Paragraph 4.3

1. Paragraph 4.3 The culture of the Empire

2. Lots of cultures mixed together • Rome was a big citywithlots of squares withtemples, shops and large halls ( basilicas) • Allsorts of thingsweresold. • Therewerepeoplefromall over the empire. • Slaves, merchants, adventurers. • All skin colours were present. • All over the Roman Empire were cultures mixed: it was a multicultural society.

3. Everybody is Roman • Culturaldifferenceswouldalwaysexist in the empire: • Different languages in the empire. • People from the eastlooked down on the GaulsandBritons, theythoughttheywereprimitivebarbarians. • East had ancientcities, Gauland Britain had new cities, foundedby Romans

4. However, therewerealsosimilarities: • Everybodypaidwith the samecoins, • Therewere Roman roads, amphitheatres, templesandtriumphalarches. • Theyall had Roman laws. • Allpeoplestartedtoseethemselves as Romans.

5. Civilrights • Roman citizenswereprotectedbylaw. • Theycouldnotbesentenced without evidenceand a trial. • Andtheycouldn’tbetortured. • Allcitizens had equalrights, no matter howpoortheywere.

6. Conflictsbetweencitizenscouldbe taken before a judge. • He woulddecidebased on a law.

7. Ifcitizenswerechargedwith a crime, they had toappearbefore a court. • The judgewouldinvestigate, andappointeda jury. Theywoulddecideif the citizen was guilty. • The defendantcouldhire a lawyertodefendhim. • The judgewoulddecide on a punishment.

8. The state gods. • Hundreds of godswereworshipped in the empire. • The most important of these were the state gods:

9. Jupiter: Father of the gods, God of thunder • Juno: Wife of Jupiter, Goddess of heaven and woman • Venus: Goddess of love • Mars: God of war • Minerva: Goddess of healing and wisdom • Neptune: God of the sea

10. These godsprotected the state and the citizens. • Therewere a lot of festivals for the state gods.

11. New Year was on March 1st. (namedafter god Mars) • Priestswoulddanceandsingthrough the streets. • Being a priest was not a profession. • Rulerswouldbe the priests. • The emperor was the supremepriest. • And the emperorswereworshippedlikegods.

12. Throughout the empire people built templesfor the state gods. • In eachtemple was a big statue of the god.

13. Religioustolerance • Everyprofession had itsown god. • Merchants worshipped Mercurius, god of trade. • SailorsworshippedNeptune. • Or Bacchus: fordrinkingwine. • He was honouredwith wild parties!

14. There was religioustolerance in the empire. • As long as youworshipped the state gods, youwere free toworshipwhateveryouwanted.

15. The Romans alsocopiedgodsfromotherpeople. • Apollo was taken from the Greek, justlike Zeus. The Romans turned his name in Jupiter. • Same goesfor Poseidon: he becameNeptune. • And Aphrodite became Venus.

16. From the Egyptians the Romans copied the goddess Isis. • Mainlyworshippedbywomenandslaves. • She was the bringer of comfort, love andfertility. • Oftendepictedwith a baby in her lap.

17. Soldiers oftenworshipped Mithras. • Persian god with a lion’shead. • He wouldrelievepeoplefrompainandmisery.

18. Following the Greekexample • The Romans wereimpressedby the Greek culture. • TheystoleGreekstatuesto put on their squares andvillas. • Greekartists, writers en architectswerebroughtto Rome to make sculptures, paintings, poemsand buildings.

19. The Romans alsocopiedGreekscienceandphilosophy. • Most important scientists in the Roman empire wereGreek. • Like, the medicalscientistGalenusand a writerPtolomy.

20. Greco-Roman culture • The Roman culture was influencedby the Greek culture, so a Greco-Roman culture existed. • Example: • The Romans adoptedGreek columns, but addedthings, likearchesand the use of concrete.

21. Youcanseethis in aquaductsand the Pantheon, a templeforall the gods in Rome. • The Greco-Roman culture was adoptedthroughout the empire. • We call this; romanisation. • Allpeopletookover this culture.

22. We also call itantiqueor classical culture. • Antique means old or ancient, • Andclassical means magnificent or exemplary. • It is anexamplefor modern culture.

23. The end