What did it take to rule an empire that was never meant to have an emperor?
In this second episode of our series on the Roman Empire, we're joined by classicist Mary Beard to trace how Roman leadership evolved over a thousand years - from the competitive power-sharing of the Republic, to the carefully constructed one-man rule of Augustus. Why did the republican system buckle under its own success? And what set the empire on the path to fragmentation?
Up Next in Dan Snow's History Hit
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The Rise Of The Ancient Roman Empire ...
How did a cluster of Iron Age huts grow into one of history's greatest civilisations?
In the first episode of our series on the Roman Empire, we're joined by Dr. Simon Elliott to trace Rome's rise - from its humble origins on the banks of the Tiber to the moment Augustus became the first Empero...
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How the SAS Hijacked A Fascist Train ...
Today, we uncover a forgotten SAS mission straight out of a war thriller: an elite unit jumps the chain of command and hijacks a 'pirate train', turning it into a weapon against fascist Italy. Their goal? To launch a surprise attack deep behind enemy lines on an Italian concentration camp and fre...
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Dan Snow Explains: Battle of Brunanbu...
Dan explains the Battle of Brunanburh, an epic clash that decided the fate of the British Isles. On one side, the forces of King Æthelstan, fighting for his vision for a unified England; on the other, a massive ‘anti-Wessex’ coalition of Vikings, Scots and Celts, determined to stop the English pr...
