Marin is a writer who specializes in Roman Republican history and classical influences in American politics, and she has written this account of the last century of the Roman Empire to highlight the possible reasons for its decline. Written for scholars, students and historians, this volume emphasizes the importance of Caesar's assassination as a catalyst for the failure of the Roman Empire. The author also provides a chronology of the First Century BCE as well as maps of the Roman Empire. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)