Calmly and dispassionately, the unnamed narrator of this Encyclopedia Britannica short film tells us about a boy of ancient Rome in the 2nd Century, his education in town by slaves, and his family's estate not far outside the city.
Like a modern boy, he's a creature of habit, fettered by the sense he must some day grow up -- although in Rome, that day was, in many ways, delayed until his own father's death. Except for the difference in clothes and the fact his best friend is his slave, it seems utterly normal.
The visual quality of this film is increased by showing some shots from THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
