F0615 The Archeology and Architecture of Roman Italy

The Architecture and Art that the Romans created is one of the most significant in human history. For centuries, from the time of the Etruscans and the Republic to the end of the Empire on the eve of the barbarian invasions, the Romans created a wealth of major buildings. They revolutionized building techniques, with their repeated use of the arch, the vault and the dome; they designed grandiose and imaginative spatial schemes. In Italy some of the most outstanding examples of Roman Art and Architecture can be found.The course aims to provide an introduction to Roman everyday social and political life through the analysis of its towns and monuments. Step by step, students not only will explore Roman towns with their public and private buildings, but will also develop an understanding of the underlying motivation of those who build them. Students will learn to understand the social and political structure of Rome as reflected in the physical appearance of its urban centres. At the same time, they will appreciate the role of visual arts as a mean of conveying political messages to society.