The Roman province of Africa was one of richest in the Empire and as a result has some of the most spectacular remains. ''The Cities of Roman Africa'' examines the development of urban space and cultural life in this province from the beginnings of Roman rule in the second century BC to the fall of the province of Africa to the Vandals in AD 439. In this engaging and strikingly illustrated new book, Gareth Sears considers the incorporation of Roman culture into Africa, and its use by African populations and, in particular, their elites. The author also explores the persistence of pre-Roman cultures, and how these factors affected the evolution of the cities, intellectual life and even entertainment under the Republic and Empire. Dr. Gareth Sears is a lecturer in Roman History at the University of Birmingham. He is a specialist on Roman North Africa, and has co-directed archaeological work at the city of Cyrene in Libya for the Cyrenaica Archaeological Project.