I knew Rome was dense, but The most impressive thing is that it is not one solid mass like American suburbs or the teeming Asian/Latin American cities, but looks almost like spotty patches of urbanity.
Yes, very interesting to see Rome, very dense and interesting patches of urbanity.
This really is one of the best/most interesting threads on these forums.
One of the most interesting things about Rome is how the core density is still centered on the Imperial city! Spotila--what do you think about overlaying a file of the borders ca. e.g. AD 100 onto your Rome map? P.S. what do you think the population density of what was then the most populous city in the world was?
One of the most interesting things about Rome is how the core density is still centered on the Imperial city! Spotila--what do you think about overlaying a file of the borders ca. e.g. AD 100 onto your Rome map? P.S. what do you think the population density of what was then the most populous city in the world was?
If you can locate such an image I'd be happy to see what I can do, I've had no such luck finding anything that would work.
Re: the density of the city in that era, I think that's more a question for a Roman historian than anything
One of the most interesting things about Rome is how the core density is still centered on the Imperial city! Spotila--what do you think about overlaying a file of the borders ca. e.g. AD 100 onto your Rome map? P.S. what do you think the population density of what was then the most populous city in the world was?
Well, the Aurelian Walls date from the 270s and enclosed 5.3 square miles with around a million people living within them. That's a density of around 200,000 people per square mile.
Well, the Aurelian Walls date from the 270s and enclosed 5.3 square miles with around a million people living within them. That's a density of around 200,000 people per square mile.
I might be able to work with this - stay tuned for images later
If you're doing a modern/ancient Rome comparison then you have to do Athens as well. Wikipedia has a map of the ancient walled city with the long walls that connected it to Piraeus here:
Thanks. I look forward to it (as I do to any of your maps). The coastline of Piraeus is significantly different these days though so it may be slightly tricky aligning it. Hopefully the hills and mountains will be enough.
so what is all this undeveloped land so close to the city center? Is parks, reservers? Looks like farmland from the satellite. How has Rome accomplished this?
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That's what did it in the end. Not the money, not the music, not even the guns. That is my heroic flaw: my excess of civic pride.
Well, the Aurelian Walls date from the 270s and enclosed 5.3 square miles with around a million people living within them. That's a density of around 200,000 people per square mile.
200,000 ppsm?! That seems pretty much impossible, especially given building height and construction at the time.
200,000 ppsm?! That seems pretty much impossible, especially given building height and construction at the time.
Cool map, thanks Spotila! What's next?
Definitely not impossible. The Romans had the equivalent of apartment buildings that reached over 10 stories in height, they just didn't have elevators.
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. Um you can start guessing if you like, but no competition at this point 
The most impressive thing is that it is not one solid mass like American suburbs or the teeming Asian/Latin American cities, but looks almost like spotty patches of urbanity.
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