This title celebrates the riches of the Roman civilization with photographs of monuments, art treasures, cities and landscapes. Imperial architecture and statues, frescoes and mosaics, metal work and jewellery are all featured. The accompanying text offers an insight into Roman society and ranges from military campaigns to daily customs, from works of art to household objects. Offering an overview of Rome's turbulent history, it also discusses the lives of everyday Romans, from their housing and clothing to entertainment, helping to construct an overall picture of a surprisingly sophisticated world. The book also contains a tour of the major sites of Italy and the empire, from Britannia in the west to the caravan cities of the Near East.