Two thousand years ago, Rome conquered the known world. The empire itself extended across a region comparable to the continental United States. Focusing only on Rome is like ignoring everything outside of Washington, DC. Join world-renowned archaeologist Darius Arya in Traveling the Roman Empire. You will tour the remains of this remarkable empire through well-preserved and stunning ancient sites in Rome, Spain, Morocco, the Balkans, and more. Whether you are an armchair traveler or a literal one, this course will open your eyes to a truly imperial adventure.
Traveling The Roman Empire
Discover ancient Roman culture hiding in plain sight.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
clairseach from
Fantastic Show About the Roman Empire!
This show was just amazing! I learned so much. It was good to see a show that focused on areas of the empire outside of the city of Rome. I really hope there will be a season two (and three and four...) as there was so much more to the Roman empire beyond the city of Rome and Egypt.
Date published: 2023-11-30
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Portland person from
Interesting and with breadth
I bought this to watch with a teenager I am homeschooling. We both enjoyed the course - except for the last episode. Otherwise it was a good overview of the Roman Empire, with interesting insights - for example I hadn’t thought of the importance of freeing slaves and granting citizenship to the development of Roman society and the empire. I also liked that it went outside the standard Western European countries when talking about the Empire. The last episode was disappointing. It gave the impression of being a rush job, trying to slam lots of facts together without giving the right pacing. The narrator repeated himself several times which did not occur in the earlier episodes. Other than that we really enjoyed the course. It wasn’t deep into details, but it provided enough to keep me (who knows a lot of Roman history as a layperson) interested, and also spurred me to do more research into topics he mentioned. It was worth buying.
Date published: 2023-09-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
HistoryCatcher from
Amazing Course - Beautiful Photography
One of the best of the new Wondrium courses, this scholarly yet amazingly personal "tour" of the far-flung Roman Empire is a must-see exploration of Ancient Times & cultures. Darius Arya is an amazing scholar and presenter, and the brilliant photography is a true Time Machine. I can't recommend it highly enough!
Date published: 2023-08-29
Rated 4 out of
5
by
LarryY from
Mostly good program
My wife and I enjoyed this program. The lectures were very informative. However, we found the accompanying music distracting rather than improving the course. Also, some of the subtitles interferred with the translations of guests.
Date published: 2023-07-20
Rated 3 out of
5
by
MadrugadaMistral from
Not comprehensive. Needs edited subtitles.
I enjoyed this but I was expecting more than 8 episodes; I was expecting it to cover the ruins of the entire Roman Empire. I did learn much I did not know, as the lecturer hits on areas seldom covered. The music was annoying and gratuitous. The subtitles seem to have been auto-generated, as there were mistakes every few minutes.
Date published: 2023-07-10
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Great Fan from
Background music was so overwhelming throughout
We borrowed this from the library and watched all episodes. In each the background music is overpowering and takes away from the presented material. Mr. Arya walks a LOT all by himself down LONG roads, etc. Not sure that was helpful or added to the program. We did learn things we weren't aware of previously - such as the contribution of ore by Spain for Roman use.
Date published: 2023-07-08
Rated 5 out of
5
by
DonMDPhD from
Much better than expected
"What--review the Roman Empire in eight lectures?" That was my first thought. And I went on to another course. Besides, there was no Guidebook, usually a dealbreaker. Well, it nagged at me for a couple of months--then a couple more. So, back I went, telling myself just to view it, as mentioned by another reviewer, as a Rick Steves travelogue. And in some ways it was--lovely scenery, having a meal here and there, talking to some interesting folks. But what I found was more--much more! The history was there but not dry, boring tidbits thrown in for good measure; it was surprisingly in-depth given the time constraints. As mentioned by other reviewers, the episode on Petra was excellent. And I was happy that it included Little Petra, which is usually excluded from films and land tours. Such a shame--as you will see, it is every bit as lovely as "Big" Petra. Throughout the course, Dr. Arya's time spent on camera with HISTORY, National Geographic, PBS and Discovery served him well. His ease on camera was evident, making the many scene changes seamless. There were some complaints about the background music. Usually, I would be in agreement but in this case, dead air would serve no other purpose than to make the episodes seem disjointed. One reviewer complained about his tight jeans--no comment! This course can easily be watched in one day if you're so inclined. And after you have enjoyed this journey, visit the American Institute for Roman Culture's website where Dr. Arya is the CEO.
Date published: 2023-05-23
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Drjm from
More a travelogue than course
As someone very interested in Rome I was enthused to watch this course. Overall I enjoyed it, though it wasn't really what I expected. It was kind of a Rick Steves goes where the Romans were, which was informative, but not really at a college course level. There was minimal coverage of Rome itself, and minimal effort to help us to imagine
what the sites visited looked like in the origin, but it did a very good job of demonstrating the diverse ruins left by the Romans over many different areas. Spain and the Balkans were especially interesting. The scenes of Petra also were wonderful, though non-Roman. It was fun but not challenging.
Date published: 2023-02-12
Overview
About
Darius Arya is the Director of the American Institute for Roman Culture. He has led excavations, including at the Roman site of Ostia Antica, and taught university programs in Italy. He is also a Fulbright Scholar, a fellow of the American Academy in Rome, and a guest scholar of the Getty Conservation Institute. He has appeared on HISTORY, National Geographic, and Discovery as well as BBC Radio 4 and CNN, and he hosted the PBS series Ancient Invisible Cities.
Trailer
01: Rome: Heart of an Empire
Begin the series on the outskirts of Rome, taking the Via Appia into the city. View the impressive tombs and aqueducts that line the road, testifying to the importance of the ancient capital. Within, visit major sites that include the extensive ruins of different forum spaces and temples. Also, explore subterranean Rome, and sample the market and café scene, as lively today as two millennia ago.
42 min
02: Spain: Augustus’s Golden Province
Riding an Iberian horse, Darius opens his tour of Spain, one of Rome’s richest provinces. Rome benefitted from the region’s mineral and agricultural wealth. The grand Roman structures still standing include the massive arched bridge and theater complex at Mérida—both remarkably well-preserved. Also, visit Roman monuments in Segovia, including its renowned aqueduct, and descend into an ancient gypsum mine.
37 min
03: Spain: From Imperial Apex to Arab Kingdom
Focus on Spain as the birthplace of powerful Roman emperors, including Trajan and Hadrian. Survey the imperial grandeur that still survives from their reigns, notably in the ruined city of Italica and the thriving urban centers of Cordoba and Seville. Trace the influences of the Islamic culture that ruled Spain for seven centuries after the Romans. Also, go olive oil tasting!
32 min
04: Morocco: Traces of Rome in North Africa
Rome once ruled North Africa, cementing its control over the entire Mediterranean basin. Investigate Morocco, where Roman influences mixed with the indigenous Berbers to produce a unique culture. Visit the ruins of Volubilis, an ancient international hub, called the most beautiful Roman city in North Africa. Also, tour the thriving old quarter of Marrakesh.
35 min
05: Jordan: Rome’s Eastern Frontier
Explore the original Philadelphia, the ancient name for present-day Amman, Jordan, which came under Roman rule in the 1st century BC. Then, visit nearby Jerash, lauded as the “Pompeii of the East” for its remarkable state of preservation. Tour a Roman desert fort, a Crusader-era castle, and finish in the otherworldly landscape of Wadi Rum, the spectacular location for Dune and other movies.
39 min
06: Petra: Rome and the Rose City
Visit the star of Rome’s Middle Eastern domain, Petra in modern Jordan, known as the Rose City for its construction in rose-red local stone. Settled by Nabataean Bedouins, the city grew rich from the caravan trade, leading to the building of impressive temples, tombs, and other structures, many of which survive due to the arid climate and the abandonment of the site for many centuries.
34 min
07: Croatia: A Kingdom of Salt and Sea
Across the Adriatic from Italy, the Dalmatian Coast was strategically vital to Rome, which conquered it starting in the 2nd century BC. Investigate the Roman legacy, including ancient Salona and Ragusa. Near Salona is Diocletian’s Palace, a sprawling fortress built by the Dalmatia-born Emperor Diocletian around 300 CE. Also, probe the historic maritime economy of the region, which still flourishes.
34 min
08: Serbia: Crucible of Warriors
Continue your exploration of the Roman Balkans, heading inland to modern Serbia, which was repeatedly threatened by hostile kingdoms in antiquity. The Danube River plays a prominent role in this story, as do a litany of Roman emperors and their public and private works in three ancient cities. As Darius shows throughout the series, ancient Rome lives on through its enduring monuments and culture.
37 min
