Rome is an American-British-Italian historical drama television series created by Bruno Heller, John Milius and William J. MacDonald and set during Ancient Rome's transition from Republic to Empire, from Caesar's invasion of Gaul to the death of Mark Antony and the rise of the first Emperor Augustus.
The series follows the two main characters, soldiers Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, who find their lives intertwined with the key events.
Founded on principles of shared power and fierce personal competition, the Republic was created to prevent any one man from seizing absolute control.
It is a society where soldiers can rise up from provincial commoners to become national heroes, even leaders of the Republic.
But as the ruling class became extravagantly wealthy, the foundations have crumbled, eaten away by corruption and excess, and the old values of Spartan discipline and social unity have given way to a great chasm between the classes.
A richly layered look at history and the building of an empire, Rome sets the stage for modern politics - infighting, corruption, party lines and the struggle to define collective values.
An intimate drama of love and betrayal, masters and slaves, and husbands and wives, Rome chronicles the epic times that saw the fall of a Republic and the creation of an empire.
The series begins in 52 BC, as Gaius Julius Caesar completes his conquest of Gaul after eight years of war, and prepares to return with his army to Rome.
While Caesar's self-interested niece Atia and long-lost paramour Servilia anxiously await the general's return, ruling patricians despair that Caesar's homecoming will disrupt the status quo, and threaten the extravagant prosperity they've enjoyed at the expense of the lower class.
In the Senate, old-guard leaders plot to undermine Caesar's influence by convincing his old friend, Pompey Magnus, that the general is a threat.
Back at the front, two mismatched soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, see their fortunes rise following several serendipitous missions.
As Caesar's legions move closer to Rome, allegiances are put to the test for soldiers and civilians - and the escalating tensions climax with a full-scale conflict destined to change history.
A joint production between HBO and the BBC, Rome was created by John Milius, William Macdonald and Bruno Heller.
The series was shot throughout Italy and boasted the largest standing film set in the world, comprising five acres of backlot and six soundstages at the world-famous Cinecittà Studios.