Books on Roman History

[Mahmud Ghaznavi]

Now I know that Edward Gibbon is an authority on Rome but his magnum opus is about the fall of the Roman Empire.

Are there any old or contemporary writers or scholars who have written on the rise of the Roman republic, the coming into being of the Empire and so on? If anyone can recommend some critically acclaimed works, it would be really appreciated!

For those interested in Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall, this is the best version available online:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Decline-Fa...2144660&sr=1-8

http://www.amazon.com/Decline-Fall-R.../ref=pd_cp_b_0