CLST 101 Chapter 1: Chapter One- The idea of Rome.docx

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: CLST 101
• Professor: Christina Zaccagnino

Document Summary

At the height of rome"s power, scholars sought to explain rome"s astonishing success. Vitruvius, writer of architect, saw it as the inevitable outcome or rome"s geographical position: as history showed the empire, rome was very inconveniently placed as a venter for a large empire. By 4th c. ad rome had become a backwater rarely visited by emperors who spent there time in palaces and cite such as milan, aquila, constantinople and nicaea, strung out along the great east- west road. Great east-west road formed the vital communication corridor across europe. All roads did not lead to rome. Point where tiber river opens up to the costal plain, the palatine hill and the capitoline hill. Its geographical location explains its prominence and exceptional growth provide easily defensible area. From end of bronze age beginning of iron age, 1000 bce. By end of 7th c. bce small villages of huts had formed together to form the 1st true urban community.