By the first century B.C., Rome was already the largest, richest, and most powerful city in the Mediterranean world. During the reigns of Julius Caesar and Augustus, Rome was transformed into a truly imperial city when the emperor was recognized as the ultimate authority. Under the emperors, Rome experienced great achievements in literature, architecture, and the arts. Religious cults flourished, temples built, and a number of public ceremonies and customs were reinstated. By the year 1 A.D., Rome was transformed from a city of modest brick and local stone into a metropolis of marble.
An eventual decline in imperial power and the threat of invasions from outside the Italian peninsula, however, led to economic and political collapse. Constantinople replaced Rome as the new capital and Rome declined into a corrupt city teetering on the edge of disaster.
Live from Florence, Italy, join art historian Elaine Ruffolo for this program.
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit*
NOTE: Continue learning about Rome in the Part II of this program on Friday, April 30.
Upcoming Fridays at Noon Programs
Patron Information
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*Enrolled participants in the World Art History Certificate Program receive 1/2 elective credit. Not yet enrolled? Learn about the program, its benefits, and how to register here.
