Submitted by Jacob Leinenbach on the 2020 spring semester study abroad program in Rome, Italy…
Here at John Cabot University, many students have the opportunity to take an “on-site” class, taught at various locations throughout Rome. These classes can be about Ancient Rome, Roman Monuments, and Roman Art History, just to name a few. However, I decided to take a class on Modern Roman Neighborhoods. This class offers a different perspective on the city, looking at the modern development of the city since 1870. I have only had one day of the class so far, but I already love it and know that it is the right class for me.
At some point, everybody learns about the Ancient Romans, but very rarely do we look at how the ancient city has become the modern metropolis of Rome today. One thing that struck me is that the population of Rome remained relatively small from the fall of the Empire in 476 AD until right after World War II, when people flooded into the city to live and work. Today, Rome faces unique challenges in upgrading its infrastructure while preserving the ancient artifacts found throughout the city. I am very excited to study the city in action for the rest of this semester!