Thomas L. Dynneson

An audaciously daring narrative, this text presents an overview of the early history of Rome, focusing the reader's attention to those distinctive and often hidden cultural features that contributed to create a unique ancient Roman mindset and civic outlook. Using a historical format, Dr. Dynneson addresses these cultural forces which ultimately shaped the Romans into the ancient world's most powerful military city-state. Comprised of numerous values and beliefs, the Romans sought to develop their citizens as a cohesive whole. This approach enabled a mastering of both the practical and utilitarian tactics for solving problems, an expression of classical intellectualism. Identifying this sense of idealism paralleled with the Romans embodiment of sacrifice to overcome all obstacles, the author explores several features of becoming Roman. Within this text, each section is designed to pull together the general historical elements which helped to create a unique Roman citizenship. The final section of each chapter contains further analysis, including the author's narrative regarding the general sources used, and the second containing a review of one exceptional recommended reading. The later chapters of the book provide a special section entitled: "Recent Scholarship", which explores the work of recent scholars' "revisionists" perspectives related to the traditional ancient sources Read More 

Amazon has just announced the publication of my new book related to the history of.the Roman Republic.

In the future look for my posts on the Ancient History Encyclopedia site. In the meantime I am working on a new manuscript entitled: The Making of the Roman Empire.

Today, I completed drafting Chapter 28 of my manuscript dealing with the history of the Roman Republic. What has amazed me more and more about this work is the extent that historical events and persons were used in the creation of an inventive mind, mainly the mind of Livy, but also the gullibility of Plutarch in  Read More 

My work is now centered The destruction of Rome in 390 BCE. This is fascinating work in that it is a study in arrogance, humiliation, stupidity, class conflict, and the tenents of good leadership. The problem, of course, is that it difficult to separate myth from reality or fiction from truth. The gist of the  Read More 

For several months I have been away working on various projects. Most of this last summer was spent in Minneapolis. The manuscript on Roman civism is moving along with 26 chapters in draft. I have been making timelines on some topics. Currently I am working on drafting a chapter on Camillus (see my description of  Read More 

I have not written for some time related to my manuscript related to civism during the era of the Roman Republic. The reason is that I have been reading and taking extensive notes on an almost shocking work authored by Richard E. Mitchell. Mitchell has written a revision on early Roman history that is  Read More 

After spending the summer in Minnesota, we have returned to Texas. Three chapters have been drafted and edited(Chapters Ten, Eleven, and Twelve). Chapter Eleven suggests how Egyptians vis-a-vis the Phoenicians and Carthaginians carried elements of Egyptian/Canaanite cultural elements in the western Mediterranean world. They also carried some adopted Greek cultural elements including  Read More 

Finally after several months I have completed my draft on Magna Graecia. This chapter while long and descriptive reveals that Rome was greatly influenced by the Greeks who were well-established in living near or in their backyard, so to speak. The main contribution of the Greeks was to provide the Romans with the inclination  Read More 

Today I completed Chapter Nine that focuses on Etruscan influences on the urbanization of Rome. This is the first chapter in Part III of my manuscript. The Etruscans were a very mysterious, but advanced people who tended to reflect elements of a Maritine international culture that they carried to surrounding tribes including the Latins.  Read More