For most people in the capital of the ancient world, Rome did not mean marble villas, garden courtyards, and reclining ...

Long before the Industrial Revolution brought vertical living, the insulae pioneered the concept of the walk-up apartment.

Today the world is looking again towards high-rise living to deal with housing its burgeoning population. The Romans got there first, writes Prof Andrew Wallace-Hadrill. When London's population ...

Despite Rome’s glorious architecture, only the richest citizens enjoyed the good life – most lived in dangerous, cramped and smelly housing. Despite these differences, almost all citizens carefully ...

The vast majority of Rome’s population lived in insulae—apartment buildings ranging from luxurious units for senators to cramped, cell-like rooms for migrant workers. From fire hazards and collapsing ...