Die römische Stadt

With the expansion of the Roman Empire, a type of city emerged that can still be recognized at the core of many cities today. From Britain to North Africa, urban planning was influenced by guidelines from Rome, while also taking into account the individual needs of each city. Paul Zanker provides an overview in this book of the complex history of the Roman city from the time of the Republic to the High Empire.

This history began in Rome, although paradoxically, the capital of the Roman Empire cannot itself be considered a typical Roman city. It had grown over centuries and therefore did not conform to the strictly geometric layout that was prescribed for newly founded cities in Rome. However, it was in Rome that the most important building types were developed, which would also shape the character of other cities: from the Forum and the Capitol to the Basilica, the theater, and the arena, as well as the ever-popular baths and residential buildings. Paul Zanker describes the political, social, and economic influences that shaped the form of Roman cities. His book thus offers a lucid guide to understanding the origins of numerous European cities.