| 1. Prehistoric Italy [1] |
| Neolithic sites in Puglia—The terremare—Sardinian nuraghi—The early Iron Age: Villanovan and Siculan cultures |
| 2. The Etruscans [25] |
| Introduction—Origins—Etruscan cities—Political organization— Language—Religion—Creative arts—Life and customs |
| 3. Early Rome [62] |
| The Palatine hut—The Forum necropolis—Rome of the Kings—The “Servian” Wall—The Largo Argentina temples |
| 4. Roman Colonies in Italy [91] |
| Ostia—Alba Fucens—Cosa—Centuriation—Exploiting a frontier |
| 5. Nabobs as Builders: Sulla, Pompey, Caesar [116] |
| The Sanctuary of Fortune at Praeneste—Pompey’s Theater and Portico—Caesar’s Forum |
| 6. Augustus: Buildings as Propaganda [145] |
| Augustus’ Forum—The Arch of Augustus—The Mausoleum—The Altar of Peace |
| 7. Hypocrite, Madman, Fool, and Knave [172] |
| The Cave “of Tiberius” at Sperlonga—The ships of Lake Nemi—The subterranean basilica at the Porta Maggiore—Nero’s Golden House |
| 8. The Victims of Vesuvius [196] |
| Introduction—Pompeii’s town plan—Public life—Private life in town and country houses—Trade and tradesmen—Religion—Art |
| 9. Flavian Rome [224] |
| The Forum of Peace—The Coliseum—The Arch of Titus—The Cancelleria reliefs—The Forum Transitorium—Domitian’s palace and stadium |
| 10. Trajan: Port, Forum, Market, Column [251] |
| Ostia: its town plan—Municipal life and amenities—Insulae—The harbor—Trade—Religion; Rome: Trajan’s Forum, Market, and Column |
| 11. An Emperor-Architect: Hadrian [273] |
| The Villa near Tivoli—The “Teatro Marittimo”—The Temple of Venus and Rome—The Pantheon—The Piazza d’Oro—Hadrian’s Mausoleum—The Canopus—The end of an era |
| 12. Roman Engineering [298] |
| Roads—The Baths of Caracalla and Pennsylvania Station—Aqueducts—Aurelian’s Wall |
| 13. Caesar and Christ [327] |
| The Imperial Villa at Piazza Armerina: its plan and mosaics—The Vatican cemetery and the shrine of St. Peter |
| Bibliography [352] |
| Index of Proper Names [361] |