Rome: a Virtual Tour of the Ancient City

Available

 * https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/rome

Course tutor

 * Matthew Nicholls

Description
From the FutureLearn course page (accessed 2017-03-16):

Take a guided tour around ancient Rome with University of Reading expert, Dr Matthew Nicholls, using his detailed, historically accurate and award-winning, 3D digital model of this awe-inspiring city.

Join Matthew on a walk around the city of Rome, and ask yourself:

Why was this ancient city built where it was? Did all roads really lead to Rome? How was drinking water supplied to the city’s million inhabitants? Where did Romans worship their gods and meet their political masters? And which buildings provided a backdrop for the spectacular events that both celebrated emperors and secured the loyalty of the masses?

The course will encourage you to explore the answers to all of these questions and many more. It combines excerpts and ‘virtual walk around’ views of the 3D digital model with timelines, animations and 360 degree panoramic images. Moving seamlessly between the digital model and real-life film footage of contemporary Rome, Matthew brings the ancient city to life as never before.

By the end of the course, you will:  be familiar with the topography, architecture, and political and social history of ancient Rome; understand how experts study these topics and what they use as source material to gain an accurate insight into the past; and better understand and interpret the archaeological ruins that you might encounter, for example, on holiday in Rome. 