City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction

I am a huge fan of David Macaulay's historically based line drawings. I found myself drawn into the images and fact-based fictional story. I forgot I borrowed this for my children! After you read the book, you may want to view the PBS video Roman City hosted by Mr. Macaulay. It features footage of ruines as well as animation sequences that follow the story set-up in City. Be sure to include this book in your study of 1st century BC / AD Rome- you won't be disappointed!

I had the good fortune to receive this book as a gift some twenty years ago as a child. The basic premise is simple enough: these people from another time and country are going to build something, and the book is going to show us how they did it. The text itself, as with many children's books, is relatively simple, but the intricate pen-and-ink drawings are spellbinding. Time and again I would go back to CITY, and pore over the pictures, often discovering some previously-overlooked detail that Macaulay had included. I highly recommend CITY, and Macaulay's other architectural books, to both children and adults. Most children are inherently curious, and interested in how things are made, why they work, and who made them. Macaulay teaches those things in his books, but more importantly, the books draw the reader in and stimulate the imagination. There's a hands-on history lesson inherent in each of these books, a brief glimpse at other cultures around the globe and in different times. Whether it's ancient Egypt, classical Rome, medieval France, or 18th Century America, the worlds in Macaulay's books are always fascinating to visit.

David Macaulay's works are always entertaining, educational and literate, and this is no exception. A multitude of black-and-white line drawings illustrate the story of Roman urban planners as they design and construct a new city on the Roman empire's frontier. Every stage is explained thoroughly using text, illustrations and charts, from developing a master plan through construction. Tools are explained, cross-sections are used to good effect and specific projects such as a house, a road, a bridge and aqueduct, the forum and central market, public baths, the sewer system and an amphitheater and theater are represented. The book ends with a one-page glossary. If you or a student you know is interested in Roman engineering, this would be a marvelous book to read.

As a teacher I constantly seek new resources for the classroom. I teach high school and find this resources reaches all levels. My own college student sat down and devoured this book. You will not be dissappointed as Mr. MacAulay once again dissects the difficult and dry and produces an interesting and accesible resource on Rome.

How did they do it? Build an empire, erect bathhouses and apartment buildings, provide running water and sub-floor heating... MacAuley begins with the emperial surveyors laying out the streets of the city they will build: town planning with fine attention to the details that are a hallmark in this stunning and valuable series. The book reveals the work in progress... a Sim City in a book. This treasure provides links in many directions: to The Gladiator and Asterix, to Roman studies and literature, and to architecture and engineering in all its modern carnations. Enjoy! I add this series to my list of "1000 books I would give to any child".