Ancient Rome

Unit 2 Part 2

753 BCE: Legendary Beginnings

Origin Story from Virgil’s “Aeneid” Trojan Hero Aeneas

– Romulus and Remus: Decedents– Romulus founded Rome

Etruscans: Early Romans– Evolved from village to city

509-27BCE: Roman Republic Overthrew the Etruscan kings to form the

republic Two groups fight for political power

1. Patricians: Noble landowners2. Plebeians: Right to vote, but little power

Empire expansion– 60sBCE: Greece, Macedonia, Asia Minor,

Syria, and Judea Conquests = civil war in Rome 46BCE: Julius Caesar seized control of

government

27BC-AD200: Pax Romana

“Roman Peace” Battle of Actium

– Augustus defeats Mark Antony and Cleopatra

Augustus: First Emperor of Rome A time of prosperity and growth Christianity grew until 64AD

– Nero began the prosecution of Christians

AD200-476: Fall of Rome

Series of cruel, incompetent rulers Germanic invasions Economic difficulties Hordes of invaders overthrew the

empire 2 Most feared Barbarians

– Alaric: Leader of the Visigoths– Attila: Leader of the Huns

People and Society

Patricians

Upper Class Oldest and wealthiest families Patrician = Noble blood, not wealth Ran the early republic Model for Roman society

PaterFamilias

Father and Head of the house Absolute power over the family Newborn child

– Killed, sold, or welcomed Arranged marriages Resolved family disputes Banishment of family members

Plebeians

Roman Citizens: Both rich and poor 4th century BCE: won equal political

rights Government positions Importers, exporters, merchants,

shipbuilders, etc. Largest, most comfortable middle

class of all ancient societies

Urban Poor

Farmer a soldier– Sold land

Return from war to no land and slave farmers

Migrate to Rome and live on welfare in public housing

Army

Standing Army: 300,000 men 2 classes of Army

– Legionaries: citizens– Auxiliaries: non-citizens, but given

citizenship after 20 years of service Generally enlisted for 25 years Low pay, but great medical Discharge: land or cash as pension.

Slaves

Captured people from war Some specialized jobs: tutors, book-

keepers, and clerks Harsh conditions in the country-side

– 73-71BCE: Spartacus leads a rebellion– Brutally lost

Women

Ran the household Managed the money Organized the slaves Took care of the children Divorce was always an option Owned Property and controlled own

money

Arts and Culture

Architecture and Engineering

Adaptation of Greek Architecture Size more important than beauty Invented Concrete Perfected the Arch Aqueducts, public baths,

amphitheatres, domed rotundas, and paved roads

Public Entertainment

Pacify the poor Chariot races: Circus Maximus Violent events: Colosseum

– Wild animals– Gladiator battles– Naval battles– Unarmed criminals and Christians

Law and Government

System of law All people have the right to equal

treatment A person is considered innocent

until proved guilty The burden of proof rests with the

accuser rather than the accused

Art and Sculpture

Imitation of Greek models Difference: Sternly realistic Frescoes, bas-relief, mosaic

Religion

300BCE: Adaptation of Greek Gods Continued with household gods Would include conquered territories

gods

Literature

Borrowed from Greek models– Epic, lyric, comedies, and tragedies

About being Roman Virtues of Roman Character

– Dignity, duty, integrity, discipline

Gladiator

Criminals, prisoners of war, slaves whose masters want to dispose of them, free men wanting out of debt or want glory

Could win freedom through money or praise

Wooden sword: freedom Women began fighting under the

emperor Domitian

PantheonIt is an imposing monument considered a masterpiece of the Roman architecture. It is one of the ancient and best conserved monuments in the world. Consul Agrippa had it built in 27 A.D.

The Roman architecture did not fully develop until they established the empire. The Romans conquered many civilizations. They became students. The Romans used ideas from other places in their own architecture. After the Romans conquered the Etruscans, they assimilated the arch to fit into their architectural scheme.The Romans used the arch when building: Bridges Aqueducts Gates Entrances A symbol of military victory

The Arch

Roman, in the Forum of Rome, Arch of Septimius Severus, 203 CE

ROMAN AQUEDUCT

The Romans used aqueducts to bring water into a city, they consisted of a cement-lined rectangular pipe supported on arches. The Romans built their first aqueduct in 312 BC. During the time of Augustus aqueducts brought nearly 300 million gallons of water per day to the city of Rome.