Ancient Rome Notes

1. Ancient Rome Notes Pax Romana

2. Pax Romana • A period of peace and prosperity known as “Roman peace”, lasted from 27 B.C.E. to 180 C.E. (207 years)

3. Economic Impact • Agriculture was the most important industry (90% farmed) • Silver coin, the denarius, was used throughout Rome, which made trade between all parts of the empire easy

4. Economic Impact • A complex network of roads linked the empire to Persia, southern Russia, China, etc. and were originally built by military, but goods and culture were spread because of them

5. Social Impact • Family was the heart of Roman society; the eldest man, known as the paterfamilias, or “father of the family” had power to rule the household, control property, banish family members, etc.

6. Social Impact • Women, both rich and poor, were nearly equal the men • Upper-class women could own property and attended public baths, plays, and festivals, but still could not vote • Lower-class women could be weavers, shopkeepers, or entertainers

8. Social Impact • Few children went to school, boys were favored over girls, and poor children had to work and were generally illiterate • Slaves were a bigger part of Roman culture than any culture before; they worked in cities and on farms and many were treated cruelly or forced to be gladiators

10. Political Impact • Augustus stabilized the frontier, glorified Rome with splendid buildings and created a long-lasting system of government • He also set up a civil service, which meant that he paid workers to manage the affairs of government, such as the grain supply, tax collection, and the postal system

11. Political Impact • The Senate still functioned, but the civil servants, drawn from plebeians and former slaves administered the empire • The Roman Forum was a central area in which commerce and the administration of justice took place

13. Ancient Rome Notes Roman Contributions

14. Art/Architecture • The Colossuem, a huge arena that could hold 50,000 and hosted gladiators contests, games, races, animal shows, etc.

16. Art/Architecture • The Pantheon was a temple for all the gods in Rome, had massive columns and domes, which were typical

17. Art/Architecture • Used bas-relief, where images project from a flat background • Where also skilled in mosaics, pictures or designs made by setting small pieces of stone, glass, or tile onto a surface

19. Technology • Aqueducts were designed to bring water into cities and towns • Vast network of roads built of stone, concrete, and sand

20. Languages • Latin was the official language of Rome • Latin influenced French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian which became known as the Romance Languages

21. Literature • Writers used Roman themes and ideas while following Greek forms and models • Virgil, a poet, wrote The Aeneid, which was a praise of Rome and Roman virtues; he believed government was Rome’s most important contribution to civilization

22. Religion • Adopted the Greek gods, but changed their names • Most important were Jupiter (Zeus) – father of the gods, Juno (Hera) – his wife, who watched over marriage and women, and Minerva (Athena) – goddess of wisdom and war • Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire and eventually became the official religion

23. Law • All persons had the right to equal treatment under the law • A person was considered innocent until proven guilty • The burden of proof rested with the accuser, not the accused • A person should be punished only for actions, not thoughts • Any law that seemed unreasonable or unfair could be set aside