Roman City
List Price:
Our Price: $12.92
You Save: $12.06 (48%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Artist: David MacAulayBrand: PBS
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 60 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-04-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: PBS
DVD Reviews of Roman City
DVD Review: A Clever Look At Roman City Building, And Don't Forget To Also Buy David Macaulay's Book
Summary: 4 Stars
If cities largely define civilization, Western cities have been defined by the city planners and civic engineers of ancient Rome. As the empire expanded, these engineers planned and built cities throughout three continents that had logic, that had ample water by way of aqueducts, that had water distribution systems, sewers, paved streets with curbs and devices to slow traffic, public baths and public toilets, buildings devoted to culture and entertainment, warehouses, shops, homes and tenements. When the empire fell apart, it took 1,400 years for Western civilization to meet the challenges of urban living which the Romans had met.
Roman City was a PBS production built around David Macaulay's illustrated book, City: A Story of Roman Planning and Engineering. Macaulay is a writer and illustrator who is fascinated by how things work. He also is a first-rate teacher, able to describe and show concepts and techniques so they are understandable and fascinating. Roman City, with Macaulay as narrator, opens up his book with location shots at several ancient Roman cities such as Pompeii, Herculaneum and Ostia, as well as with illustrations taken from the book and with animation. We get to see why Roman cities were laid out the way they were and how important arches and concrete were. As with the book, the program tells the story of the planning, building and growth of the fictional city of Verbonia in Gaul, beginning with the decision of Caesar Augustus to establish the city in 27 B.C. The cast of characters includes the animations of young Marcus Fabricius (voiced by Derek Jacobi), the engineer charged with designing and building the city; Gaius Verlius (voiced by Brian Blessed), the former general appointed by Caesar to run Verbonia; and Caesar Augustus himself (voiced by Ian McKellan). The story line works up to a point. The device of the fictitious Fabricius and Verlius helps to personalize the problems and decisions. On the other hand, there are side issues -- the conflicts between the Gauls and Romans, the hatred of the Druids, the corruption of officials -- which, in my view, become distractions to the fascination of how things were actually built. A couple of the fictional secondary characters quickly become irritating when they show up for some humor.
On balance, I think this is an hour-long program that fans of engineering and ancient Rome will enjoy. I did. But I'd encourage anyone who gets this to also get a copy of David Macaulay's book. It's excellent throughout with none of the distractions. PBS also did programs based on three other outstanding Macaulay books, Pyramid, Castle and Cathedral.
The DVD presentation looks good. There are no extras.
More Roman City reviews:
1
1
Description of Roman City
Studio: Pbs Release Date: 05/06/2009 Run time: 60 minutesBestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Castleby David Macaulay
Graphia; Graphia; Published: 1982-10-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.38
Price in other shops:
Engineering an Empire: The Complete Series (History Channel)A&E; Release date: 2007-09-25; DVD
Best price: $24.99
Price in other shops:
Empires - The Greeks: Crucible of CivilizationParamount; Release date: 2005-04-05; DVD
Best price: $9.74
Price in other shops:
Pompeii - The Last Day/ Colosseum - A Gladiator's StoryWarner Brothers; Release date: 2005-02-01; DVD
Best price: $4.86
Price in other shops:
The History Channel Presents Rome - Engineering an EmpireA and E Home Video; Release date: 2007-09-25; DVD
Best price: $12.18
Price in other shops:
Mill TimesPBS; Release date: 2006-04-11; DVD
Best price: $14.22
Price in other shops:
PyramidPBS; Release date: 2006-04-11; DVD
Best price: $12.81
Price in other shops:
City: A Story of Roman Planning and Constructionby David Macaulay
Graphia; Graphia; Published: 1983-10-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
CathedralPBS; Release date: 2006-04-11; DVD
Best price: $12.72
Price in other shops:
Castle (PBS Home Video)PBS; Release date: 2006-04-11; DVD
Best price: $12.72
Price in other shops: