Transcript The Roman Way of Life Chapter 12.1

The Roman Way of Life
Chapter 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 government
Girls –
 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
motion
Romans 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