Three Forgotten Roman Megaprojects

I can't quite get my head around the fact that Agrippa wanted the element of surprise so badly that he trained a secret fleet, built using secret facilities around a secret lake that was connected to the sea by a series of secret passages. In any other era, even contemplating this would be lunacy. Yet it contributed significantly to Agrippa winning. Just shows how thin the line between genius and madness can be...

It is mindblowing that Romans built a bridge over the Rhine in Cologne (similar to the bridge shown here) and after it's collapse and destruction in the Middle Ages it took until 1859 before a new fixed bridge was built.

Let’s bring out the wine and the honey fellas, Told in Stone posted again

“This drainage tunnel should be operational now! Let’s celebrate by feasting in front of the entrance!” - the leadership of the largest empire in the world at the time

I just love the story of Claudius' tunnel. Everything about it is gloriously bonkers in a uniquely Roman way.

To think that romans could build this WAAAAAY back in time, and this still stands after 2000 years, this is incredible...

to be an empire that constructed things that lasted 2000 years is nothing short of extrordinary

I’d love to see a video on Rome’s massive hexagonal Portus at Ostia.

One correction - Marcus Agrippa did not constructed Cloaca Maxima - this Sewer was build in the time of kings. What Agrippa did was big project of restoration and cleaning of it, that was finalised by his travel on a boat thought it.

"Stained Greenland Ice Cap with the residue of silver mines." has got to be one of the best nuggets of knowledge I've heard.

Always amazing to discover new projects that the Romans engineered through logistics and sheer determination. They were able to do things that no one, in the centuries before or after them, was able to create until the age of industrialization.

So glad to see a new upload! I got an MSc in classics, researching Roman Slavery and am waiting on PhD apps to get back to me. This channel has helped revitalize some of my curiosity on the subject of the ancient world, so thank you for your work and all you do!

greatest channel and modern historian of antiquity just based on your effortless ability to depict and contextualize the past in an entertaining way!

10:35 It's sometimes hard to wrap your head around the fact that history that we learn is in fact the history that has happened and is palpable to the extent that you literally can touch a brick that have seen an emperor of Rome.

The tunnels of Claudius (in Italian I cunicoli di Claudio) are hard to visit today, however near there (30/20 min drive) there are the ruins of Alba Fucens. Key city in securing Roman hegemony in the early years. As well as acting like a prison for certain high profiles. Alba Fucens also provided security for the Via Valeria. As well as a stopping point for cattle merchants. This is backed by the many tavernas that scattered the city. Alba Fucens is free to visit and it’s open 24/7. Hope this will inspire some of you to visit this hidden jewel :)

Thank you for this video, Prof. I've been at Averno Lake. The history of the Naval base of Miseno is fascinating, because the Romans built their "Trireme" ships in the secret harbor at Averno Lake, which suddenly appeared at Misenum ready for battle. Thank you for all your fascinating videos on the Roman world. I love Roman history and every detail is important. Greetings from the UK, Anthony

The tunnel of Claudius has a crazy history wow

5:02 between this shot and the hillside face in the next image, I get strong Argonath from the Lord of the Rings vibes (the two statues that flank the Anduin river, which the the Fellowship rows past).

I’ve done a quite a few trips to this region but I’ve never searched for these kinds of fascinating remains. I will try to get back just to visit the hidden gems. Do you ever do tours? Maybe two weeks or so would be great. Your knowledge would be fantastic to accompany the visuals.

I just finished reading your book! Really enjoyed it! Thank you for all of the content you create for us!