Rome: A Cultural History

by Jonathan Boardman

Overview

Jonathan Boardman uncovers Rome's multi-facted experience, where each layer of development rests upon the foundation of a preexisting tradition. In a place where political and religious idealogies have always expressed themselves through art, he also highlights a vibrant popular culture—from gladiatorial shows to the local Roma-Lazio soccer derby.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781566567114
Publisher:	Interlink Publishing Group Inc
Publication date:	11/01/2007
Series:	Interlink Cultural Histories
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Eric Homberger is the author of The Historical Atlas of New York City and Historiacal Atlas of North America, and has written widely on American literature, culture, and politics.

Table of Contents

Foreword     viii
Preface     xi
Introduction: Caput Mundi
Pen, Fork and Film Portraits     3
Roman Holidays     6
The Early Republic: Cloaca Maxima
Display and Convenience     13
Water Water     15
Rivers of Blood     18
The Early Empire: Ara Pacis
Rogue Males     25
Public Images     29
Faces and Facelifts     31
Fresher Faces     34
The Later Empire: The Pantheon
An Architectural Saga     40
Declining Days     44
A Tale of Two Domes     47
What Art Conceals     50
The Early Church: Constantia's Mausoleum
A Suburban Sanctity     56
The Middle Ages (1: The Papacy): Castel Sant' Angelo
Light on the Dark Ages     68
Gothic Guided Tour     71
Not So Brutish or Nasty     74
A Bit Brutish after All     78
The Middle Ages (2: The City): Statue of Rienzo, The Capitol
A Political Personality     86
Late Medieval Cliange     89
Modern Strongholds     92
The Popes (1: In the World): The Filarete Bronzes
Full in the Panting Heart of Rome     98
Third-Rate City     100
VisibleHistory     102
The Saints Go Marching On     104
The Popes (2: In Audience): The Borgia Stanze
Borgia Orgies-Overrated?     112
Schools for Scandal and Good Taste     115
Misunderstood Monsters     118
The Popes (3: In Private): Velazquez's Portrait of Innocent X
Comic Cuts     122
Career Prospects     127
Artistic Favorites     130
Time and Titles     132
Too True     136
Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Visitors: Canova's Stuart Monument
The Challenge of Science     141
Pretenders and Pretensions     144
Music for a While     150
Nineteenth-Century Visitors: Babington's Tea Rooms
The Archaeology of Tea Time     158
American Arrivals     161
Literary Giants     163
Brave Days     166
Unified Italy: Palazzo della Rinascente
A Modern Capital     173
Palatial Shopping     175
Village Mentalities     179
Cemeteries     182
Unity and Conformity     184
The Fascist Era: EUR
Ugly Stains     190
Unified Society-a Good Thing?     195
Hanging Tags     199
Timeless Rome: Trattoria dell'Omo Gino
Table Talk     205
Getting to Know You     208
Bread and Circuses     212
Underground Culture     216
Rome-sick     217
Epilogue: Leaving Rome
Chronology     224
Further Reading     226
Index     228

Editorial Reviews

"Reading these guides is the next best thing to actually going there with them in hand."

From the Publisher

"Reading these guides is the next best thing to actually going there with them in hand."

ForeWord Magazine