Curse of the Ancients with Alice Roberts

S01E02 Rome’s Rise and Fall

Professor Alice Roberts delves into the ascent of the Roman Empire, one of history’s most remarkable civilizations, seeking to uncover the key to its triumph. Experts examine the empire’s legacy, exploring newly unearthed battle sites in Britain and Spain to understand how Rome overcame its foes and established itself as one of the earliest superpowers. Alice also uncovers the military setbacks that Rome faced in the forests of Germany, revealing that the true cause of its decline lay within—stemming from the excesses and poor governance of its emperors, which ultimately proved to be Rome's greatest downfall.