Foundations of Rome

Why did Europe’s elite travel to Rome—not to witness power, but to contemplate its remains? In this episode, we enter the eighteenth century, where ruins replaced relics and reflection replaced reverence. From the Grand Tour’s young aristocrats to Piranesi’s haunting visions of decay, and from the rediscovery of Pompeii to the philosophical weight of fallen empires, we explore how Rome became a st...

In this episode, I will guide you into the heart of Baroque Rome—a city transformed into a theatre of faith. From Bernini’s sweeping embrace at St Peter’s Square to the ecstatic vision of Saint Teresa and the illusionistic wonders of Jesuit churches, this episode unpacks how art, architecture, and spectacle became tools of the Counter‑Reformation. Discover how seventeenth‑century Rome proclaimed C...

How does a city rise again—not from fire or conquest, but from memory? In this episode of Foundations of Rome, we trace the Renaissance transformation of Rome from a city of ruins and relics into a capital of art, architecture, and humanist ambition. From Pope Nicholas V’s grand vision to Bramante’s bold designs for Saint Peter’s, and from the revival of Vitruvius to Raphael’s luminous School of A...

  In this episode, we trace the rise of the Vatican from a modest medieval suburb to the spiritual and political heart of Catholicism. Journey through the Borgo—home to Saint Peter’s tomb, fortified by popes, and transformed by pilgrims, relics, and Jubilee years. Discover how centuries of devotion, architecture, and ambition reshaped Rome itself, turning sacred space into papal power and laying t...

How does a pagan capital become the spiritual centre of Christendom—without tearing itself apart? In this episode, we explore the Christianisation of Rome through its buildings, images, and sacred spaces. From Constantine’s conversion and the Edict of Milan to the transformation of temples into churches, Rome remade itself by layering new faith onto ancient stone. We trace the rise of pilgrimage,...

Rome burned—and an emperor’s legend was forged in the flames. In this episode, we step into the reign of Nero: artist, autocrat, and Rome’s most infamous ruler. From the Great Fire of 64 CE to the golden excess of the Domus Aurea, we explore how spectacle became a tool of power, cruelty became performance, and the city itself became a stage. Was Nero a mad tyrant, a misunderstood artist, or the em...

Ancient Rome wasn’t just a city of gleaming marble—it was also a city of mud, noise, and crowded tenements. In this episode, we explore the stark contrasts of urban life: grand monuments alongside slums, ingenious aqueducts and sewers battling poor sanitation, and the chaos of traffic and night-time noise. From insulae apartments to the Cloaca Maxima, discover how Rome’s brilliance and grime coexi...

How did a sickly teenager become Rome’s first emperor and redefine power for centuries? In this episode of Foundations of Rome, we explore the rise of Augustus—from his calculated moves after Caesar’s assassination to his mastery of propaganda, marble, and myth. Discover how he transformed a crumbling Republic into a principate, blending politics, religion, and image to create an empire that would...

In this episode, we trace the rise and fall of the Roman Republic through the life of Julius Caesar—from his early ambitions and conquest of Gaul to his fateful crossing of the Rubicon and assassination on the Ides of March. Discover how one man’s power reshaped Rome and paved the way for an empire that would change the world.

When Hannibal crossed the Alps, he didn’t just bring war—he brought existential crisis. This episode dives into the Second Punic War and the catastrophic Roman defeat at Cannae, exploring how military disaster triggered religious panic, cultural transformation, and the rise of new gods and philosophies. From battlefield brilliance to spiritual reckoning, discover how Rome rebuilt itself—and redefi...

In this episode of Foundations of Rome, we explore one of the most enduring legacies of the Roman world: Law. From the brutal clarity of the Twelve Tables to the refined principles of Roman jurisprudence, this is the story of how Rome turned justice into a civic virtue—and a system that would shape the Western world for millennia.

Before Rome rose to power, Etruria laid the groundwork. In this episode, we explore the Etruscan legacy—from their city planning and temple architecture to their religious rituals and cultural influence. Discover how this mysterious civilization shaped Rome’s identity, and why their shadow still lingers in the foundations of the Eternal City.

What happens when a city banishes its kings and bets everything on a new political experiment? In this episode, we trace the birth of the Roman Republic—where power was split between consuls, contested by patricians and plebeians, and written into law with the Twelve Tables. From class conflict to conquests, discover how tension became Rome’s engine of survival—and the blueprint for a system that...

Rome had walls—but no people. In this episode, uncover how Romulus filled his city with outcasts, how the abduction of the Sabine women turned conflict into unity, and how a line of legendary kings shaped Rome’s destiny—until monarchy collapsed and the Republic was born. Along the way, discover the surprising Roman origin of the ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome’—a metaphor still prevalent today.

Rome wasn’t born in a day—it was born in myth. From twins raised by a wolf to a brother’s fatal strike, discover how Rome’s legendary beginnings shaped the identity of the Eternal City.