Roman Wall Blues was an awkward though intermittently interesting effort that still found Harvey in the midst of his long, halting transition from soul-blues artist to a more original songwriter who fused satire and hard rock with R&B. Many of the arrangements have a dated horn-adorned soul-rock feel, and the trendy band-on-the-road hippie phraseology isn't as funny as it was probably intended to be. But there are some genuinely enjoyable tracks here and there, like the goofy minstrel folk-rock of "Broken Hearted Fairytale," the desultory lament "Maxine," and the uncommonly grim title track, where Harvey plays the part of an actual Roman soldier on patrol. And Harvey's vocals are never less than exuberant, in the manner of that hyperactive kid who's barely toned down even after reaching adulthood, particularly on the '50s rock & roll-style "Donna." Covering the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" was an utterly superfluous endeavor, however. It's among the rarest of Harvey's albums, and as a little-heard link in his evolution it deserves reissue, in spite of its inconsistency.

Glory of the Roman Empire is an empire-building simulation set during the height of the glorious Roman Empire in which the player assumes the roles of city planner, governor and military leader. Successful players will need planning skills, economic savvy and should those fail military might. Glory of the Roman Empire challenges gamers to grow a small village into a thriving community and trade with neighbors, while also expanding and defending its borders through military might. More than 30 missions based in 11 historically inspired towns will immerse players in the historical aspects of the Roman Empire.

The compelling PBS Empires series explores the first hundred years of the Roman Empire in this fascinating documentary. The story begins with the ascent of Augustus, who almost single handedly rescued Rome from the chaos of civil war and forged a collection of colonies into an empire. Augustus was a shrewd statesman, and his manipulation of the common people allowed him to begin a dynasty that would eventually endanger everything he had created. After the death of Augustus in A.D. 14 the Roman Empire continued to expand even as the imperial family fell into turmoil. Augustus s successor was Tiberius, who was then followed by the notorious Caligula, but it fell to Claudius, who came reluctantly to power after Caligula s murder, to further Augustus s imperial ambitions. Under Claudius Rome finally occupied the distant island of Britain, and letters from the period offer fascinating glimpses into everyday life at the edge of the world.

Western Europe s superstate and how Charlemagne, a ruler with a ruthless greed for power and a readiness to fight any enemy, led it.

Pompeii: one of the most famous volcanic eruptions in history. We know how its victims died, but this film sets out to answer another question - how did they live? Gleaning evidence from an extraordinary find, Cambridge professor and Pompeii expert Mary Beard provides new insight into the lives of the people who lived in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius before its cataclysmic eruption.In a dark cellar in Oplontis, just three miles from the centre of Pompeii, 54 skeletons who didn t succumb to the torrent of volcanic ash are about to be put under the microscope. The remains will be submitted to a barrage of tests that will unlock one of the most comprehensive scientific snapshots of Pompeian life ever produced - and there are some big surprises in store.

Princess Anne embarks on a highly publicized tour of Europian capitals. When she and her royal entourage arrive in Rome, she begins to rebel against her restricted, regimented schedule. One night Anne sneaks out of her room, hops into the back of a delivery truck and escapes her luxurious confinement. However, a sedative she was forced to take earlier starts to take effect, and the princess is soon fast asleep on a public bench. She is found by Joe Bradley, an American newspaper reporter stationed in Rome. He takes her back to his apartment. The next morning Joe dashes off to cover the Princess Anne press conference, unaware that she is sleeping on his couch! Once he realizes his good fortune, Joe promises his editor an exclusive interview with the princess.