Rome and Persia: The Seven Hundred Year Rivalry (opens in new tab)

A sweeping narrative of the two incredibly powerful neighboring empires, Adrian Goldsworthy takes his readers behind the scenes as Rome and Persia vie for control. The book covers the period between roughly 100 BCE and 700 CE and traces the contact and conflict between its two subject states. Drawing on sources from both empires with as much evenness as the records allow, Goldsworthy does a tremendous job impartially demonstrating his respect for this period in history.