In 753 BC a small group of outcasts laid the foundations of a city that would change the very nature of human history. Their descendants would rule an empire that would dominate the world for over 500 years.

That city was Rome. Empires come and go but few have left behind a sense of raw power to match that of ancient Rome. Its people were devoted to a belief that their city was founded by the son of a god but each of them also knew that, when push came to shove, it was the actions of men – Roman men – that determined what went on in the world. This unshakeable self-belief transformed a hilltop tribe of sheep farmers into the most powerful empire the world had ever known. 

Today, Rome is a vibrant, populous and highly modern city. Known for its great food and edgy fashion, the sprawling and beautiful Italian capital stretches over an area of 58 square miles and has a population of roughly 3,800,000. The ‘eternal city’, which was left relatively untouched by the ravages of the Second World War, is crammed full of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Vatican City – officially the smallest nation in the world – is an enclave of Rome.

In this epic episode of ‘Cities of the Underworld’, our charismatic host Eric Geller reveals that remnants of this great lost empire can be found under practically every street in Rome. Indeed, in investigating how and why the Romans reached such colossal heights, historians and archaeologists have looked below street level for the answers Eric goes back to the founding of the empire and traces technology back to the very beginning.

From entire underground neighbourhoods and one of the oldest sewer systems in the world, to aqueducts and underground theatres, Rome’s subterranean secrets are numerous and endlessly compelling. Eric reveals that many modern engineering marvels are based on ancient Roman design. As he peels back the layers of time, Rome’s history emerges vividly from its busy streets.

For more information on the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, visit http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/microsites/Rome