The host rides towards the camera on a motor scooter along a nondescript street.
HOST:
This is Rome today - a bustling city, home to over 2.5 million people.
Camera pans out from a large crowd of people surrounding a water fountain, and changes to shots of busy roads.
HOST:
In many ways, Ancient Rome wasn't all that different. Sure, we'd have to take out all the cars and motor scooters. But it seems that 2,000 years ago, Rome already had a population of over 1 million people. So where did they all live? Come with me.
Host drives off.
Onscreen text reads 'Housing'.
Shot of host standing on steps of ancient Roman housing ruins.
HOST:
Most people lived in places like this. Rome was chock-full of apartment blocks just like this one.
Computer-generated graphics show rendering of how the apartments would have looked like in Roman times.
HOST:
Usually, there were shops on the ground floor with lots of flats on the upper storeys.
Shot of host standing in a cellar-like room inside the Roman ruins.
HOST:
It was quite common for a whole family to share just one room between them all. There was no kitchen, no bathroom, no taps or running water, no privacy.
Shot of the host walking downstairs along the exterior of the Roman ruins.
HOST:
These apartment blocks were only allowed to be a maximum of five storeys high by law. Living on the top floor would have been a real pain, because there were no elevators either. That meant that every time you went out, every time you needed fresh water, and every time you wanted to go to the toilet, you had to go up and down five levels of stairs.
Shot of the host walking down a flight of stairs to a lower level.
HOST:
And you had to be careful walking past these buildings, because some people might just throw their dirty water out of the window, rather than take it all the way back down.
Aerial shot the host entering an overgrown courtyard at the centre of an ancient Roman apartment building.
HOST:
Many apartment blocks had an inner courtyard in the middle. Here, there might be a water fountain where you could get drinking and washing water. Otherwise, there were more out in the streets. If you were lucky, one of these rooms would have a toilet. Otherwise, it meant walking out to the closest public toilet block. This was the everyday reality for most kids living in Rome. But not for everyone. Let me show you how the rich kids lived. Rich families lived in large, spacious houses.
Computer-generated graphic of a floor plan of an ancient Roman house. Camera zooms in on the section marked 'Atrium'.
HOST:
I've found a dodgy real estate agent that wants to show us around one of them.
Shot of host, now wearing a tie, playing a real estate agent. He's standing in the atrium of a Roman apartment.
HOST:
As you can see, the atrium is a very good size.
Shots of various parts of the atrium as the host points out each of the features.
HOST:
Just needs a fresh coat of paint and perhaps a nice, new water fountain down here.
Shot of an empty, shallow pool set into the floor.
HOST:
The previous owners have let it go to ruin a little. See that hole in the roof up there?
Host points at a square hole in the roof.
HOST:
That's deliberate. All the best houses have them, you know. Lets in the sunlight, because, of course, not many people have ground-floor windows these days. And, yes, it's true, it does let in a little bit of rain, but that's why we have the pool under there.
Camera pans out to show the floor plan with footsteps leading to the section marked 'Bedroom'.
HOST:
Um, yes, I won't show you the bedrooms right here. There's really nothing to see. Just normal, you know, just room enough for a bed and that's all. But if you come this way, sir, I'm sure you'll find the dining room quite satisfactory, yes.
Shot of the host standing at the threshold of an empty room.
HOST:
I know that some people these days have two dining rooms - one for summer and one for winter. But, um, most people are quite happy with one.
Shot of floor plan with footsteps leading to section marked 'Courtyard'. The host stands in the courtyard.
HOST:
Oh, and your slaves could get this courtyard looking beautiful again in no time. Just imagine - a large fountain in the middle, some grass growing, a few flower beds, and maybe even a few small trees. And all the other necessary rooms open off from here. You've got more bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, and if you needed more room, you can always add another storey up here.
Shot of floor plan with footsteps leading to section marked 'Shrine'. The host stands by a stone altar-like structure.
HOST:
Oh, this is the place for your family shrine. It's where you honour the spirits of your ancestors, and also the gods that were special to your family. It's in a nice central place to help you remember to pray for them every time you go out.
Shot of the host standing at the entrance to the atrium where the tour began, seemingly talking to someone off-screen.
HOST:
Thanks for letting me show you around. I'd give you my business card, but they haven't been invented yet.