21. Making Mini Romes on the Western Frontier

Roman Architecture (HSAR 252)

Professor Kleiner explores the architecture of the western provinces of the Roman Empire, focusing on sites in what are now North Italy, France, Spain, and Croatia. Her major objective is to characterize "Romanization," the way in which the Romans provide amenities to their new colonies while, at the same time, transforming them into miniature versions of the city of Rome. Professor Kleiner discusses the urban design of two Augustan towns before proceeding to an investigation of a variety of such established Roman building types as theaters, temples, and aqueducts. The well-preserved Theater at Orange, the Maison Carrée at Nîmes, and the unparalleled aqueducts at Nîmes (the Pont-du-Gard) and Segovia are highlighted. The lecture concludes with an overview of imperial and private arches and tombs in the western provinces, among them the controversial three-bayed arch at Orange. The Trophy of Augustus at La Turbie serves as a touchstone for the Roman West, as it commemorates Augustus' subjugation of the Alpine tribes, clearing the way for Rome to create new cities with a distinctive Roman stamp.

00:00 - Chapter 1. Roman Colonies in the West
10:37 - Chapter 2. Urban Planning in North Italy and the South of France
20:55 - Chapter 3. Augustan Temples at Vienne and Nimes
32:33 - Chapter 4. The Pont du Gard and the Aqueduct at Segovia
47:33 - Chapter 5. Augustus Pacification of the Alpine Tribes and his Trophy at La Turbie
01:02:17 - Chapter 6. Funerary and Commemorative Architecture

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://open.yale.edu/courses

This course was recorded in Spring 2009.