Period 7 · 753 BCE-476 CE

Ancient Rome

Rome borrowed from the Greeks and the Etruscans, then built on a scale no one had tried: concrete domes, aqueducts striding across valleys, paved roads from Britain to Syria and an arena for tens of thousands. These guides show how the Romans did it, and where you can still walk through what they built.

The illuminated Colosseum in Rome beneath a deep blue evening sky. — Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

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Roman Architecture: What Made It Different?

Concrete, arches and a whole range of building types: what set Roman architecture apart from the Greek temple.Start here5 min read

Roman Arch: How It Works, and Did Rome Invent It?

Wedge-shaped stones, sideways thrust and strong piers: how the Roman arch works, and who built arches first.5 min read

What Was the Purpose of the Colosseum?

Games, gifts and a seating plan of Roman society: what the Colosseum was for, from 80 CE to 438.3 min read

Roman City Planning: Was Every Town a Grid? No

Cardo, decumanus and a forum in the middle: how Romans planned towns like Timgad, and why Rome itself never fitted.4 min read

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All Ancient Rome guides

Roman Architecture: What Made It Different?

Concrete, arches and a whole range of building types: what set Roman architecture apart from the Greek temple.5 min read