y la amistad. En un solo libro, usted y sus hijos podrán revivir los emocionantes episodios en que algunas de las parejas más inolvidables de Disney se unieron para siempre. Estos cuentos demuestran que no hay nada que rompa los lazos del amor y la amistad.

Feliz Dia De La Amistad, Gus! (Read-It! Readers En Espanol) (Read-It! Readers En Espanol)

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Feliz Dia De La Amistad, Gus! (Read-It! Readers En Espanol) (Read-It! Readers En Espanol)
Jacklyn Williams
Manufacturer: Picture Window Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books

Average customer rating:

Entertaining and informative (and a fast read)

Concise and witty, will entertain and inform.

One of the best books in a long time

Accessable and accurate

good research paper book

Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine
Stephen R. Braun
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Alcoholism | Recovery | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Caffeine | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Pharmacology | Medicine | Subjects | Books
General | Pharmacology | Medical | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0140268456

Book Description

Alcohol and caffeine are deeply woven into the fabric of life for most of the world's population, as close and as comfortable as a cup of coffee or a can of beer. Yet for most people they remain as mysterious and unpredictable as the spirits they were once thought to be. Now, in Buzz, Stephen Braun takes us on a myth-shattering tour of these two popular substances, one that blends fascinating science with colorful lore, and that includes cameo appearances by Shakespeare and Balzac, Buddhist monks and Arabian goat herders, even Mikhail Gorbachev and David Letterman (who once quipped, "If it weren't for the coffee, I'd have no identifiable personality whatsoever"). Much of what Braun reveals directly contradicts conventional wisdom about alcohol and caffeine. Braun shows, for instance, that alcohol is not simply a depressant as popularly believed, but is instead "a pharmacy in a bottle"--mimicking the action of drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine, valium, and opium. At low doses, it increases electrical activity in the same brain systems affected by stimulants, influences the same circuits targeted by valium, and causes the release of morphine-like compounds known as endorphins--all at the same time. This explains why alcohol can produce a range of reactions, from boisterous euphoria to dark, brooding hopelessness. Braun also shatters the myth that alcohol kills brain cells, reveals why wood alcohol or methanol causes blindness, and explains the biological reason behind the one-drink-per-hour sobriety rule (that's how long it takes the liver, working full tilt, to disable the 200 quintillion ethanol molecules found in a typical drink). The author then turns to caffeine and shows it to be no less remarkable. We discover that more than 100 plant species produce caffeine molecules in their seeds, leaves, or bark, a truly amazing distribution throughout nature (nicotine, in comparison, is found only in tobacco; opium only in the poppy). It's not surprising then that caffeine is far and away the most widely used mind altering substance on the planet, found in tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, soft drinks, and more than 2,000 non-prescription drugs. (Tea is the most popular drink on earth, with coffee a close second.) Braun also explores the role of caffeine in creativity: Johann Sebastian Bach, for one, loved coffee so much he wrote a Coffee Cantata (as Braun notes, no music captures the caffeinated experience better than one of Bachs frenetic fugues), Balzac would work for 12 hours non-stop, drinking coffee all the while, and Kant, Rousseau, and Voltaire all loved coffee. And throughout the book, Braun takes us on many engaging factual sidetrips--we learn, for instance, that Theodore Roosevelt coined the phrase "Good to the last drop" used by Maxwell House ever since; that distances between Tibetan villages are sometimes reckoned by the number of cups of tea needed to sustain a person (three cups being roughly 8 kilometers); and that John Pemberton's original recipe for Coca-Cola included not only kola extract, but also cocaine. Whether you are a sophisticated consumer of cabernet sauvignon and Kenya AA or just someone who needs a cup of joe in the morning and a cold one after work, you will find Buzz to be an eye-opening, informative, and often amusing look at two substances at once utterly familiar and deeply mysterious.

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining and informative (and a fast read).......2003-03-23

Science journalist Stephen Braun explores the science and lore of alcohol and caffeine in this slim but informative little volume. Recent progress in understanding brain chemistry has given scientists a different perspective on the workings of these two of mankind's oldest chemical friends.
Alcohol is a small molecule which is soluble in both fat and water and consequently its physiological effects are manifold. Rather than the simple depressant it was once presumed to be, it is in fact a "pharmacy in a bottle" which can mimic cocaine, amphetamines, opium and valium. Given that the brain contains 40 or so neurotransmitters, it is fair to say that the full effects of alcohol are still far from being understood; broadly, however, it can reduce anxiety and stimulate the reward centres of the brain. Its effects on sexual desire and sleep are contradictory. It raises desire, yet in large quantities impedes performance. The stimulating effect is in part psychological: research volunteers who believed they had consumed alcohol but hadn't, became more aroused than those who had but thought they hadn't. It promotes sleepiness, yet worsens the quality of sleep and interferes with the sleep cycle. The effects vary with gender. In one survey 68% of women, but only 45% of men, replied that alcohol enhances sex. The oft-observed fact of women becoming intoxicated faster then men on a given dose is apparently due not to differences in blood volume (otherwise why would small men not also become drunk faster?) but rather to a difference in the effectiveness of alcohol dehydrogenase (an enzyme which can exist in 17 different varieties in the same person), a difference which fades with age. The other major effect of alcohol is that in moderate quantities it appears to reduce the risk of heart disease, a benefit which is lost, but accompanied by many detriments to health, with increasing consumption.
The genetics of sensitivity to alcohol are also fascinating. Alcoholism in humans appears to be environmental in origin, although it does have a weak genetic component. In mice, the story really gets interesting. Certain physiological responses to alcohol can be bred into or out of mice. Members of one strain sleep for a long time after consuming alcohol, but others sleep only briefly. Or the metabolism of one strain speeds up following a drink, but that of another slows down. Such differences also exist in people: some actually become drowsy on small doses, but more alert on larger ones, the opposite of the majority response. The key point is that the effects of alcohol are complicated and occasion a great diversity of responses. For an individual the only way to fully gauge the effects is by (hopefully judicious) experimentation.
Caffeine, metabolically speaking, is another kettle of fish. Although it also has a wide range of effects it specifically targets receptors of the neurotransmitter adenosine (also, incidentally, affected by alcohol). Thus the average dose is much smaller: a regular cup of coffee contains about 100 milligrams, versus 14,200 of alcohol in a standard drink. Like most psychoactive substances, caffeine is a plant product (found in over 100 plant species), and may well have evolved as a natural pesticide designed to disrupt the neurological function of its predators. Of special interest to smokers is that smoking causes caffeine to be metabolized faster than normal, an effect which stops when smoking does. Thus, without having changed his caffeine consumption, the newly resolved non-smoker will find himself with about twice as much caffeine in the bloodstream as usual. Adding being wired to nicotine withdrawal is probably unpleasant for most, so the implication is that smokers should cut coffee consumption before kicking the weed. The effects of coffee as a stimulant are indirect and due to interference with a natural feedback system whereby the more neurons fire the more adenosine they produce, which inhibits firing. Caffeine binds to adenosine receptors, thereby blocking adenosine, but without producing this inhibition. The effect is like putting a block of wood under the brake pedal of a car. The effects on mental acuity are unclear. Caffeine users may feel sharper and smarter, but their measurable performance is not greatly improved. On the other hand caffeine may affect more complex mental processes than those tested, or perhaps it is simply the sensation of intellectual enthusiasm which makes the difference to the work of creative masters, such as Bach and Balzac, who were mighty coffee drinkers and swore by its powers.
By regulating the amount of neurochemical receptors available the body can acquire tolerance to drugs. In the case of heroin, habituated users may consume 10,000 times as much as novices, far beyond the range of tolerance shown by consumers of coffee or booze. Yet caffeine users also develop a tolerance; to the point that caffeine may actually produce little noticeable effect in those used to it. This suggests that people keep drinking primarily to avoid withdrawal. It also offers a possible explanation of why many postoperative surgical patients suffer from headaches: it's not the anaesthetic, but simply that they've been without a cup of coffee for a full day before recovery.
Americans are drinking perhaps a little less coffee than they used to. But caffeine intake is propped up by soft drinks, about 80% of which are caffeinated, with caffeine which, naturally enough, is extracted and sold by the purveyors of decaf coffee. There is also a lot of caffeine in both prescription and over-the-counter medications, which are also consumed in large quantities.
"Buzz" is well-written in an easy and pleasing style. Given the imposing scope of its subject matter, however, it is necessarily somewhat limited. It would certainly be interesting to read more in greater depth, especially with regard to the neurobiochemistry. A discussion of the negative social consequences of alcohol, which is deeply implicated in suicide, homicide and other violence might also have merited a few pages. Overall, however, this is an enjoyable and informative read.

Concise and witty, will entertain and inform........2000-08-06

"Buzz" by Stephen Braun is one of the best science books I've read in a while. Mr. Braun destroyes popular myths about society's most popular drugs, and he replaces those myths with facts and evidence. Often those facts are just as interesting as the myths!

The book is witty and full of insight and advice about caffeine and alcohol. A must read for people curious about the two most popular drugs on the planet.

One of the best books in a long time.......2000-02-16

This ought to be required reading, given the availability of alcohol and caffeine. Very well researched, well written; I recommend this book very highly.

Accessable and accurate.......1999-07-30

Although I know somewhat more than the average person about both substances, This book gave me new information presented in an interesting style. I would recommend it highly both to the casual reader and to educational programs for medical and substance abuse communities.

And, the guy has a sense of humor!!

good research paper book.......1999-04-04

I found this book very informative. It contains good maerial about the effects of caffein and alchahol on the body. this book also outlines the structer and effects these heve on the body. Ifound this very useful in writing my research papaer on the effects of caffein on the heart. it is a good book

Buzz : The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine

Average customer rating:

Buzz : The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine
Stephen Braun
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Caffeine | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000MU8W4O

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Buzz The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine
Braun Stephen
Manufacturer: Oxford UP
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Caffeine | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000UDV1DW

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Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine
Stephen Braun
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Caffeine | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000OK284W

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Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine.
Stephen. BRAUN
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Caffeine | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000OJ1ODO

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