Mary Beard on SPQR: The History of Ancient Rome

The Cambridge professor Mary Beard launched S.P.Q.R., A History of Ancient Rome, with massive fanfare. Come discover why she’s considered one of the world’s foremost classicists and why you’ll never think of Julius Caesar, Cicero or Nero in the same way again. Recorded November 10, 2015.

[KRISTIANITY_]

She's such an amazing personality, every bit as deeply knowledgeable about Rome as any other highly regarded scholar, yet not in the least overly dignified and soaked in pomposity. Mary Beard is truly the historian to revive THE PEOPLE of Rome, and not just those who assassinated each other up on the Palatine. Thank you for uploading the lecture.

[inkcap]

as a stone mason and some one who works in the heritage industry i have to say that mary is the most informative interesting and knowledgeable lady i have ever had the privilege to watch and listen to, and makes the subject of classics understandable to the layman, and like me understandable to the layman with a keen interest in history. thankyou mary beard .

[jc.connor]

Fabulous. I could listen to Mary all day. So engaging.

[hallets]

Mary explains things so even a peanut would understand it. "Togas up, pants down, everybody shitting together" Can't get a better description that that. I love this woman.

[SerDunk]

Her documentaries are SO great! Highly recommend them :)

[lightningplasma]

I love Mary's roman history documentaries. Mary has this ability, through her narrative,  to transport you back in time to the roman world. thanks Mary

[AmericanShia]

Thanks for posting this video. Prof. Mary Beard is an excellent scholar, writer, and lecturer.

[DM-kvkj]

Mary makes the finest, most carefully studied and well-presented documentaries on ancient Rome in the world. Like Carl Sagan in presenting his series, Cosmos, the genuine passion and carefully studied knowledge and humanity comes through in her presentation a sadly extremely rare skill these days as most documentaries are overblown junk full of vague facts, poorly understood and focused almost entirely on "epic" (ie, annoying) music, special effects and some airhead presenter more concerned with trying to look cool than with actual connection with the audience and real teaching.

[pxus]

Thank you for uploading this lecture, Mary Beard is one of the best Roman historians in my opinion. Although... I wish you would have shown us the ring.

[northrupnb]

Fantastic! The book is highly readable. No wonder she is such a beloved figure-so down to earth.

[Eddy-b]

Her love and passion for Rome makes her documentaries so beautiful.

[BonanzaRoad]

Excellent lecture...and SPQR is a fascinating, well written and compelling book...

[rickbruno]

A wonderful, fun and informative lecture! It would have been nice to see Scipio's ring, though.

[n.l.vannstallings]

I'm so proud of her and everything she has accomplished. I would absolutely love to travel with her. Mary, thank you for giving the common people of history a voice.

[barbarab]

I LOVE her, she would be my dream dinner guest! and Terry Jones

[erinb]

♥️ you Mary. I'm not big on lectures of any sort but can't stop watching. Absolutely ♥️ your Meet the Romans series.. we need more, plz, plz, plz..

[darkfuture]

Mary is absolutely brilliant as ever and the sound recording is good quality. A little miffed that at 41 minutes in she discusses at length the discovery of an emperor's ring and when she says 'and here it is', we do not get to see it. I resisted making any crude jokes here.

[richardstevens]

Love the lecture, no image of the ring was a bit a of disappointment.

[boxorfurnace]

After reading her book, SPQR, I spent a couple of weeks traveling around the back roads of Rome looking at the “living history” that still exists all over that town. Thanks Mary!

[Temujin]

This woman is my absolute favourite historian. She's the reason I aspire to be one