<em>Colonia Ulpia Traiana</em> was one of the most important cities on the German provinces. During its peak development, it was home to over ten thousand people whose history can be rebuilt from traces left in the earth.
Ancient Romans built mainly for commercial and agricultural purposes. First settlements had to have two roads passing through the city: from south to north and from east to west. Both were supposed to come into contact with each other in the city centre, on the forum, which was the actual centre of the social and commercial life of the city. With time, more and more routes were built in the city.
Cities had to have mainly public buildings. Many of them were funded by influential aristocrats who wanted to gain the support of the crowd in this way. Cities together with the territorial development of the Roman state were created in various regions of Europe. With time, the centre of the Roman Empire moved to the East, where other major metropolises developed around the enormous Constantinople. Roman cities rich in sculptures, villas, and beautiful public buildings were the crowning of Roman architectural genius.
