Podcast:

burnt roll of papyrus from Herculaneum

Without the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii would not be what it is today, but without a prosperous local economy, there would have been no site at all. UC Classics professor Peter van Minnen looks to archaeology and ancient texts to answer the tough questions about how people in Pompeii made their living. Learn about ancient farming, shipping, and slavery, and discover how the very volcano which destroyed the city also gave rise to a booming local wine industry!

Written by Peter van Minnen; featuring Peter van Minnen and Christian Cloke; produced by Christian Cloke and Emily Egan; featuring Vivaldi's Gloria; recording and editing by R. Aaron Allen Productions.