The early emperors found that the Forum Romanum was becoming too small and began to develop new fora to the north.  The most impressive of these fora was the one built by the Emperor Trajan in the 2nd century A.D.  Besides a magnificent basilica and two public libraries, Trajan had this column erected to commemorate his victories over the Dacians (in modern Romania).  In the 1930's these imperial fora were excavated, and to show them off, Mussolini had a new street (Via dei Fori Imperiale) cut through between the Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum.

Trajan also had a covered market built near his forum.  This market contained over 140 shops (sort of a 2nd century shopping mall).  This market is in excellent repair after 1,850 years.