Please recommend book on Roman government and religion

Textkit Community Civilization and Culture of the Greeks and Romans
1

I’m reviewing to prepare for the Praxis test for Latin, to become a teacher of Latin in the US schools.

Could you recommend one or two books that cover Roman culture, and particularly that cover the following two study topics for the test?

“Be familiar with Roman government and civic life (e.g. cursus honorum, legal system, etc.)”

“Be familiar with Roman religion and religious practices (e.g. polytheism, ritual sacrifice, Lares et Penates, etc.)”

2

Fustel de Coulanges - The Ancient City

It’s a nice book on Roman culture and religion, and it has some comparisons with the Greek and Hindi religions.

3

Thank You

4

I would more recommend Religions of Rome Volume 1: A History

https://www.amazon.com/Religions-Rome-History-Mary-Beard/dp/0521316820

I reviewed it as a grad student years ago for a professor planning on using it for a course and am currently re-reading it and it is much more current than the other recommended work.

p.s. Volume 2 is a source book, so probably not quite as useful.