Perhaps my expectations were off because of the dust cover but there is not much on the Western World; but, this could serve as an introductory volume on the Romans. Richard's related works may be better in that they tie the American tradition to the Romans. Still to be preferred though is The Romans: An Introduction to Their History and Civilization by Karl Christ; and, the magisterial volume along these lines is The Classical Tradition: Greek and Roman Influences on Western Literature by Gilbert Highet.