The History of Literature 764 Two Thousand Years of Roman History (with Edward J. Watts) | My Last Book with Nathan Hensley
Jan 5, 2026
Edward J. Watts, a historian and professor at UC San Diego, shares insights from his book on Rome's 2,000-year history. He discusses how Rome's enduring legacy stemmed from its integration of diverse cultures and institutions, while tracing its improbable rise from a small settlement. Watts delves into the role of storytelling and literature in shaping Roman identity, along with the critical factors leading to Rome's eventual decline. Nathan Hensley also joins to reveal his choice for the last book he'd read, Shakespeare's collected works, sparking a conversation on impactful literature.
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Long View Reveals Hidden Continuities
- Edward Watts argues periodization obscures long-term continuities in Roman history.
- A 2,000-year narrative recovers cultural and individual continuities lost by slicing history into periods.
Openness Was Rome's Strategic Advantage
- Rome's core strength was cultural openness: it incorporated outsiders as full members.
- This policy of absorbing talent and identities persisted across centuries and underpinned expansion.
Assimilation, Not Erasure
- Rome routinely adopted foreign technologies, institutions, and religions and assimilated them into Roman identity.
- Conquered peoples kept their histories while becoming part of a larger Roman narrative.
