City : A Story of Roman Planning and Construction

Award-winning author-illustrator David Macaulay brings readers into a beautiful exploration of Roman buildings and construction. With black and white illustrations and detailed explanations, this comprehensive and visual resource is perfect for young readers interested in history, architecture, and Roman civilization. The Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator takes young readers through the building of an imaginary city in Ancient Rome. In City, David Macaulay introduces readers to the fascinating world of Ancient Roman architecture and engineering, combining straightforward text and black and white illustrations to tell the story of a city's creation. While the Roman city of Verbonia is imaginary, its planning and construction are based on those of the hundreds of Roman cities founded between 300 B.C. and 150 A.D. From the process of selecting the ideal site on which to build, Macaulay moves through each phase of the process. “Engineering, architectural and human details enliven a tour of the completed city—the water supply and drainage system, the forum and central market, the homes of a merchant and a craftsman, the theatre, the public baths” and much more are intricately imagined, illustrated, and explained (Kirkus).

Text and black and white illustrations show how the Romans planned and constructed their cities for the people who lived within them.

Text and black and white illustrations show how the Romans planned and constructed their cities for the people who lived within them.

By 200 B.C. soldiers of the Roman Republic had conquered all of Italy except the Alps.