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Overview
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 decline of a discredited political establishment and the emergence of new forces, pledged to stamp out corruption.Jonathan Boardman uncovers Rome's multifaceted experience, where each layer of development rests upon the foundation of a pre-existing tradition. In a place where political and religious ideology have always expressed themselves through art, he also highlights a vibrant popular culture - from gladiatorial shows to the local Roma-Lazio soccer derby. Ancient and Papal Rome: home of the Caesars, city of arenas, temples, aqueducts, and fountains; nursery of Christianity, scene of martyrdom, piety, and scandal. Artistic Rome: workplace of Michelangelo, Raphael, and Canova; the inspiration for Byron, Shelley, and Goethe; the setting for Julius Caesar and La Dolce Vita. Rome Past and Present: city of pasta and soccer, capital of shopping and sex; headquarters of monarchy, dictatorship, and republic, the Green dream of "Roma per Roma" in the new millennium.
About the Author:
Jonathan Boardman is Anglican Chaplain to the city of Rome
Synopsis
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 decline of a discredited political establishment and the emergence of new forces, pledged to stamp out corruption.
Jonathan Boardman uncovers Rome's multifaceted experience, where each layer of development rests upon the foundation of a pre-existing tradition. In a place where political and religious ideology have always expressed themselves through art, he also highlights a vibrant popular culture - from gladiatorial shows to the local Roma-Lazio soccer derby. Ancient and Papal Rome: home of the Caesars, city of arenas, temples, aqueducts, and fountains; nursery of Christianity, scene of martyrdom, piety, and scandal. Artistic Rome: workplace of Michelangelo, Raphael, and Canova; the inspiration for Byron, Shelley, and Goethe; the setting for Julius Caesar and La Dolce Vita. Rome Past and Present: city of pasta and soccer, capital of shopping and sex; headquarters of monarchy, dictatorship, and republic, the Green dream of "Roma per Roma" in the new millennium.
About the Author:
Jonathan Boardman is Anglican Chaplain to the city of Rome