The excavation of the thriving settlements around the Bay of Naples, which were buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, provides us with a wealth of information about life in the ancient Roman world. Focusing on Pompeii and other neighboring communities, we’ll explore the public and private worlds of the region’s residents, rich and poor. We will look at how cities managed political administration, the economy, public entertainments and religious practices. We will pay special attention to private houses and the information they provide about Roman family life, social relations and artistic taste. Finally, we will review the evidence for the eruption itself, the Roman response to it and the rediscovery of the cities of Vesuvius in the 18th century.
