Hello and welcome to the History Extra Podcast from BBC History magazine, Britain's best

selling history magazine.

I'm Ellie Corporn.

The killing of Julius Caesar on the Iides of March in 44 BC was among the most shocking

events of antiquity and one that changed the course of history.

Peter's dot-ards latest book, The Last Disassin, tells the story of the killing and the subsequent

hunt for the assassins, which was orchestrated by Caesar's adopted son and heir Octavian.

Here, in conversation with our production editor Spencer Misen, Peter describes how Octavian's

ruthless revenge mission led to a brutal civil war and the dawn of Rome's imperial age.

Peter, your new book The Last Disassin tells the story of the hunt for the killer's Julius

Caesar, which was one of the most turbulent periods in the history of ancient Rome.

Now, Peter, you're a former editor of the Times, you've been a distinguished career in

journalism.

Why did you decide to turn your hands to the history of the history of ancient Rome?

What is it about that period that you find most compelling?

It's what I've done all my life.

In fact, I think there are some people who think that I was, even when I was editing the

Times or being a political correspondent, I always had half a foot in ancient Rome or half

a leg or one foot maybe.

I always found it a very important and useful way of helping to understand things.

Studying the ancient world is like walking a tightrope.

You look down on one side and the world seems very similar and everybody seems to be behaving

...