The Roman Empire

Society and Culture

• With the rise of Augustus and his increasing power, the republic no longer exists, and the Roman Empire has begun.

Building a STRONG EMPIRE

• Government and Law

- Emperor ran the government = made all policy decisions, appointed officials to control the provinces, appointed provincial governors (ran government in the provinces).

- Law helped to unify the empire

- “Updated” the Twelve Tables = 1. Passed new laws as needed 2. Changed old laws to apply to new circumstances

- Basic legal principles applied to all humans

Building a STRONG EMPIRE

• Trade and Transportation

- created strong economy

- Trade help to unify empire

- Agriculture was the most important occupation during the time of the Pax Romana

- Trade centered around grain, wine, oil, cloth, pottery, glass

- Foreign trade included = African ivory, Chinese silk, Indian pepper (SILK ROAD…no linen).

- Trading goods ended up in Rome, from there spread along trade routes to wealthy customers (see map pg. 163)

- Roman army built roads and bridges throughout the empire – beneficial for army, but also trade, travel, and communication

Building a STRONG EMPIRE

• Roman Army

- defend boundaries and control provinces

- Citizen soldiers served 16 – 20 years

- Stationed in camps along the borders – stations eventually became cities as people settled around the camps.

- Promised Roman citizenship at the end of their service – men from the provinces joined

Science and the Arts

• Science, Engineering, and Architecture

- Galen = physician who wrote medical volumes

- Ptolemy = scientist from Alexandria, astronomy = Ptolemaic System = sun, planets revolve around the earth

- Engineering = roads, bridges, arenas, public buildings, aqueducts = bridge like structures that carried water from the mts. (pg. 166)

- Architecture = importance of cement – Pantheon, Coliseum, the Roman Forum

Science and the Arts

• Language

- Learned alphabet from the Estruscans

- We use the Roman/Latin alphabet (+ j,y,w)

- Latin language used after the Roman Empire ended

- Latin is the basis of the modern Romance languages – Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian

- Many English words today have Latin origins

Life in the Empire

• Daily Life

- Majority of Romans were poor.

-Many were laborers or farmers

- Rich citizens had a city home and a country home = running water

-Time for banquets, recreation, leisure.

- Held dinner parties to impress one another

- Majority of Romans lived in crowded multistory apt houses

- Most could not afford food = would eat bread, cheese, and fruit

- Public baths – served as a social gathering

Science and the Arts

• Literature

- Virgil = Roman poet, lived during the time of Augustus. Aeneid – story about a prince from Troy

- Horace = Roman poet, wrote odes, satires, letters

-Ovid = Roman poet, wrote love lyrics – Metamorphoses – collection of myths

- Tacitus = Roman historian, wrote Annals – history of Rome under the Julio-Claudian emperors.

- Plutarch = Greek, wrote about R & G’s BIO’s

Life in the Empire

• Slaves and Slavery

- During Augustus’ reign, there were several million slaves

- Made up large fraction of population

- Most common in the eastern part of the empire

- No laws in relation to how slaves could be treated

- Skilled, trusted slaves could assist doctors, or be teachers or secretaries

- Roman slaves could buy their freedom or be freed by their masters

- Few legal rights

- Historians do not believe slavery was essential to the Roman economy…so many poor Romans would work for cheap wages

- Person gained status by owning slaves

Life in the Empire

• Men, Women, and Children

- Importance of family

- Father held most power, made decisions, controlled property, conducted religious ceremonies

- Mother = manage household, bought food, entertain guests

- By end of the Republic, women had political influence (patrician class)

- Women could own property and accept inheritances

- Education = began at home – sons = citizenship, daughters = manage household

- Rich children education at home, others attend schools throughout the empire

- Elementary school = reading, writing, arithmetic, music. Secondary – wealthy boys

Life in the Empire

• Religion

- Lares – ancestoral spirits

- Family worship focused on the “Vesta” – spirit who guarded fire and hearth

- Influenced by Greeks

- State religion developed at the time of the empire = purpose was to promote patriotism, loyalty to the state. 12 B.C. Augustus became the chief priest

- Religious rituals to please the gods and spirits

Life in the Empire

• Entertainment

- Theater, mimes, jugglers, dancers, acrobats, clowns (jesters)

- Chariot racing

- Gladiators = trained slaves, battle until death. Person VS Person, Animal VS Animal, Person VS Animal

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgARus5JFQY&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH7fJ4awyXc

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g012Qzg36rY&feature=related

• Roman Architecture• Google Earth• http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/cha

nnel/series/when-rome-ruled/4722/Overview/779#tab-Videos/09047_00