Becoming a creative city: perspectives from Augustus’ Rome

Augustus' Rome exemplifies the potential of creative cities to foster social cohesion and cultural integration. The study reveals that Augustus' urban transformations—focusing on integration, spectacles, and aesthetic enhancement—served as a model for uniting diverse communities through culture, offering a historical precedent for modern creative city policies. By analyzing ancient sources and scholarly literature, the research highlights how Rome under Augustus functioned as a vibrant cultural hub, blending art, architecture, and public engagement to create a cohesive urban experience. This perspective challenges conventional views on creative cities by emphasizing their role in bridging social divides through shared cultural participation.

Redaelli, E. (2015). Becoming a creative city: perspectives from Augustus’ Rome. Urban Geography, 36(4), 608–623. https://doi.org/10.1080/02723638.2015.1019731