Transcript Slide 1

Rome: An Introduction
Rome: Timeline Overview
• Ancient Romans migrated to Italy c. 2000 BCE,
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developed Neolithic farming
Rome settled c. 1000 BCE (traditional date =
753)
Era of autocratic (Etruscan?) kings: traditional
dates = 753 – 507 BCE
Roman Republic = 507 – 31 BCE
Imperial Rome = 31 BCE – 324 CE
(Classic Golden Age = c. 200 BCE – 200 CE)
Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire = 324 1453
Italy at Beginning of Roman
Republic
Roman Empire at Height, 117 CE
4th C CE: Rome Fragments
Roman Beliefs & Thought
• Religion similar to Greek: polytheistic, “childish
gods” recognized, supported by state
• Elites absorb Greek philosophy, but this remains
important only to minority
• Major Golden Age “faith” = Roman prosperity,
achievements
• Various faiths (such as Christianity in CE era)
usually tolerated as long as believers didn’t
openly challenge Roman gods
Diagram
of
Roman
Social
Classes
Imperial Roman lifestyle: Very
Urban
Computer Reconstruction of Roman Street
Elite Roman House Interior
Computer Reconstruction of Roman House
Images of Roman Couples
Imperial Era Funerary Busts
Pre-Republican Era
Etruscan Couple
Wall Mural at 1st C
CE Pompeii
Images of Roman Women