These books to start:

[link|http://www.amazon.com/First-Man-Rome-Masters/dp/0099462486/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1260530-7808047?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178799290&sr=1-1|http://www.amazon.co...1178799290&sr=1-1]

or

[link|http://www.amazon.com/Caesar-Masters-Rome-Colleen-McCullough/dp/0099460432/ref=pd_bbs_3/002-1260530-7808047?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178799290&sr=1-3|http://www.amazon.co...1178799290&sr=1-3]

I read First Man when it came out and I would recommend it.