Ancient Rome By Train with Alice Roberts

A historian travels by train across the former Roman Empire, exploring its most significant locations, from bustling modern cities to remote ruins. The journey highlights key archaeological sites, providing a detailed look at the empire’s infrastructure, culture, and daily life.

is an episode‑length programme that forms part of a broader series centred on ancient history. Its title signals a focus on the famous Roman settlement, while the format follows the conventions of a television documentary, presenting factual material in a concise, episode‑based structure. The core of the episode follows a historian who sets off on a rail journey, using the train as his means of transport to reach several pivotal locations across the former Roman empire. As he moves from one site to the next, the historian offers commentary on each place, linking the physical remnants he encounters with the broader story of Roman civilisation. Throughout the broadcast, the train ride serves as a unifying thread, allowing the historian to move smoothly between the various landmarks. The narrative is built around his observations, with each stop providing a snapshot of the empire’s reach and the lasting imprint it left on the landscape. By the episode’s end, viewers are left with a clear sense of how these key sites collectively illustrate the scale and influence of ancient Rome. The historian’s itinerary, traced by rail, underscores the connectivity that once existed across the empire, offering a concise yet informative portrait of its enduring legacy.