How did a single village in Italy grow to become a world-class imperial power? This introduction, a new and shorter version of the authors' The Romans: From Village to Empire, is an inviting guide to the stages of Rome's remarkable political and military evolution over 1,500 years - through monarchy, republic, and then empire. With extensive illustrations, maps, and excerpts from writings by Romans themselves, this is a book that leaves its readers informed and eager to learn more.