Transcript Contributions of Ancient Rome

Contributions of
Ancient Rome
The Roman Republic
Consuls (2)
Senate
Assembly
(Elected by the
wealthy class)
(Elected by
lower class)
In times of war a dictator was chosen.
Julius Caesar
Augustus Caesar
Advances in Technology
Aqueducts
– Brought water from the hills to the cities.
Advances in Technology
• Roman Arches
Medicine
• Romans placed
an emphasis on
public health
– Public baths
– Public water
system
– Medical schools
Hey buddy, stop staring!!!
You want me to do what
with that thing?
Art and Architecture
• Colosseum
– Site of
gladiator
battles and
mock naval
battles
– Held 50,000
spectators
Other Views of the
Colosseum
Gladiators
 Captured
soldiers
 Slaves
 Free
Citizens
 Women
 Lunchtime
executions
Samnites
Murmillos
Thracians
Retiarii
Art and Architecture
• Circus Maximus
– Site of the famous chariot races
Law
• Twelve
Tables
– Laws of
Rome
– Developed
the
principle of
“innocent
until
proven
guilty”
Roman Feasts
The Afterparty
Art and Architecture
• Pantheon
– Domed temple
to all the
roman gods
– Like the Greeks,
the Romans
were
polytheistic
– Still stands in
Rome today
Don’t call me the
parthenon!
Religion
• Movement from Roman
mythology and
polytheism to
Christianity
• Emperors such as Nero
had persecuted
Christians for years
• Emperor Constantine
was the first to make
Christianity legal in
Rome
• Since then,
Christianity has
Science
• Ptolemy
– Thought Earth was the
center of the solar system
– His mistake was accepted by
the Church and most
people for over 1500 years
– Demonstrated the
extension of the church’s
early influence into
secular affairs
(foreshadowing perhaps?)
Review
• What civilization had the greatest
influence on Rome?
• How did Romans get water to their
cities?
• What great mistake did Ptolemy
make?
• Where would you go to see
gladiator games? What were the
laws of Rome called?
• What was the Roman temple to the
gods called?
• Is the US government more like
Athens’ democracy or Rome’s