Rome: A Cultural History

Rome, the "Eternal City," has provided endless inspiration for religious thinkers, poets, artists and philosophers. As the first urban space to boast over a million inhabitants, its ancient glories endure, reflecting the Roman Empire's power and prestige. A religious village set among the ruins of a dead civilization in the Middle Ages, Rome rose from the ashes to become the arbiter of Renaissance taste and thought. A second population and political explosion during the twentieth century has placed new strains upon the city's infrastructure and identity. In the last decade, the capital has witnessed the destruction of a discredited political establishment and the emergence of new forces, pledged to stamp out corruption.