Rome: what started as a handful of huts overlooking the Tiber River would grow into a vast empire spanning the Mediterranean Sea. Roman society would create vibrant and complex works of art and architecture that drew inspiration from the variety of ancient cultures it encompassed. Starting in the 9th century BCE and ending with Constantine, the first Christian emperor in the 4th century CE, this course will survey the artistic and architectural achievements of ancient Rome. We will examine public and domestic architecture, as well as funerary art, painting, portraiture and sculpture in their ancient and modern contexts. Our aim is to understand the development of Roman culture and consider its legacy in the modern world. Prereq: one 400- or 500-level art history course. Writing intensive.