Rome is one of the world's greatest archaeological sites, preserving many major monuments of the classical past. It is also a city with an important post-Roman history and home to both the papacy and the modern Italian state. Archaeologists have studied the ruins, and popes and politicians have used them for propaganda programs. Developers and preservationists have fought over what should and should not be preserved. This book tells the story of those complex, interacting developments over the past three centuries, from the days of the Grand Tour through the arrival of the fascists, which saw more destruction but also an unprecedented use of the remains for political propaganda. In post-war Rome, urban development predominated over archaeological preservation and much was lost. However, starting in the 1970s, preservationists have fought back, saving much and making the city into Europe's most important case study in historical preservation and historical loss.

Reviews the complex relationship between Rome's rich archaeology, changing cultural and ideological agendas, and its urban development.

About the Author
Stephen L. Dyson is Park Professor of Classics at the State University of New York, Buffalo and SUNY Distinguished Professor. His research interests focus on the history of the city of Rome and the archaeology of Roman Italy and its Empire. He is former President of the Classical Association of the American Academy in Rome and past President of the Archaeological Institute of America, and has written a number of titles including Rome: A Living Portrait of an Ancient City (2010).


Book Information
ISBN 9780521874595
Author Stephen L. Dyson
Format Hardback
Page Count 340
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 840g
Dimensions(mm) 253mm * 180mm * 20mm