Rome

LOCATION
• Emerging from a small agricultural community in central Italy, the city
of Rome was traditionally founded in 753 BC.
• In 509 BC it became a Republic, whose power grew until it embraced the
entire Mediterranean world.
• The Republic collapsed in bloody civil war during the First Century BC, and
in 27 BC the history of Rome entered a new phase with the founding of
the Empire.
• The city of Rome is located in central Italy, but the empire it came to rule
covered the entire Mediterranean basin, together with much of western
Europe.
• At its greatest extent in stretched from present-day northern England to
southern Egypt, and from the Atlantic coast of Portugal to the Iraqi shores
of the Persian Gulf.
• Rome’s location in central Italy placed it squarely within a cultural
environment dominated by a cluster of interlinked Mediterranean
civilizations, the most famous of these was that of the ancient greeks.
• In its early centuries Rome was particularly influenced by the powerful
Etruscan civilization to its north, from which it acquired many aspects of
its culture.
• As Rome’s reach extended throughout the Italian peninsula it came into
direct contact with the Greek cities to the south.
• From then on Greek influence would become an increasingly important
element within Roman life. However, the Romans would give Greek
culture their own slant, giving it a new grandeur which can be seen in
Roman remains throughout the empire.
AD 200,Extent of the roman empire
Source: ancienthistory.about.com

MAPS:
Ancient Rome 30 BC.
The Roman Empire AD200. The Roman Empire AD500
Ancient Rome 200 BC.
Source: www.timemaps.com

MAPS: SHOWINGEXPANSION
• In the 200 BC Rome became the leading power in western Mediterranean.
• In 30 BC ancient Rome dominates the Mediterranean.
• In AD 500 the roman empire now overrun by the German tribes in the west ,the empire has now decreased in size however cultural
influence remains the same.
• EXPANSION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE:
Expansion of the roman power Expansion during republic
Map of extent of roman empire
Source: www.timemaps.com

IMPACTOF CITY PLANNINGIN NEIGHBORINGSTATES
• Elements of modern city planning can be traced to Roman concepts.
• The Romans engaged in extensive city-building activities as they consolidated their
empire.
• Roman military and colonial towns were laid out in a variation of highly planned
grid.
• Developments in the architecture of fortification, relating to compact space and fast
manoeuvrability, and the discovery of perspective, focusing the description on the
eye of the viewer, led to radial focus in city plans and the development of ideal town
plans.
• Many European cities, like London and Paris , sprang from these Roman origins.
• Similarly, in Washington DC , building designs were derived from Roman styles
(Reid, 1998).
• The legacy of Rome has clearly left lasting impacts on numerous aspects of modern
society. Many things in everyday life can be traced to Roman origins, such as
components of language, architecture, art, and Western government. The
implications of Roman influences in today's society are clearly significant and far
reaching.
Source: www.danxner.com

SIGNIFICANCE
• The Romans are still remembered today, including names such as Julius
Caesar, Cicero, and Augustus.
• Ancient Roman society contributed greatly to government, law, politics,
engineering, art, literature, architecture, technology, warfare, religion,
language, society and more in the Western world.
• Rome greatly expanded its military and created a system of government
called res public, the inspiration for modern republics such as the United
States and France.
• It achieved impressive technological and architectural feats, such as the
construction of an extensive system of aqueducts and roads, as well as
large monuments, palaces, and public facilities.
Aqueduct: Pont tu gard Roman street in pompeii

SIGNIFICANCE
• Ancient Roman architecture adopted many different aspects of Ancient Greek architecture,
creating new architectural style.
• Etruscan neighbors and forefathers supplied them with a wealth of knowledge essential for
future architectural solutions, such as hydraulics in the construction of arches.
• The Romans absorbed the Greek Architectural influence both directly (e.g. Magna Grecia) and
indirectly , the influence is evident in many ways; for example, in the introduction and use of
the Triclinium in Roman villas as a place and manner of dining.
• The Ancient Romans were responsible for significant developments in housing and public
hygiene, for example their public and private baths and latrines, under-floor heating in the form
of the hypocaust, mica glazing (examples in Ostia Antica, and piped hot and cold water.
• Ancient Rome is known to have had elaborated, massive and beautiful houses and buildings.
An Insula dating from early 2nd
century AD
Remains of baths of trajan

HISTORICALBACKGROUND
• Rome is one of the oldest named cities in the world.
• The history of Rome spans 2,766 years.
• It grew from a small Latin village in the 8th century BC into the
centre of a vast civilization that dominated the Mediterranean
region for centuries.
• Ancient Rome was founded by the two brothers, Romulus and
Remus. The legend claims that, in an argument over who would
rule the city Romulus killed Remus and named the city after
himself.
• Rome became the capital of a reunited Italy in the late 19th
century.
• During these twelve centuries, the Roman government evolved
from a kingdom to a republic, and finally to an empire.
• Greek culture and civilization, which came to Rome via Greek
colonies to the south.
• The Etruscans, to the north, provided a model for trade and
urban luxury.
• Etruria was also well situated for trade and the early Romans
either learned the skills of trade from Etruscan.
• The Kingdom of Rome grew rapidly from a trading town to a
prosperous city between the 8th and 6th centuries BCE.
• The end of Roman history, was in 476 A.D. when the last
emperor of Rome surrendered Italy to king Odoacer.
Rome Timeline
Roman Kingdom and Republic
753 BC
According to legend, Romulus founds
Rome.
753–509 BC Rule of the seven Kings of Rome.
509 BC Creation of the Republic.
390 BC The Gauls invade Rome. Rome sacked.
264-146 BC Punic Wars.
146-44 BC
Social and Civil Wars. Emergence
of Marius,Sulla, Pompey and Caesar.
44 BC Julius Caesar assassinated.

Date Event
753 BC Rome is founded
Rome was founded by Romulus. Romulus was the first of the seven Roman kings. The original name of Rome was Roma.
509 BC Rome becomes a Republic
The last king is expelled and Rome is now ruled by senators. There is a constitution with laws and Rome becomes a complex
republican government.
218 BC Hannibal invades Italy
Hannibal leads the Carthage army to attack Italy. This becomes part of the Second Punic War.
45 BC Julius Caesar becomes the first dictator of Rome
Julius Caesar defeats Pompey in a civil war. He becomes the supreme ruler of Rome. This is the end of the Roman Republic.
He hires Sosigenes, an Egyptian astronomer, to work out a new 12 month calendar.
44 BC Julius Caesar is assassinated
Julius Caesar is assassinated on the Ides of March by Marcus Brutus. They hope to bring back the republic, but civil war
breaks out instead.
27 BC Roman Empire begins
Octavius appoints himself "Augustus", which means the first emperor.
64 Much of Rome burns
Nero set fire to Rome and blames the Christians for it.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

80 Colosseum is built
The Colosseum was built in 80 AD. The completion of the Colosseum was celebrated with 100 days of games. The
Romans invade Scotland.
122 Hadrian Wall is built
The Hadrian Wall was built in 122 AD. It was a long wall built across northern England in an effort to keep the barbarians
out.
306 Constantine becomes Emperor in 306 AD
Rome becomes a Christian empire. Before this, Rome persecuted the Christians. Constantius dies. His son Constantine is
the new vice-emperor of Galerius.
380 Christianity
Theodosius I proclaims Christianity as the sole religion of the Roman Empire in 380 AD.
395 Rome splits
In 395 AD, Rome split into two empires - the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire. Each side had a
ruler in charge of it. The Roman Empire was split by Theodosius.410 The Visigoths sack Rome
This was the first time in 800 years that the city of Rome has fallen to an enemy. It was a huge uproar.
476 End of the Western Roman Empire and the fall of Ancient Rome
The last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus is defeated by the German Goth Odoacer. This is the start of the Dark Ages in
Europe.
1453 The Byzantine Empire ends

HISTORICALBACKGROUND
Sources:-
• http://www.worldology.com/Europe/roman_dominance.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Rome
• http://www.ancient.eu.com/Rome/

Geography/naturalresources
• The Apennine Mountain stretches from north to south.
• The three major water bodies surrounding Italy are
the Adriatic sea, the Ionian sea and the Mediterranean sea.
• The Tiber river cut through the central Italy.
• Romans developed many trade routes to other regions in the
Mediterranean region.
• Greece is only 50 miles away, across the Adriatic Sea, and Africa
is only 100 miles from the west coast of Sicily.
• SOURCE:
http://smithslatin.weebly.com/uploads/5/3/8/2/5382199/geography_of_ancien
t_rome0001.pdf

Culture and it impacton Architectureand City Planning
The culture of ancient Rome existed throughout the almost 1200-year history of
the civilization of Ancient Rome.
Language:
The native language of the Romans was Latin.
Religion:
Unlike in Greek mythology, the gods were not personified, but were vaguely
defined sacred spirits called numina.
 Romans also believed that every person, place or thing had its own genius, or
divine soul.
Art and literature:
Roman painting styles show Greek influences, and surviving examples are
primarily frescoes used to adorn the walls and ceilings of country villas, though
Roman literature includes mentions of paintings on wood, ivory, and other
materials.
 Several examples of Roman painting have been found at Pompeii, and from
these art historians divide the history of Roman painting into four periods.
Cuisine:
Ancient Roman cuisine changed over the
long duration of this ancient civilization.
Dietary habits were affected by :
the influence of Greek culture,
the political changes from kingdom to republic to empire,
and empire's enormous expansion, which exposed Romans to many new,
provincial culinary habits and cooking techniques.
Dionysiac Frieze,Villa of the Mysteries,
Pompeii, Second Style, 60-50 BC
A still life with fruit basket and vases (Pompeii, c. AD 70).

Politicalbackground(Architectureand Planning reflecting
politicalsystems)w.r.t politicalrelations to other states
Etruscan and early Roman:
• In sixth century, under the influence of Greek and other traders, houses of Greek
megaron type seem to have appeared, to be followed by larger houses for the richer
people in the community.
• Temples began to show Greek influence in having buildings within the enclosure to
house the god or cult image.
Late Republican and Early Imperial Roman: (early 2nd century BC)
Architecturally, the changes might be summarized as an introduction to
• New proportions relating to use of materials
• The adoption of the Classical Greek orders
• Wide spread use of vaulted and domed forms.
Later Imperial Roman:
• The principal innovations of the next century were in spatial planning and were made
possible by mastery of concrete for vaulting.
• Alongside these developments there were further changes in town planning.
• The beginning made by Augustus on construction of forum was carried further.
Aula Palatina (Basilica), Trier (Germany), Roman, Late
Imperial period, c. 310 AD
Source: book of history of architecture part1

Technologicalachievementand its reflection in planning
• The roman empire had one of the most advanced set of technologies of its time,
some of which was lost during the turbulent eras of late antiquity and the early
middle ages.
• Gradually, some of the technological feats of the Romans were rediscovered
and/or improved upon, while others went ahead of what the Romans had done
during the middle ages and the beginning of the modern era.
• Several Roman technological feats in different areas like civil engineering,
construction materials, transport technology, and some inventions such as the
mechanical reaper, were surprising achievements until the 19th century, and
some, such as the arch, have remained untouched to this day.
• The Romans achieved high levels of technology in some part because they
borrowed from and absorbed the culture of the established people of the
Mediterranean basin
Engineering
• The biggest and probably the most important engineering feat the Romans
achieved was the construction of aqueducts.
• These aqueducts were used for two crucial purposes among others, water supply
and water flow out.
• Water for everyday use for private and public washrooms, fountains, etc., was
diverted in from nearby rivers and lakes, and the waste water (primarily sewage)
from the city was channeled out to far-away water bodies.
• These aqueducts later formed the technical base for the invention and use of
artificial canals and piped-water supply.

•The Romans brought in the concept of building domes - a spacious and
inexpensive alternative to the tedious number of columns needed to support a
heavy roof.
• The Romans also discovered concrete - a faster drying and waterproof material
than the concrete used earlier.
• The traditional concrete mix of limestone and sand was mixed with pozzolana (a
form of ash-sand material found near volcanoes).
•This new mix was stronger, more reliable, cemented quickly, and could be molded
into any shape required.
ARCHITECTURE
It is not for nothing that it is said "Rome was not built in a day." It clearly took years of
brainstorming and planning to make the city the most visitable brand.
Roman architectural grandiose did not stay limited to Rome. It expanded to Italy, Spain,
Austria, Portugal, and even England.
The Romans combined their aesthetics with those of their neighbors - the Greeks and
Etruscans, to form a completely new style of architecture, which has come to be known as
'Ancient Roman Architecture'.
The Colosseum, built between 72 AD - 80 AD, is often considered as the finest manifestation
of the enormity of Roman architectural mindset. It was used for gladiatorial battles and other
public events.

Architectural character of the cities
• Ancient Roman architecture adopted many different aspects of
Ancient Greek architecture, creating a new architectural style
• The Romans absorbed the Greek Architectural .
• The Romans were also known to employ Greek craftsmen and
engineers to construct Roman buildings..
• The aqueducts of Rome, the Baths of Diocletian and the Baths of
Caracalla, the basilicas and Colosseum are the examples of famous
works in construction
HOUSING:
• The Ancient Romans were responsible for significant developments in
housing and public hygiene, for example their public and private baths
and latrines, under-floor heating in the form of the hypocaust, mica
glazing (examples in Ostia Antica), and piped hot and cold water
(examples in Pompeii and Ostia).
• Windows were mostly small, facing the street, with iron security bars.
External walls were in "Opus Reticulatum" and interiors in "Opus
Incertum", which would then be plastered and sometimes painted.
Source :www.romanarchitecture.com

FAMOUSSTRUCTURES:
Roman theatres have specific differences,
such as being built upon their own
foundations instead of earthen works or a
hillside .
Theatres & Amphitheatres
The triumphal arch, with a single,
double, or triple for entrance.
Triumphal arch Basilicas
The inside of a basilica a big hall
column down the sides to make aisles
and floor of different type of marble

ARCHANDDOME:
• The principal building materials of ancient Rome were stone and
concrete.
• The dome permitted construction of vaultedceilings without
crossbeams and provided large covered public space such as
baths and basilicas.
• The Romans were the first civilization to fully exploit arched
construction, in which a roof is supported by arches (as opposed
to post-and-beam construction, in which a roof sits directly on
columns)
OTHER FEATURES:
• Urban divisions were originally street blocks, and later began to
divide into smaller divisions, the word insula referring to both
blocks and smaller divisions.
• The insula contained , storage rooms under the stairs, and lower
floor shops.
• cenaculum, an apartment, divided into three individual rooms:
cubiculum, exedra, and medianum .
• Common Roman apartments were mainly masses of smaller and
larger structures, many with narrow balconies that present
mysteries as to their use, having no doors to access them.

Evolutionof planning w.r.t examples of differenttowns
• Rome is one of the oldest cities in the world and it has a particular urban development
during its historical evolution.
• According to legend Rome was founded in 753 BC on seven hills.
• The city headed to decline during the Middle ages after the fall of the holy Roman
Empire. Depopulation greatly reduced the number of inhabitants who concentrated
near the river banks.
• However, during the 15th-17th centuries, Rome regained its luster as the popes were
engaged in improving the city conditions as a mark of their power.
• In the late 18th century after the Italian unification , Rome became the capital of Italy.
This implied a proper urban revolution and development.
• The typical Roman city of the later Republic and empire had a rectangular plan and
resembled a Roman military camp with two main streets:
1.The Cardo (north-south)
2.The Decumanus (east-west)
• Older cities, such as Rome itself, founded before the adoption of regularized city
planning however, consisted of a maze of crooked streets.
The typical features found in roman city planning are - forums, basilicas, Roman
temples, commemorative structures, paved roads, public baths, aqua ducts.
• The forum, an open area bordered by colonnades with shops, functioned as the chief
meeting place of the town.
• It was also the site of the city's primary religious and civic buildings, among them the
Senate house, records office, and basilica.

Town planning:example1 - POMPEII
• Many of its building can be dated more or less roughly by the style of
their ornament or material used.
• Pompeii is an irregular oval area of 160 acres planted on small natural
hill and has stone wall nearly 2 miles in circumference.
• Original access to sea on west side and walls have disappeared.
• It has forum with principle temples and public buildings around it.
• At east side from west extremity nearly 1200yds is the amphitheatre.
• Two main streets now called as strada di nola and strada dell cross the
town from sw to ne and and other from nw to se.Third main street
was strada stabiana which conects from vesuvian to stabian gate.
• There is symmetry in streets and hardly any right angle found on
streets corner.
SOURCE : ancient town planning pdf

• Region vi fits very ill with region i and iii, bt both indicates
systematic planing as vi has oblong blocks 11oft wide and
310ft long and i and iii are made approximately square of
200ft.
• Town planing of pompeii is trapezoidal bt not retangular.
• The city was has logical grid line plan that was divided
into several zoned sections –
• the main roads named the upper and lower
decumanus and cardo maxiumus.
• Sections were zoned as our own cities are today, with a
forum (civic areas and shopping centers,) residential
quadrants, entertainment areas with theaters and
amphitheaters and combined areas.
• The city plan is evolved from both greek and etruscan
culture's plans
THE WALLS OF POMPEII:
• The city was surrounded by defensive walls throughout
the history of it.
• These defensive walls had 8 gateways which were
decorated with statues to impress the visitors and 12
watchtowers.
• The wall was double stone structure which ran from 3 ½
kms around the town. The space between the double
stone walls was filled with rubble.
SOURCE : AD79 eruption

ROADSOFPOMPEII:
•The town was planned in grid system.
•These girds were marked by roads.
•“Decumani” were the roads that ran east to west while “Cardines”
were the roads that ran north to south.
•These roads met at right angles. Shrines and water fountains were
often placed at these cross roads.
•Even in Pompeii on can find the roads made by using roman technique
with polygonal blocks and footpath on both sides.
•The roads were sloping towards the sides allowing excess water to
drain off. Footpath were higher in level and there were stepping stones
to keep one’s fee off the debris. These stepping stones had gaps so
wheels of cart would pass.
Source: en.wikipedia.org, dogsofpompeii.com,
plansandstreetcapeinformation.pdf,
townplanninginpompeiiandherculaneum.pdf

WATERSUPPLY
• The early inhabitants of Pompeii mainly depended on river samo and deep wells for there
water supply.
• At the time of Augustus, the imperial aqueduct at Misenum had a branch Serino aqueduct
which was built to supply Pompeii.
• The water from this duct went to the main tank near Vesuvian gate from were in siphoned
off into three main pipes that fed different areas of the city like latrines, baths, public
fountains and private homes. Since the health hazards were unknown lead pipes were used.
WATER TOWER OR MAIN
TANK (castellum aquae)
Public
baths
Public Fountains
(42)
Private homes and
Latrines
Three main
lend pipesSerino aqueduct
(Aqua Augusta)
Source: panoramio.com freephotooftheday.com, plansandstreetcapeinformation.pdf,
townplanninginpompeiiandherculaneum.pdf

FORUMOFPOMPEII
• When the city of Pompeii was first founded the Forum was a small market, and it achieved its definitive size
during the course of second century B.C.
• It was situated at the unction of two important roads routes that linked Pompeii to Naples, Nola, and
Stabiae.
• Though the forum was on the outskirts of the city it still played important role in the political , religious and
economic life of the city.
A- municipal buildings
B-Basilica
C-temple of Apollo
D-the grain market and
warehouse
E-honorary arches
F-temple of Jupiter
G-food market
H-sanctuary of lares Publici
I- temple of Vespasian
J-building of Eumachia
K-wool market
Source: www.ancientworlds.net, dogsofpompeii.com

• Triumphal arch (herculaneum arch)
• Situated on northwest side of city walls.
• It consists of 3 passageways, the central one for vehicles while the two flanking
archways for pedestrians.
• Served as entrance to the town.
• Arch is made with mixture of brick and lava stone.
The examples of residences in pompeii are
The house of surgeon and house of pansa.
• Situated on east side of the via consolare about 50 metres inside
theherculaneum gate.
• Named after the wide range of surgical instruments found in one of the rooms.
•Most ancient dwelling of pompeii.
• It is an irregular quadrilateral because it exactly fits in the plot on which it is built.
• This is organized around a central space or atrium that admitted fresh air and
light to surrounding rooms.
• A portico or a porch at the rear portion opened into the small garden.
• Positioned between these two elements was the tablinium

HOUSE OF PANSA.
• The typical atrium style house of pompeii was fronted by
the shops.
• The structure usually housed a main house was rented
out.
• Vestibulum was a thin passageway that led into the
atrium (8) in which the an open skylight above the atrium
caught fresh water.
• A similar open air peristyle courtyard was located further
in and the bedrooms, dining room, bathrooms, kitchen
and other service areas radiated out from.
• A vegetable garden in addition to the flower garden
provided fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Atrium style houses were apartment houses and
commercial districts combined into one structure.
• They were investment for wealthy owners.

Town planning: Herculaneum
• Herculaneum, like its larger neighbor Pompeii, was buried by the
eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. and not rediscovered until the
1700s.
Source: http://www.pompeiiinpictures.com/pompeiiinpictures/Maps/maps%20bay%20of%20naples.htm

• Followed the classical layout of Greek towns.
• Narrow, Straight streets dividing the town into
blocks (insulae).
• Less Traffic on the Roads.
• Better drainage and Sewarage systems
Plan of Herculaneum

• Basilica Noniana
At the northern extreme of Cardo III, the western wall of the
basilica has been excavated.
• The wall decoration is in Fourth Style with a frieze depicting the
deeds of Hercules with Greek captions.
• The basilica had a rich collection of statues of the family of M.
Nonius Balbus
http://vico.wikispaces.com/Public+Buildings

Main features
• Fauces
• Atrium
• Tablinum
• Ala
• Cubiculum
• Triclinium
• Peristyle
Faun - Entrance Faun - Peristyle
Faun - Atrium
Faun - Alexander Mosaic Faun - 1st peristyle towards Atria
http://vico.wikispaces.com/Private+Buildings

Review
• With the increase of wealth and population, the ancient Romans had to find architectural solutions
to deal with these increases. The Ancient Romans took influences from the Greeks in their
architectural works.
• The Colosseum and Amphitheatres were primararily used to :-
1) entertain the masses
2) pronounced power and exemplified dominance through sacrifices of men through battles with
animals.
• Temples and Basilicas, the bridges and aqueducts within played important roles in the empire
unification. Roads and bridges eased communication around the large empire. The temples and
Basilicas were located in the center of the city. The two main reasons for building roads was to
facilitate trade and movement of the Roman Army.
• Over the course of the period, the Ancient Romans believed that public buildings should be made to
impress and used as a public function. A prime example of one of these type buildings is the
Pantheon.
• Insulae, or multi-story apartment blocks, during the time period accommodated many people. They
often were several floors in height. Each of these apartments had their own terrace and private
entrance.

Rome

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