AllMovie

One of the best sites for learning about the ancient Romans is Pompeii, where on a seemingly ordinary day in 79 A.D., something extraordinary happened: the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. The ensuing flow of ash preserved citizens in the middle of their activities, and reveals how life was lived in those times. In this program, Arizona Smith and his young assistant guide viewers through Pompeii, as well as to the Coliseum to relive gladiator days, to the Circus Maximus with its history of chariot races, and to Hadrian's Wall. The glorious days of the Roman Empire are discussed, with systems of trade, and contributions to government, art, and architecture.