The Cambridge Companion to the Roman Republic examines all aspects of Roman history and civilization from 509-49 BC. These centuries produced the classic republican political system and the growth of a world empire. They also witnessed the ultimate disintegration of this system under the relentless pressure of internal dissention and boundless ambition of its leading politicians. In this Companion volume, distinguished European and American scholars present a variety of lively, current approaches to understanding the political, military, and social aspects of Roman history, as well as its literary and visual culture.