Traveling The Roman Empire

Discover ancient Roman culture hiding in plain sight.

Overview of Course No. 30480

At its height, the Roman Empire extended over three continents and included a large fraction of the ancient world’s population. From Spain to the Middle East, from the Sahara to the Balkans, Roman civilization flourished, enhanced almost everywhere by architectural and artistic wonders. Thanks to Roman engineering, many well-preserved structures still exist today.

In Traveling the Roman Empire, archaeologist Darius Arya, director of the American Institute for Roman Culture, conducts an eight-episode video tour of this vast region, taking you to Roman ruins in Spain, Morocco, Jordan, Croatia, Serbia, and Rome itself. The itinerary includes the Roman Forum, with some of the most magnificent monuments from antiquity; the Spanish city of Mérida, a time capsule of Roman provincial life; and Petra, an ancient city of stone hidden in the rugged Jordanian desert.

You will also visit Diocletian’s Palace on the Adriatic, the most complete imperial compound from Roman times, and Volubilis, a well-preserved Roman frontier town in Morocco, as well as other sites, some well-known and many off the beaten path. Throughout this video tour, you will explore Roman history and the societies that coexisted with Rome or replaced it after the disintegration of the empire. Darius samples local life—the cuisine, markets, and recreation—making this series the ideal preparation for a truly grand tour.

Course Structure

1. Rome: Heart of an Empire

Begin the series on the outskirts of Rome, taking the Via Appia into the city. View impressive tombs and aqueducts, and explore major sites including the extensive ruins of different forum spaces and temples.

Duration: 42 min

2. Spain: Augustus’s Golden Province

Riding an Iberian horse, Darius opens his tour of Spain, one of Rome’s richest provinces. Visit the massive arched bridge and theater complex at Mérida, and explore Roman monuments in Segovia.

Duration: 37 min

3. 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 survives in Italica and the urban centers of Cordoba and Seville.

Duration: 32 min

4. Morocco: Traces of Rome in North Africa

Investigate Morocco, where Roman influences mixed with indigenous Berber culture. Visit the ruins of Volubilis, the most beautiful Roman city in North Africa, and tour the old quarter of Marrakesh.

Duration: 35 min

5. Jordan: Rome’s Eastern Frontier

Explore the original Philadelphia (modern-day Amman), visit Jerash, and tour a Roman desert fort and a Crusader-era castle, finishing in the spectacular landscape of Wadi Rum.

Duration: 39 min

6. Petra: Rome and the Rose City

Visit Petra, known as the Rose City for its construction in rose-red stone. Learn about its rich history from the Nabataean Bedouins and its significance in the caravan trade.

Duration: 34 min

7. Croatia: A Kingdom of Salt and Sea

Investigate the Roman legacy along the Dalmatian Coast, including ancient Salona and Diocletian’s Palace, a sprawling fortress built by Emperor Diocletian around 300 CE.

Duration: 34 min

8. Serbia: Crucible of Warriors

Continue your exploration of the Roman Balkans in modern Serbia, examining the role of the Danube River and the public and private works of Roman emperors in three ancient cities.

Duration: 37 min