"The city is widely regarded as the most characteristic expression of the social, cultural and economic formations of the Roman Empire. This was especially true in the Latin-speaking West, where urbanism was much less deeply ingrained than in the Greek-speaking East but where networks of cities grew up during the centuries following conquest and occupation. This up-to-date and well illustrated synthesis provides students and non-specialists with an overview of the development of the city in Italy, Gaul, Britain, Germany, Spain and North Africa, whether their interests lie in ancient history, Roman archaeology or the wider history of urbanism. It not only accounts for its geographical and temporal spread and its associated monuments (such as amphitheatres and baths), but also seeks to account for its importance to the rulers of the Empire as well as the provincials and locals"--