Episode 2
Mary Beard takes in the mythology, history and archaeology of Rome. Mary explores the physical world of the Roman Empire and finds surprising parallels with our own world.
In the second episode, Mary Beard explores the physical world of the Roman Empire, and finds surprising parallels with our own world. Setting out in the footsteps of the emperor Hadrian, she discovers a vast empire bound together by a common material culture, and a globalised economy of such scale that evidence of its side-effects can still be seen today, thousands of miles away from Rome. Mary unpicks the threads of a huge commercial and cultural network, taking in the vital supply of olive oil to Rome and her armies, the slave trade, and the all-important silver mines of Spain.
Following the famous Roman road network, and the shipping routes connecting the empire's thriving ports, Mary reveals another side to the Roman Empire, one where builders and traders eclipse soldiers, and starring slaves, not senators, making the most of a hugely connected new world.
Last on
Clip
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The urbanisation of the Empire
Duration: 01:55
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Mary Beard |
Writer | Mary Beard |
Photographer | Craig Hasting |
Photographer | Liam Ayres |
Photographer | Marco Rossi |
Photographer | Piers Leigh |
Sound | Timothy Hodge |
Sound | Bill Rudolph |
Colourist | Martin Mayos |
On-line editing | Martin Mayos |
Re-recording mixer | Gavin Allingham |
Production Coordinator | Isabelle Burn |
Production Manager | Claire Smith |
Assistant Producer | Johnny Crockett |
Film Editor | James Dowd |
Executive Producer | Martin Davidson |
Executive Producer | Richard Bradley |
Director | Chris Mitchell |
Series Producer | Caterina Turroni |
Production Company | Lion Television |
Broadcasts
Featured in...
Mary Beard's Ultimate Rome
Mary Beard takes in the history and archaeology of the ancient world.
Mary鈥檚 stories from the series
Read more about what happened behind the scenes for each episode.