CuriosityStream - Rebuilding Ancient Rome (2015)

"What is worse than Nero? What is better than Nero's Baths?" – so wrote the poet Martial in the first century AD, demonstrating the power that buildings have on public consciousness. Rebuilding Ancient Rome is an intriguing reconstruction of Rome to its original magnificence, an archaeological guide that shows how Rome was more than 2000 years ago.
In the beginning of 6th century BC, Rome housed around 50,000 inhabitants scattered across the Palatine, Capitoline and Velia Hills. The buildings of early Rome were modest, made of materials such as mud, wood, and clay. As the population grew and new materials became available, the city of the 4th century AD witnessed the emergence of buildings that were unimaginable in Early Rome. These structures included aqueducts, residential blocks, baths, and amphitheaters. Essentially, the foundations of late imperial Rome were laid by the inception of monumental temples, houses with foundations of stone and tiled roofs, the initiation of urban planning, and the establishment of fortifications. A 3D reconstruction of ancient Rome is allowing viewers to explore the capital of the Roman Empire as it was during its heyday.
When and why were these monuments built? What did they add to the lives of the people who used them? What impact did they have on the shape of the city? Supported by stunning 3D graphics, Dr. Darius Arya explains the purpose and architectural significance of ancient Roman buildings. This film is a collection of 15 short documentaries: