Essential reading for the RTW period

[Barkhorn1x]

With the game imminent, what books should all self respecting RTW players have read?

I ask, as I have never read a book on the Roman Empire!!

For fiction, you can start w/ Colleen McCullough's series from 110BCE to 36(?)BCE;
The First Man in Rome
The Grass Crown
Fortunes Favorites
Caesars's Women
Caesar, a Novel
The October Horse

Just be prepared for politics.

Barkhorn.