Rome: The Eternal City from Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages

Rome is a city that fires the imagination. It is the city of seven hills, the city where all roads lead, the capital of the world (caput mundi). It has been the seat of emperors and popes, the site of political confrontations and bloody sieges, the destination of ambassadors, travellers, and pilgrims. It houses magnificent temples to the gods and to the Christian God, like the Pantheon and St Peter's Basilica, grandiose monuments of bloodthirsty entertainment such as the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus, and venues of political activity which have determined the destiny of individuals and states, like the Senate House and the Palatine. This course explores political, religious, and cultural transformation of Rome and its monuments from Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages and considers why the city has captivated our imagination for centuries.