The Architecture of the Roman Empire

Archival Summary & Scope

William L. MacDonald’s *The Architecture of the Roman Empire*, originally published in 1965 and now revised, offers a penetrating account of Roman Imperial architecture's rise, defining terms like “palace” and “Pantheon” for all time. MacDonald documents this transformative architecture through an in-depth analysis of four key Roman monuments erected between A.D. 60 and 130: Nero’s and Domitian’s palaces (Europe's first true palaces), Trajan’s Markets, and the mighty Pantheon. These buildings not only revolutionized design and construction but also established an urban architectural style that shaped the Empire and subsequent European architecture. Illustrated with extensive plans, reconstructions, and photographs, the book emphasizes the direct testimony of the buildings. The revised edition includes an updated bibliography and a new chapter examining recent scholarship and further questions of style and significance. It remains a foundational resource for architectural historians, archaeologists, classicists, and students of ancient history and culture.