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This paper reviews Chinese studies in Roman history from 1949, the year which saw the foundation of the People’s Republic of China. It identifies three main stages: the first from 1949 to 1966, the second from 1976 to 2000, and the third from 2000 onwards. Initially Roman history was thought of as one example of slave societies, in order to justify the theory of the five modes of production. Studies were stopped in 1966, however, as the so-called Cultural Revolution started. In the second period from 1976 scholars began to understand Roman history from different perspectives. Lin Zhichun initiated discussion about the universality of the city states and some others discussed why the Roman Republic fell, but the Roman empire was almost completely ignored. In the new stage from 2000 Chinese scholars have become more familiar with international scholarship and new themes and methodologies. Above all most scholars can read Latin and Greek sources which means they can do original research, and that may change thoroughly Chinese Roman studies.

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