The Roman Way of LifeChapter 12.1

Tennessee SPIs

6.56 Compare/contrast the Titans with Olympian gods; explain the surrounding Greek mythology.6.66 Describe the characteristics of slavery under the Roman revolt; explain the slave revolt led by Spartacus.6.69 Describe the contributions of Roman civilization to law, literature, poetry, art, architecture, engineering, and technology. Include significance of Coliseum, Circus Maximus, roads, bridges, arches, arenas, baths, aqueducts, central heating, plumbing, and sanitation.6.70 Explain the spread and influence of Roman alphabet and Latin language; use of Latin as language of education; role of Latin and Greek in scientific/academic vocabulary.6.71 Compare/contrast Roman and Greek gods/goddesses; Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Neptune, Saturn, Pluto, Hera and their inclusion in modern society.

Rome – The Empire’s Chief City

Largest city in the ancient world

By 1AD more than 1 million people

Emperor lived there

Carefully planned, laid out in a square

Forum; open market place & public square

Map of Ancient Rome

How Romans Lived

Emperor – lived in a palace

Wealthy – lived in big houses in the hills;

marbled walls, tiled floors, running water

Most Romans were poor – no jobs, unskilled

laborers, lived in crowded, dirty, noisy

neighborhoods

“Bread and Circuses”

Offered by political leaders to gain support of

the poor

Circus Maximus – arena seating 150,000

people; chariot races held

Circus Maximus

Gladiators

Gladiators

Fight each other to the death Battle with wild animals Performed at the Coliseum Most were slaves, criminals, prisoners of war,

or poor Were admired for their skill and bravery

Roman Family

Heart of society Father had power to sell children into slavery,

or put to death Later times: wives gained legal rights, Romans

had more divorces/re-marrying Upper Class – Tutored at home; older boys

went away to school Poorer Romans – could not afford school

Roman Kids

Boys - became adults at age 15 worked for family business, joined army,

worked in governmentGirls – married around age 14 considered adults when married

Roman Women

not full citizens, had few rights (early Rome)

strong family influence

during Empire women had more rights

freedoms depended on husband’s wealth

those with less money had fewer freedoms

Rome & Slavery

part of Roman life; slave labor grew as

territory grew

conquered people taken prisoner, brought to

Rome, sold as slaves

by 100 BC, 40% of people in Italy were slaves

Slaves

worked in homes, on farms, mined, construction work

Greek slaves were educated; worked as doctors, teachers, artisans

life was miserable, worked long hours, punished severely

often rebelled

Spartacus

Gladiator; led slave rebellion

force of 70,000

was defeated by Roman Army

killed in battle; 60,000 followers were

crucified

Spartacus

Religion

Gods protected the Empire

Greek gods/goddesses give Roman names

Homes had altars

Temples open to all public

Philosophy

adopted from Greeks

stoicism: learning to live in a practical way

Romans allowed religious practices if they did

not threaten the government

Science and Art

Romans influenced by the Greeks

copied Greeks, but adapted to Roman needs

Science

Galen (Greek) – introduced medical ideas to Rome

anatomy: study of body structure Ptolemy; studied/mapped stars & planets

motionRomans built roads, aqueducts, arches Roman numeral system still used today

Roman Numerals

Art & Architecture

Roman statues were realistic

arches used to create vaults (curved ceilings)

mastered use of concrete

Coliseum & Pantheon are some of most

famous architecture

Coliseum

Literature

Roman writers created their own style

honored gods, also made comedies about

them

praised military successes, also acknowledged

failures

Virgil

wrote the “Aeneid”, story of the founding of Rome

Horace wrote satires and odes

Livy & Tacitus wrote about Roman history

Theater & Language

attending plays was a favorite pastime

plays were part of religious

celebrations/national festivals

Latin

Language of Romans

Europe’s language of government, trade, and

learning

basis of modern languages: Italian, French, and

Spanish

some of our English words come from Latin