History Extra podcast Secrets of the Romans' spectacular success
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Jan 12, 2026 Edward Watts, a Professor of history and author specializing in Roman history, dives into the remarkable ascent of Rome from a simple settlement to the world's greatest empire. He explores the intriguing personalities of Caligula and Nero, debates the reality of Pax Romana, and highlights Rome's unique blend of adaptability and conservatism. Watts also discusses the paradox of slavery, the surprising political influence of women, and the reasons behind Rome's lasting legacy and its eventual fragmentation.
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Start Of Rome Anchored In Archaeology
- Rome's origins date to the 8th century BC at the Palatine Hill where archaeological traces confirm an early settlement.
- Edward Watts begins the Roman story there because it gives a concrete, evidence-backed starting point rather than mythic dates like 753 BC.
1204 Marks Institutional Break
- Watts picks 1204 as the end of a continuous Roman state because the Fourth Crusade shattered the institutional core that conferred imperial legitimacy.
- After 1204 multiple successor polities claimed Roman legacy but none held complete institutional continuity back to the Palatine origins.
Citizenship As Rome's Glue
- Legitimacy and a sense of citizenship run as a continuous thread through Rome's 2,000-year history.
- Watts argues Roman rulers were seen as citizens serving under laws and accountable to fellow Romans, which sustained institutional identity across eras.
