Part I: Athens : The golden years: Athens in the fifth century BC -- The keys to survival: the city's defences, and food and water supplies -- The cradle of democracy: the workings of the world's first democracy -- Daily life: life in fifth-century BC Athens -- Work: earning a living in Athens -- The houses of Athens: Athenian domestic architecture -- Temples for the gods: Athenian religious buildings -- A festival for Athena: celebrations and sports for Athena's birthday -- The theatre: Athenian drama: the world's first plays -- Part II: Rome : The site of Rome: Rome before the empire -- The imperial capital: the transformation of Rome during the reign of Augustus -- Government: Roman law and the civil service -- Food and water: aqueducts and the ports of Rome -- Houses and apartments: Roman houses for rich and poor -- Daily life: life in Rome in the first and second centuries AD -- Shops, bars and restaurants: commercial activity in Rome -- Many gods: religion and worship -- A day at the races: chariot racing at the circus maximus -- The theatre: farce, parody and other aspects of Roman drama -- The colosseum: gladiatorial games at Rome's arena complex -- A new palace: the great palace complex of Domitian -- The age of Apollodorus: the golden age of Roman architecture under Trajan's chief architect -- The great baths: Roman imperial thermae (heated baths) -- The city in late antiquity: Rome after the time of Hadrian.