Roman Culture and Society

1. Roman Culture and Society Chapter 5, Section 3

2. standards • 5.9.pi1 - list inventions, innovations, and other technological developments and incorporate the idea of change in the realms of communications, transportation, production, and lifestyle, • 5.10.pi3 - analyze the evolution of the political, economic, and social status of women • 5.1 - describe the major historical eras and major events associated with those eras from the beginnings of civilization through the modern world.

3. Roman arts and literature • Roman military shipped artwork back to Rome after their many conquests. • The Romans used this as a model for their artwork.

4. Art and architecture • Romans borrowed styles of art from the Greeks. • The Romans however, produced more realistic artwork. • Romans excelled in architecture. • Known for curved forms: arch, vault, dome and using large amounts of concrete. • Supreme builders constructed roads, bridges, and aqueducts.

5. Roman architecture The Coliseum

6. Literature • Golden age of Latin literature came during the Age of Augustus. • Virgil – wrote Aeneid to honor Rome after Augustus took over. • Primary Source – pg. 161 • Horace – writes Satires – weakness of humans.

7. Literature • Livy – wrote “The Early History of Rome” – 142 books – he saw history in terms of moral lessons. • Stories reveled character of the chief figures and demonstrated the virtues tat makes Rome great. • Problem 1 – He told a good story, but was not factually accurate.

8. Reading Check • Why are Livy’s histories considered important to historians? • Livy’s histories reveal Roman values (5-9.pi1 – developments and change in the Roman Empire)

9. Life in ancient rome • Roman family social structure – paterfamiles = dominant male. • Romans raised their children at home – boys and girls had to learn to read. • Father chose how to educate the children. • At age 16 – childhood ended for the boys at a special ceremony. Boys would exchange for their purple edged toga for a white one.

10. Life in ancient rome • Fathers would arrange marriages for their daughters. • Girls could marry at 12 but on average they were 14. • Males could marry at 14 but it was usually much later. • Early on divorce was not allowed but eventually this changed. Men or Women could ask for a divorce. • As time passed, the paterfamilia broke down and males absolute authority was no longer.

11. Life in ancient Rome • Women had considerable rights in Rome – own, inherit, and sell property. • Women could go out by themselves but in certain places there was women only sections. • Women could not participate in politics but they their influence was seen through their husbands. (5.10.pi3 – social status of women)

12. Slavery and revolts • Slavery was common and heavily relied on by the Romans. • Most early slaves were taken but after many conquests prisoners were brought back. • Greek slaves were in high demand. • Horrible treatment – cheaper to let a slave die than to help them. • Slaves revolted but if a slave was caught he and all of the other slaves were killed.

13. Spartacus • Led a revolt of 70,000 slaves. He was eventually killed and 6,000 of his followers were crucified. I am Spartacus

14. Living conditions • Capital city of Rome – close to 1 million people. • Rome was 2 sided – beautiful city and noisy city. • Walking in Rome was extremely dangerous – cart and wagon traffic was kept to nighttime only. • Crime was also extremely rampant in Rome. • There was a large gap between the rich and the poor.

15. Living conditions • The poor lived in insulae – 6 stories high and was mostly made of wood. • Fire was a consistent threat and high rent forced many families to live together. • Rome had a HUGE problem – Emperors had given the poor free grain (200,000) and free entertainment. • 3 types of entertainment: Horse/Chariot Races – Dramatic shows – gladiatorial shows.

16. Reading Check • Why did the Roman emperors provide free grain to the poor? • There would be riots if people were starving.

17. Decline and Fall Chapter 5, Section 5

18. The decline • After Marcus Aurelius died – conflict, confusion, and civil wars followed.

19. Problems and upheavals • Following the civil wars – a military government took control. • The Roman throne was occupied by whoever could sieze it. • For the next 50 years – Rome had 2 emperors. • Eventually the Persians and Germanic tribes flooded into Roman land. • Rome was heading to full on economic collapse.

20. Problems and upheavals • Plague also caused a labor shortage and hurt military recruitment. • Rome was slowly declining and was desperately need of help.

21. Reform • Before Rome fell totally dead in the water 2 emperors provided a new lease on life. • Diocletian and Constantine provided a new rigid social structure and economic system. • They also focused on the new state religion – Christianity. • Diocletian knew the empire was too large and divided it up into 4 units.

22. Final 2 emperors Diocletian Constantine

23. Reform • Constantine expanded Diocletian's policies and constructed a new capital city – Constantinople. • While their reforms were great it drained public funds and no new tax money was coming in. • To prevent inflation Diocletian issues a price edict but it did not work. • The next step was to keep working in family jobs – certain jobs became hereditary. • Ultimately, Constantine and Diocletian policies were based on control and coercion.

24. Reading Check • Describe the conditions in Roman Empire prior to Diocletian and Constantine. • Civil war, invasions, conflict, confusion, and plague. (5.1 – major historical events in the Roman era)

25. The fall • Constantine and Diocletian enjoyed early success but it did not last for a long period of time. • The restored empire limped along but continued to be divided into the western and eastern empire. • The western empire faced increased pressure from Germanic Tribes (Visigoths)

26. Migrations into Roman Empire

27. Germanic tribes • Huns pressured Germanic Visigoths in Eastern Europe. • The Visigoths then sacked Rome. • The Vandals followed the Visigoths and continued to sack Rome. • Huns, Visigoths, Vandals – Invaders of Rome • Western Empire falls when Romulus Augustulus is deposed.

28. Roman invaders

29. Theories • There are multiple theories about the fall of Rome: • 1. Christianity weakened Roman military virtues • 2. Traditional Roman values declined when non-Italians gained prominence. • 3. Lead poisoning caused mental decline. • 4. Plague wiped out 1/10 of population • 5. No technological advance due to slavery. • 6. No workable political system • No one explanation fits but all have some form of truth.

30. Reflections A different perspective of the fall of Rome