If you spent time on social media last year you might have run across a new trend where women ask the men in their lives how often they think about the Roman Empire. Many of them mention thinking about the Roman army, gladiators, Julius Caesar, and Marcus Aurelius. The Roman Empire is often viewed as this incredibly masculine and manly period, but the empire’s history is more than battles and famous men. 

A Rome of One’s Own: The Forgotten Women of the Roman Empire tells us a new story—one where women take center stage. Written by historian and author Emma Southon, A Rome of One’s Own explores the history of Rome through the eyes of 21 women. From queens to poets to rebels, Southon’s retelling writes women back into more than a millennium of Roman history.