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All LevelsUniversity of ReadingEnglish

Rome: A Virtual Tour of the Ancient City

Explore the architecture and history of Rome, walking around a 3D digital model of the ancient city, with this free online course.

Taught by The function and development of the Forum
Suitable for everyone
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✓ Instant access•✓ Learn at your pace

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What You'll Learn in This Course

Master key concepts and practical skills through structured learning modules. By completing this curriculum, you'll gain valuable expertise applicable to real-world scenarios.

Learning Outcome 1

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to explore ancient Rome? Take a guided tour around the seat of the Empire with expert Dr Matthew Nicholls, using his detailed and award-winning 3D digital model of the city.

Learning Outcome 2

On this course, you’ll explore Rome’s architecture and how it was used – how did Romans worship their gods and meet their political masters? How was drinking water supplied to the city’s million inhabitants? Moving seamlessly between footage of contemporary Rome and the digital model (including interactive elements), you’ll examine these questions and much more.

Learning Outcome 3

You’ll use these insights to inform your own encounters with the eternal city and the study of ancient history more generally.

Skills You'll Develop

This comprehensive Rome: A Virtual Tour of the Ancient City curriculum is designed to take you from foundational concepts to advanced implementation. Each module builds upon the previous, ensuring a structured learning path that maximizes knowledge retention and practical application.

Hands-on LearningPractical ExercisesReal-World ProjectsIndustry Best Practices

Course Requirements & Target Audience

Understand what you need to succeed in this course and determine if it's the right fit for your learning goals

Prerequisites & Requirements

What you need before starting this Rome: A Virtual Tour of the Ancient City course:

  • Explore different categories of building within the city, and the functions they housed
  • Investigate a range of evidence including archaeological remains, coins, literary texts, and inscriptions to learn how we can understand and interpret the ancient past
  • Discuss the way the rulers of Rome used architecture to adorn the city and keep it functioning
  • Experience digital modelling as a way of presenting the ancient past, exploring models on screen and in videos and discussing what they can show us

Who This Course Is For

This course is perfect for:

  • Motivated learners at any level
  • Self-paced students
  • Anyone interested in the subject

This course might not be suitable if:

  • • You're looking for a quick tutorial rather than comprehensive learning
  • • You prefer learning without structured curriculum
  • • You need highly specialized or niche content

Course Information & Details

Everything you need to know about this online course, from duration to certification

Course Instructor

The function and development of the Forum

Expert instructor with industry experience

Subject Category

History, Ancient History, Archaeology, Roman History

Course Language

English

All materials in English

Start Your Learning Journey Today

This online course offers comprehensive training with expert instruction, practical exercises, and a certificate of completion. Join thousands of students advancing their careers through quality online education.

University of Reading Course

Course Enrollment

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Pricing may vary. Check the course provider for current promotions and exact pricing.

What's Included

  • Geographical and historical overview
  • Introduction to the digital model
  • Roman building materials and techniques
  • The importance of aqueducts and sewers
  • Using coins to illustrate ancient architecture
  • The Imperial Fora
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Affiliate disclosure: course links are affiliate links; an enrolment through one may pay Getting Digital a commission from the provider, at no extra cost to the learner, and it does not influence how courses are described.

  • ✓Instant access after enrollment
  • ✓Learn at your own pace
  • ✓Direct enrollment with University of Reading

Where this course fits

Wider context: all fields, the glossary and certification exams.

Last updated 20 August 2025 · Getting Digital