Rome
Book Description
Rome emerges as more than a city in this comprehensive exploration of humanity's longest-running urban experiment. Rabun M. Taylor presents the Eternal City as a living organism that has continuously reinvented itself across three millennia, from its humble beginnings as an Iron Age settlement to its current status as a modern metropolis.
What makes this study particularly fascinating is how Rome has always looked backward to move forward. The city's inhabitants and leaders have consistently drawn upon their illustrious heritage, weaving the past into present-day decisions about urban development and civic life. This creates a unique urban psychology where history becomes a living force in shaping contemporary reality.
Taylor examines the intricate processes through which Romans have molded their environment across the centuries. The book reveals how geography has been manipulated, space organized, and infrastructure planned to serve both practical needs and symbolic purposes. It explores the deliberate creation of myths, rituals, and public spectacles that have reinforced Rome's identity and power.
The author also investigates how the city has managed its diverse populations, both permanent residents and countless visitors, while maintaining its dual role as a center of political authority and spiritual significance. Through this lens, Rome becomes a masterclass in how communities can honor their roots while adapting to changing circumstances, offering insights into the delicate balance between preservation and progress that defines sustainable urban life.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Long (> 400 pages) (~12 hours)
📄 Length: 432 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Rome (italy), social life and customs
- ✓ Explore Städtebau
- ✓ Explore City planning, italy
- ✓ Explore Architecture and society
- ✓ Explore Rome, social conditions
- ✓ Explore City and town life
- ✓ Explore City dwellers
- ✓ Explore Social aspects
