The Eternal City

I haven’t read many books on cartography, so The Eternal City was one that immediately got my interest. It turned out to be as fascinating of a read as I thought it would be. Interspersed with text and visual examples alike, The Eternal City focused on the history of Rome as told through maps. It was quite the read too, since it offered a visual and written account of how Rome changed over the years. Many of the details proved to be examples of the way the city developed according to the needs and ambition of who was in charge at the time, as well as how that affected the living conditions for the citizens. So there were maps for practical purposes, ones for commemorative/souvenir reasons, and others where artistic license was taken, but there was still an aspect of accuracy to them. All the maps that were pictured in this book were, to say the least, gorgeously rendered, and I could appreciate the detail that went into them. The Eternal City also covered how complicated such a thing was—the growing pains of a city—as power exchanged hands and religion came into play. It also took at a look at the establishment of some of Rome’s most recognizable monuments. Overall, The Eternal City was an excellent read.

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (University of Chicago Press) via Netgalley for this review, thank you!

Thank you to NetGalley and University of Chicago for the ARC of this phenomenal work.

The Eternal City is a beautiful collection of dozens, if not a hundred, of maps of Rome from 2500 years ago to the present day. In the first English language book to analyze these maps, Jessica Maier is meticulous and astute in her analysis of how these maps both represent how we think of Rome today, but also how the cartographers sought to rhetorically create Rome in their own image.

Organized temporally, the ten chapters show both how the city of Rome evolved over time, and how our understandings of the Eternal City changed along with it (some of which had to do with how these maps were rendered). The fact that Maier was able to access the sheer number of maps through archives, Wikimedia Commons, university libraries, and more is astonishing. While at times, it can be challenging to keep all of these maps distinct as she references them chapters after she introduced them, this book is still a powerhouse.

Anyone who is interested in the cultural, political, religious, and economic impact on maps on society, as well as the history of Rome, will find so much to enjoy about this book!

THE ETERNAL CITY – Jessica Maier
A History of Rome in Maps
The University of Chicago Press
ISBN-13: 978-0-226-59145-2 (cloth)
ISBN-10: 0-226-59145-x
ISBN-13: 978-0-226-59159-9 (e-book)
ASIN: B08GXBBZZ8
October 2020
Nonfiction

Rome with its ancient and on-going history captures the attention and imagination of many people — researchers, historians, tourists, and readers — and its attraction has been on-going for centuries. Author Jessica Maier shows the perceptions of Rome both past and present as caught in maps through the ages. Some of these maps, while not as accurate, are like today’s maps. Others are more picturesque in form. When created, they held a specific purpose for their design.

Rome has a long history, and Maier lets the reader journey through the many ideas Rome has held from its inception, about which little is known and much guessed at, to the present. The book shows aspects of how all building stands next to, or on top of, those made in the past. It explains about Rome’s many changes and exposes information relatable to all major cities. As Maier states, Rome has had many reincarnations, and no city equals Rome’s resilience throughout the ages. As an example, she writes about San Clemente, a church in Rome dating back to the twelfth century which has a staircase leading down to a church of the fourth century upon which San Clemente was built. This fourth-century church was built on top of an old pagan temple, aspects of which can still be seen 60 feet below the ground level of San Clemente.

Maier states Rome is more than its architecture and buildings, for the maps show the inhabitants’ history, myths, and symbolism as shaped by gods, Caesars, pagans, Christians, and tourists alike. It is a fascinating study with an abundance of historical maps. Again, some are linear depictions of roads, ancient walls, and buildings while others are beautiful paintings showing the city’s changes through landscapes. The information is fascinating. How much did I like the book? Since I preordered a copy, a lot.

Robin Lee

Rome is my favourite city on the planet and as I've been fortunate to visit many times, this book immediately pulled me in. A knowledge of Rome definitely helps when reading it but it's not necessary...anyone intrigued by Rome, especially ancient Rome and/or cartography should read this remarkable book.

Underground Rome intrigues me endlessly and most is not/cannot be mapped as it's beneath other layers of the magical city. But what's above is magnificent! San Clemente is surreal and partly underground. The author describes this...and everything else...in fabulous detail along with stunning images which really make the information pop!

The book begins with prehistory and the founding of Rome and continues to describe the need for walls, who built them, and when. Maps, the main topic of the book seamlessly follows.

I know a lot about Rome but learned so much more by reading about the origin of map colour coding; what maps included and what they left out; the incredible 1932 3D model in exquisite detail; the fact that some cartographers included ruins, some excluded them and others drew them as intact; when maps began to be drawn to scale, bird's eye views, indices, etc.

The significance of Peter and Paul was discussed as was the Catholic/Protestant /Martin Luther relevance. The devastating Sack of 1527 changed things as well. Mussolini literally changed street plans. The present tourist industry have tremendous impacts and necessitated entirely new ways of mapping and what to highlight and what not to.

There is so much to enjoy about this book...it overflows with information. If you love Rome or are planning a trip there, read this as it gives superb historical background.

My sincere thank you to the University of Chicago Press and NetGalley for giving me an ARC and the pleasure of reading this book.

For anyone interested in Rome, this is a wonderful synthesis of history and cartography. The author displays a terrific range of maps and illustrations that accompany and illustrate both the history of Rome in general and the history of its mapping in particular. Highly recommended!

This book is glorious. Interesting, informative and the photographs and pictures help illustrate the information magnificently.

I would recommend this book whole heartily to those with an interest in history. You will not regret it.

Unique book that explores Rome through the ages - via maps! Each chapter discusses a different era of urban development in Rome, accompanied by a wide array of historical maps. Also included: Further reading sources. Would definitely recommend to anyone that is interested in Rome, maps, or both; I enjoyed myself.

I've been to Rome many times but reading this book was the first time I really felt like I understood it. Like all important capital cities, Rome has a rich history, but surely nowhere has been quite so influential on the modern day world. Captivating.

The Eternal City is a fascinating survey of Rome's history, which manages to compress a lot of information into a very readable book. I really enjoyed seeing the changing ways in which Rome has been represented, and though books like this always lose a little bit of their aesthetic appeal when converted to Kindle, the images are well chosen and I can imagine that this would be a very attractive hardback. Though this isn't the deepest analysis of any of the maps, I found the breadth of the book perfect for keeping things entertaining - I enjoyed the tidbits about the history of the Baedecker guidebooks, for example. The tone is fairly informal and easy to read - I thought it hit just the right tone for an interested, but not expert, reader. Five stars!

This book is the perfect ode to Rome. It does a great job of relating the evolution of Rome through different eras.

We walk through Rome in past, present, and future times. We witness the rise, fall, and resurgence in modern times. We understand why it's rightfully called The Eternal City.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who has a deep love for history or Rome.

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐲...⁣
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𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺: 𝘈 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘱𝘴 by Jessica Maier, an associate professor of Art History explores the different incarnations of Rome, The Eternal City, utilising maps and images to highlight key changes in its landscapes and architecture.⁣
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In a series of 10 thematic chapters and spanning 197 pages in length, Maier utilises visual historical sources to ground her exploration of Rome in its entirety, from its ancient Imperial form to its key role as a religious destination for pilgrimage and later Fascist developments under Mussolini. ⁣
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Each chapter starts with a historical introduction, giving historical context for each of the themes it explores, and then sets out a narrative through interpretations and descriptions of a series of chronological maps and sources. These allow us to observe and see for ourselves an ever evolving and changing landscape, with an inclusion of a further reading list at the end of each chapter.⁣
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Having visited some of the sites and museums referred to and visually depicted in the book, it was really interesting to learn more by looking through a specific ‘lens’ in each chapter, to envisage a different incarnation of Rome. Maier purposefully is selective in the narrative she explores, in order to focus the book and help to capture a city with its shape-shifting ability, and a history that spans over 28 centuries. ⁣
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From its first chapter which explores the importance of walls to the representation of what can be defined as a ‘city’ to the latter discussions on the rise of the Roman Catholic Church’s influence and 18th-19th century tourism and future city developments, Maier enables the reader to gain a sense of the rich culture and heritage from a city, which still to this day retains elements of its ancient, yet “shattered past”.⁣

What I liked the most was seeing the different visual primary sources, the earlier illustrations of maps that placed symbolism and emblematic representations and emphasised the role of a map as a site of imagination, a visual narrative full of bias (which Maier repeatedly breaks down), to the transition into contemporary and modern day Rome, with the inclusion of measured and more realistic representations of Rome as a physical space rather than just a metaphorical idea invoked with meaning.⁣
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Though I would have loved to have known more about its architecture, perhaps with a key reference to its oldest buildings which still exist, it is a great introduction to a thematic history of Rome, and is definitely made more accessible through its use of visual source material.⁣
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A must read for history lovers and those who would love to learn more about “The Eternal City”

A quite beautiful book - that tells the story of Rome through a series of maps dating back to the time of the republic - and nearly to the kings of Rome. At once magical and scholarly this book is real achievement, and a joy to read.

What a fantastic book! This is a beautiful blend of history, art history, and cartography.

I was particularly impressed with the variety of maps chosen for this book. The maps come from all different time periods and artistic styles. It was interesting to see how maps have developed over the centuries, both in looks and functionality. The ebb and flow of Rome’s borders - and power - can clearly be seen through the maps and the corresponding discussions.

At the end of each chapter is a “Further Reading” list, which I appreciated. I wish more history books were organized this way!

This is a great reference book and a heck of a read. Story of Rome through maps, indeed. Highly recommended.

Rome has been one of my favourite travel destinations for years. Yes, it is super busy, with tourists and people on scooters everywhere, but I adore it. Around every corner there is something fascinating to find, whether it is remains of Rome's various iterations or amazing pizza. What I'm trying to say is that Rome will be one of the first places I'll visit once we're allowed to travel again. What I'm also trying to say is that of course The Eternal City was going to be of major interest to me. Thanks to the University of Chicago Press and NetGalley for providing me with a physical copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As some of you may know, I have recently returned to university to continue studying the literature of the Middle Ages. In large part my interest in literature is because I feel these texts give us a glimpse at people's mindsets, how they viewed the world, each other and their place in history. One of my university lecturers, way back when I was a fresh and naive undergrad, told me that everything is a text. Not just books, but also milestones, grave objects, cloths, and, of course, maps. Everything can be read and thereby understood. I have had an odd obsession with maps ever since I was put in charge of charting our summer holiday course. Admittedly I only had to cover roughly a thousand kilometers, but I loved tracking the little side roads, marking out interesting historical spots for a pit stop, and the satisfaction of arriving at our destination. Maps are a great way to understand a region, to picture a time period. What is highlighted? What is left off the map? Where does the map begin and where does it end? What is contentious about it? In The Eternal City Maier discusses all of these questions through the most fascinating of cities, Rome. As Maier writes in her introduction: 'This is a city where change has been the norm for over 2,500 years, where new has responded to old, and where decline has always gone hand in hand with regeneration.' (5)

The Eternal City begins with Rome's origin myth. Famously Romulus killed his brother Remus when the latter jumped over his rudimentary border walls. As Maier brilliantly highlights, this means that the city's walls and borders are essential to the city's idea of itself. What makes Rome, where does it begin or end? From there we continue to the 'Rome of the Caesars' and the 'Rome of the Popes', tracking Rome both at its heights of powers and depths of insignificance. 'Rome Reborn' looks at Rome during the Renaissance, rising to new heights. The fifth chapter, 'Rome of the Scholars' looks at archaeology's fondness for Rome, leading to 'deeply personal and unique responses to the visible remains of ancient Rome' (88). The next chapter covers the 'Rome of the Saints and Pilgrims', showing how interest in Rome's "pagan" and "Classical" history always went hand in hand with the city's religious, Christian past. Chapter seven, 'Rome of the Grand Tourists' covers my favourite tradition from the Regency and Victorian eras, the Grand Tour. These rich young men loved travel paraphernalia and as such there are many maps and many paintings about and for this group. The eighth chapter, 'Rome of the Mass Tourists' discusses tourists in general who flocked en masse to Rome, noses stuck in guidebooks and maps highlighting palaces, churches and obelisks.The penultimate chapter, 'Rome Enters the Modern Age', looks at the various attempts to update Rome during the 19th and 20th century, paying special attention to the political motivations behind these attempts as well. Especially Mussolini's attempt to reclaim the imperial past is given attention.

Chapter ten, 'Rome Past, Present, and Future' functions as a sort of conclusion as well as an urgent call to improve the city's urban planning. As Rome enters its fourth millennium, Maier lays out various areas in which improvement is necessary but currently looks unlikely, such as the public transit system and ecological conservation. Rome, to put it lovingly, is a bit of a hot mess. As I said above, not only is it supremely busy, it also suffers the same curse as other grand European cities in that it is getting more dysfunctional and dirty. There are new plans made every day, yet they either don't account for the city's history or give it too much place and ignore the needs of the present and future. You can't just dig a new metro system if the ground is filled with history. Maier does allow a light of hope to shine through. Rome has stood for thousands of years, so there is a good chance it will continue to stand. It would just be great if we could continue to keep it liveable.

The Eternal City is wonderfully written. I will be the first to admit that history books can be dry and beat their reader over the heads with facts. I'm very glad to report this is not the case with Jessica Maier. Her writing is clear and to the point, starting each chapter by introducing the time period and theme it discusses. It is easy to get lost in Rome, but Maier is a great and steady guide. With some books like this I tend to hop from illustration to illustration, only revisiting the text if I'm confused, but with The Eternal City is was bound solidly to Maier's writing. When she directed me towards a map, I would look, inspect, refer back to what she had said, and have an 'aha' moment, before returning to the text. Of course the choice of maps is selective, as it would be impossible to put every single map in one book. But there is a good selection of maps, pulled from various different sources. There are "factual" maps, maps as pieces of art, maps as political propaganda, and maps for the future. I am very grateful that University of Chicago Press sent me a physical copy because now I can tell you that the maps are perfectly reproduced, as clearly as is possible with these old texts. The book is weighty but laid out very clearly which makes reading it a pleasure. It is a beautiful book and I think anyone with an interest in Rome, maps, or even just how we humans think of our own spaces, I would highly recommend The Eternal City.

The Eternal City is a brilliant history of Rome, focusing on how we have responded to and represented this ever-changing city. Digging down into both Rome's history and our own desires for this city, Maier has written a fascinating book that has changed the way I consider maps and history.

I had a tough time reading the review copy on Kindle so went ahead and bought it when it came out, and I’m glad I did. If you are a lover of Rome and its history, this book is a must-have for your shelf or coffee table. The maps are beautiful and the accompanying history around them makes it all that much richer.