The City of Rome

Question 1

Evidence of the Imperial City

Answer 1

thousands of textual references 
numismatics- show structures no longer there
epigraphy 
maintenance and use through ages 
urban construction/renewal 
archaeology 
excavations of forum romanum etc

Question 2

creation of imperial capital

Answer 2

balance between conservation and progression
imperial building show agendas of emperors - only real builder in period
intended audiences
challenging landscape to urbanise - 7 hills
anywhere between 1/2 million citizens - big even for now

Question 3

Augustus

Answer 3

invention of concrete - drastically changed building
transformation ‘from brick to marble’
institution of fire fighting force
propaganda - forum of augustus, temple of caesar, ara pacis
use of other styles eg greek

Question 4

Nero

Answer 4

stigma of fire and singing
takes opportunity to build massive palace
domus aurea
- really well preserved
- private lake etc
- after death society claims land and Colosseum built in its place

Question 5

Flavians

Answer 5

Colosseum - idea that new dynasty was different
romes first permanent amphitheatre
circus maximus - continued to be built upon
conquests - triumphal arches, obelisks, trajans collumn
public building- market, bathhouses, aqueducts
water as a symbol of power
building of Aurelian walls - new threats, hadnt needed a walls in centuries

Question 6

imperial palace

Answer 6

palatine hill
began by augustus, then tibrius, domitian and sep. severus
used by emperors for centuries
domitian huge renovations

Question 7

Life and Death in the Capital

Answer 7

insulae apartment blocks
street access for shops etc, living upstairs
understandable how fires were so common
additions of of public toilets
importance of imports - man-made harbour built or broken amphorae
sows how romans totally changes landscape
no burials in city walls- via appia
columbarium - huge structures for ordinary dead - good iconography