History. See the future. It’s in the past.

Join us as we explore the Augustan city of Rome and the buildings that have survived in the densely packed sprawl of modern Rome. We will discuss how these buildings were constructed and their functions in everyday life. Finally, we will decode the propagandistic meanings of the buildings’ statuary and decorations.

Because Augustus built a house on the Palatine, that hill became the site of the imperial palace built by his successors. Likewise, it was in emulation of Augustus that later emperors undertook huge building projects in the city. In modern times, the memory of Augustus had a significant influence on fascist leader Mussolini whose plans for the redevelopment of the capital included the integration of Augustan monuments into the urban fabric.

Aims

The aim of this course is to provide you with a detailed presentation of the buildings constructed by Augustus during his reign, and their historical and architectural context.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• identify the administrative problems facing the city of Rome and the reforms introduced by Augustus
• identify the key buildings and public spaces built by Augustus in Rome
• demonstrate an awareness of the range of written sources that shed light on the motivations behind Augustus’ program of urban renewal
• evaluate the usefulness of statuary, relief carvings and written inscriptions as keys to the iconography of Augustan political and social propaganda
• interpret th