The Ancient City
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this course on the archaeology of Greek and Roman urbanism, examining how city design connected to political, social, and economic life in the ancient Mediterranean. Case studies include Athens, Rome, Pompeii, and Paestum, with students analyzing archaeological remains alongside literary sources such as Pausanias and Vitruvius to understand how ancient writers and inhabitants themselves conceived of urban space. The course introduces theoretical frameworks used in the study of ancient urbanism, from monumental architecture and civic planning to housing and street layout. Materials include lecture notes, readings, and assignments drawn from MIT's course materials, free to access with no certificate attached. It suits anyone interested in classical archaeology, ancient history, or the built environment of antiquity, and requires no prior background beyond general interest in the ancient world.