Rome: An Introduction Rome: An Introduction

Rome: Timeline OverviewRome: Timeline Overview

• Ancient Romans migrated to Italy c. 2000 BCE, developed Neolithic farming

• Rome settled c. 1000 BCE (traditional date = 753)• Era of autocratic (Etruscan?) kings: traditional

dates = 753 – 507 BCE • Roman Republic = 507 – 31 BCE• Imperial Rome = 31 BCE – 324 CE• (Classic Golden Age = c. 200 BCE – 200 CE)• Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire = 324 - 1453

Italy at Beginning of Roman Republic

Italy at Beginning of Roman Republic

Roman Empire at Height, 117 CERoman Empire at Height, 117 CE

4th C CE: Rome Fragments4th C CE: Rome Fragments

Roman Beliefs & ThoughtRoman Beliefs & Thought

• Religion similar to Greek: polytheistic, “childish gods” recognized, supported by state

• Elites absorb Greek philosophy, but this remains important only to minority

• Major Golden Age “faith” = Roman prosperity, achievements

• Various faiths (such as Christianity in CE era) usually tolerated as long as believers didn’t openly challenge Roman gods

Diagram of

Roman Social

Classes

Diagram of

Roman Social

Classes

Imperial Roman lifestyle: Very Urban

Imperial Roman lifestyle: Very Urban

Computer Reconstruction of Roman Street

Elite Roman House InteriorElite Roman House Interior

Computer Reconstruction of Roman House

Images of Roman CouplesImages of Roman Couples

Pre-Republican Era Etruscan Couple

Wall Mural at 1st C CE Pompeii

Imperial Era Funerary Busts

Images of Roman WomenImages of Roman Women