Roman Architecture: A Visual Guide

by Diana E. E. Kleiner

At its most expansive, the Roman Empire stretched from the British Isles to Egypt; Rome was the ancient world's greatest superpower. Roman Architecture: A Visual Guide is an illustrated introduction to the great buildings and engineering marvels of Rome and its empire. Published as a companion volume to Diana E. E. Kleiner's course on Roman Architecture given through Coursera (first offered in January 2014 but based on a class she has long taught at Yale), this enhanced e-book explores not only Rome but also buildings preserved at Pompeii, Herculaneum, Ostia, Tivoli, North Italy, Sicily, France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Jordan, Lebanon, and North Africa. Beginning with the birth of Rome as an Iron Age village, Roman Architecture traces the growth and expansion of the Roman Empire through its cities, which featured civic, religious, commercial, entertainment, and residential districts in the urban setting. A valuable resource for both the student and the traveler, Roman Architecture features over 250 photographs and site plans of the most intriguing and consequential buildings in the Roman Empire. These are presented from the fresh perspective of an author who has journeyed to nearly all of the sites, revealing most of them through her own digital images. In addition, this interactive e-book makes learning about these monuments easier than ever, with popup references, visual book navigation, handy maps, and geolocation links that show you just where the monuments are and, if you're traveling, how to get there. Also included are a set of flashcards that allow students to test their knowledge of each monument. Suitable for the classroom and as a guidebook, Roman Architecture is a fascinating introduction to some of history's most compelling and influential architecture.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Archaeology, Art, Roman

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 13, 2014

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This concise guide to Roman architecture accompanies an excellent Yale MOOC I took this fall. It is illustrated. There’s a list of monuments and a helpful glossary at the back. It came free with the course in kindle format. I’m glad to have it.

[Linniegayl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this before my first trip to Rome! it's chuck full of buildings, monuments, not just in Rome but throughout the Roman Empire. The book provides historical information about the construction of the buildings, general architectural and artistic styles used, and is filled with photos and diagrams. While it may sound dry, the author writes in a manner that is readable. She also offers tips for her favorite places to eat near many of the monuments.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moderately useful as a supplement to the Roman Architecture video lectures offered through Coursera. Not so great as a standalone book.

[Emily W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommended for anyone traveling to Rome. The title sounds a bit dry, but the tone is conversational and enthusiastic. Always a pleasure to witness a proper geek-out!

[victor ochoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced, lively and historically informative

Very much inspirational. Classical learning would be incomplete without a knowledge of Roman architecture, the author's enthusiasm is refreshing, could not ask for a better guide.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an optional companion piece to an on-line course in Roman architecture. The author has selected outstanding photographs and plans for her examples, and shows a good deal of humor in the text (not always present in her lectures, alas).

A useful reference.

[Suzanne Melendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Professor Kleiner's course on Roman architecture is not to be missed, and this book is a wonderful companion to read while taking her course online. It of course can be read in its own as well.

[Christina Boronkas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was part of my class and I learned a lot more than I knew before. I recommend this book to lovers of ancient Rome architecture

[Donald Schopflocher · Rating 5 out of 5]

An accompaniment to Kleiner's online course on Roman Architecture, this book is fabulous in providing the reader with chronological and historical details of all the Roman ruins and buildings to encounter in Rome and Pompeii, as well as in other parts of Italy and the Roman Empire. I found it especially interesting after having seen the majority of these buildings, but reading it before you travel may help in formulating your itinerary.

[Ietrio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bordering the travel companion type of book, this visual guide to architecture is more of a visual guide to standard ruins.