Interpreting the Visual Evidence
Roman Urban Planning
Prior to Roman imperial
expansion, most cities
in the ancient world
were not planned
cities with the exception
of the new settlements established
by Alexander the Great, notably Alexandria
in Egypt. Rome itself was not carefully
planned, but grew up over many
centuries, expanding outward and up
the slopes of its seven hills from the
nucleus of the Forum. By the time of
Augustus, it was a haphazard jumble of
buildings and narrow streets. Outside
of Rome, however, the efficiency of
Roman government was in large part
due to the uniformity of imperial urban
planning. As their colonial reach expanded,
Romans sought to ensure that travelers
moving within their vast domain would
encounter the same amenities in every
major city. They also wanted to convey,
through the organization of the urban
landscape, the ubiquity of Roman authority
and majesty.
Images
Questions for Analysis
1. fiogf49gjkf0d fiogf49gjkf0d Looking closely at the map of Rome
(map A), how have topographical
features—like the river Tiber and the
seven hills— determined the shape and
layout of the city? What are the major
buildings and public areas? What
were the functions of these spaces,
and what do they reveal about Roman
society and values? |
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2. fiogf49gjkf0d fiogf49gjkf0d Compare the plan of Rome to those
of Roman London (map C) and Jerusalem
(map B). What features do all
three have in common, and why?
What features are unique to each
place, and what might this reveal
about the different regions of the
empire and the needs of the different
cities’ inhabitants? |
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3. fiogf49gjkf0d fiogf49gjkf0d Given that all Roman cities share certain
features, what message(s) were
Roman authorities trying to convey
to inhabitants and travelers through
urban planning? Why, for example,
would they have insisted on rebuilding
Jerusalem as a Roman city after the
rebellion of 135 c.e.? |
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