Roman roads & city planning: David Macaulay's movie, Roman City

Genuine Roman road
Originally uploaded by cyclingshepherd.

Notes from Macaulay's Roman City:

- Vesuvius 79 AD. Pompeii, Herculaneum.
Ash, gas and volcanic mud.
- Roman empire: 3 continents.
- City's walls: dif between culture & chaos.
Forum, temples, theaters.

- Princes Romulus & Remus on the Tiber River.
300 AD, height of the Empire.
Pop: over 1 M. World’s largest city.

- Example of the Roman grid system: Nimes, southern France.
France / Gaul: conquered by Julius Caesar. New Roman cities built by Caesar Augustus.

- Celts: " Romans burned our houses, abducted women, humiliation. Cut off right hands of warriors."

- Military engineer / architect. Marcius Fabricius. Fabricate.
Slave: freed and become an administrator.
Slaves commonplace.

- Skilled craftsmen in conquered territories. Romans offer trading opportunities.
Celtic chief: "I once fought the Romans. Like it ot not, our future is bound to the Romans."
Druid protestor: “They have bridged the sacred river.”