The splendidly evocative ruins of ancient Rome have long been a challenge to historians and archaeologists in reconstructing how it looked and functioned. It became the largest city in the western world during the imperial period, so how was the city constructed, and what were the materials used? How was it defended, supplied with food and water, and how were the people housed and entertained, and above all, how did it function? These video tracks use various famous sites such as the Baths of Caracalla and the Pantheon to answer some of these questions. This material forms part of the course AT308 Cities and technology: from Babylon to Singapore.
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Transcript -- The renewed threat of barbarian invasion led to the construction of the Aurelianic wall - the second fortification in the history of Imperial Rome.
Ostia became one of the largest provincial cities of the Roman Empire and here we look at how built-up the ancient settlement was, and the importance of river trade.
Transcript -- Ostia became one of the largest provincial cities of the Roman Empire and here we look at how built-up the ancient settlement was, and the importance of river trade.
Insulae were apartment buildings used to house the Romans. This video looks at the construction of these buildings, paying particular attention to the materials used.
Transcript -- Insulae were apartment buildings used to house the Romans. This video looks at the construction of these buildings, paying particular attention to the materials used.
Roman baths acted as urban social spaces, like the leisure centres of modern world. This video track explains the routine a Roman might go through upon visiting the baths.
Transcript -- Roman baths acted as urban social spaces, like the leisure centres of modern world. This video track explains the routine a Roman might go through upon visiting the baths.