This most recent episode from excellent youtube channel History Buffs features the British-American-Italian historical drama television series ‘Rome’. Created by John Milius, William J. MacDonald, and Bruno Heller. The show’s two seasons were broadcast on HBO, BBC Two, and RaiDue between 2005 and 2007. It is set in the 1st century BC, during Ancient Rome’s transition from Republic to Empire.

The series features a sprawling cast of characters, many of whom are based on real figures from historical records, but the lead protagonists are ultimately two soldiers named Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, who find their lives intertwined with key historical events. Rome was a rating success for HBO and the BBC. The series received much media attention from the start and was honored with numerous awards and nominations in its two-series run. The series was filmed in various locations, but most notably at the Cinecittà studios in Italy.