Transcript Slide 1

Roman Empire
• Conquered provinces had
a Roman governor and
soldiers
• Locals mostly remained
free; many were made
Roman citizens
• Built capital cities in new
provinces
• Did not try to force people
to change their lives; let
people keep beliefs and
traditions
Roman Empire
• Latin was official language
of empire
• Pax Romana – period of
peace when Roman
Empire was at its height
• Romans were engineers
and architects (builders)
• Created arch, which could
support a wall over an
open space
• Invented concrete, mix of
stone, sand, cement and
water that was used in
buildings
Roman Empire
• Built great aqueducts that
carried clean water long
distances into cities
• Colosseum – greatest of
Roman buildings; held
50,000 people; site of
contests and fights for
sport
Roman Empire
• Roman citizens were
proud of being a citizen
and had many rights
• Every 5 years male
citizens had to be counted
by registering for the
census
• Women, free slaves, girls
were not counted as
citizens; they gained
status by their relationship
with a male citizen
Roman Empire
• Wealthy Romans lived in
fancy houses in city, or on
land in the country called
villas
• Poor Romans lived in
small apartments and
seldom had enough to eat
• Poor would riot
• Rome had to provide
wheat & grain for the poor
so they could have bread
Roman Empire
• Created “circuses”
(arenas) where people
could see free shows
• Circuses were often
violent
• Used gladiators who
fought to the death
• Often fought against
slaves or animals