This book provides a coherent story behind the sites of Rome, to lead the reader on a journey through the turbulent history of the Roman state from its humble beginnings on the Palatine hill to the maximum extent of its power in the 1st-2nd centuries A D, when almost the whole world known to the Romans was under their control. Firmly rooted in the topographic & architectural realities of today, the book will strive to give the sites a meaning & to connect them with the people who lived, fought & loved there two thousand years ago. It serves both as a framework for a visit to Rome, taking in the sites in chronological order so that the history unfolds on the journey; or for the armchair traveller who will enjoy the mix of informed description, colourful anecdote & historical knowledge based on the author`s lifetime of fascination with the Roman Empire.