Roman Empire• Conquered provinces had
a Roman governor and soldiers
• Locals mostly remained free; many were made Roman citizens
• Built capital cities in new provinces
• Did not try to force people to change their lives; let people keep beliefs and traditions
Roman Empire• Latin was official language
of empire• Pax Romana – period of
peace when Roman Empire was at its height
• Romans were engineers and architects (builders)
• Created arch, which could support a wall over an open space
• Invented concrete, mix of stone, sand, cement and water that was used in buildings
Roman Empire• Built great aqueducts that
carried clean water long distances into cities
• Colosseum – greatest of Roman buildings; held 50,000 people; site of contests and fights for sport
Roman Empire• Roman citizens were
proud of being a citizen and had many rights
• Every 5 years male citizens had to be counted by registering for the census
• Women, free slaves, girls were not counted as citizens; they gained status by their relationship with a male citizen
Roman Empire• Wealthy Romans lived in
fancy houses in city, or on land in the country called villas
• Poor Romans lived in small apartments and seldom had enough to eat
• Poor would riot• Rome had to provide
wheat & grain for the poor so they could have bread
Roman Empire• Created “circuses”
(arenas) where people could see free shows
• Circuses were often violent
• Used gladiators who fought to the death
• Often fought against slaves or animals