In this school version of the prime-time special Roman City, author/illustrator David Macauley visits sites throughout the ancient Roman Empire to point out achievements of Roman engineers and show how their architectural principles and technical innovations are still reflected in our civic construction projects. The documentary segments are interspersed with animated sequences that tell the story of the planning and construction of a fictional Roman city and dramatize the political tensions between the Celts and the Romans, the hierarchy and intrigue within Roman government, and daily life within a typical Roman city.