Transcript (The Glory of Rome) intro_to_the_glory_of_rome

Rome: Republic and
Empire
Rome: Its Location
(Perfect for trade and expansion)
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Rome: Republican Phase: 750-500 BC
Rome: Maximum Extent of Empire, AD 63
The Centrality of the Roman State
Expectations of the citizen
(Obedience to the state)
 Service in the military—which
could be profitable (left)
Professional soldiers.
 The soldier had to finance
(repay) his own spear, shield,
armor and helmet (left)
 Both were essential to the rise
of the Roman empire
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Roman Roads
“All roads lead to Rome” is an
apt description of Roman roads
 The network on this map show
how the Roman army could go
anywhere (upper left)
 Later, it also indirectly
contributed to the spread of
Christianity throughout the
empire
 The paving was basic to the
rapids transport of troops (lower
left)
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Roman Roads /Bridges
How the empire grew!
Vitruvius wrote about Roman road specifications, shown in
profile above with over 1 meter in
thickness (compare to present day 0.60 meters
).
Example of typical Roman street
Some Roman bridges are still in use today!
Twelve Tables of Roman Law
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The Twelve Tables of Law formed the
basis of all Roman law
These tenets were engraved in stone
and mounted at the speakers’ forum
near the Temple of Saturn (left)
The Tables were destroyed by the Celts
in AD 700
The Tables summarized such tenets as
civil procedure, parents and children,
debts, constitutional law, and crime
Roman Law
Formed the model of legal systems
throughout European countries except
England, which relied on common law
 The term jus meant both the law and
justice
 The system of customary law (ius) was
written down as codes (lex)
 These were displayed as the Twelve Tables
of Law at the Forum.
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Nobody was above the Roman Law!
Building Materials
Brick used by both Etruscans and Romans
 Marble was used as a facing over brick
 Concrete: Mixture of mortar, gravel,
rubble, and water made a solid mix of
material
 Travertine: Hard, durable limestone that
ages into an attractive shade of yellow.
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Aqueducts
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Romans left their marks
in the form of Aqueducts
built in Rome and
through Europe
They were built so that
water could flow
hundreds on miles using
gravity
Notice how arches were
so strong that several
could be built atop one
another (left)
They were used long
after the Fall of Rome
Architectural and Engineering
Professions
Roman architecture and engineering were
considered to be one discipline
 The most influential manuals were Vitruvius’s
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Ten Books on Architecture
Function to the Roman architecture determined
design
 Classic architecture emphasized size to
accommodate 1 million people of Rome:
 Namely, the Coliseum, the amphitheaters, all
designed for entertainment, whether gladiators,
drama, or circuses
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The Dome
The dome was a third form of rooftop
architecture in Rome (upper left)
 It is created by rotating a round arch
through 180 degrees on its axis
 They must be buttressed from all sides
 The weight must be evenly distributed
at all sides
 The dome included a circular skylight
(interior of dome, lower left)
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The Vault
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They also contributed the vault, a
three-dimensional extension of the
arch
Notice how a wider surface supports
the weight (upper left)
It formed the basic architecture of
medieval
This Gothic cathedral in Pamplona,
Spain, includes a row of vaults
(lower left)
Further Details: p. 213, box
Military Organization
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The army was the tool of imperial expansion
The Roman army was a highly disciplined
force and the backbone of Rome
Initially, all free men served two-years
Later, professional soldiers filled the ranks
As the empire expanded, non-Romans joined
to gain Roman citizenship
The phalanx was the basic unit (left)
Later it would be divided into smaller units
These units could combine to form a legion if
necessary.
The Arch
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Rome built on the arch, contributed by
the Etruscans
The principle appears left; weight is
evenly distributed from the keystone to
the sides
It could provide so much strength that
other structures could be built above it
This aqueduct in Nimes, France, is one
example (lower left)
Notice that the lower row of arches
support the upper row and the canal at
the top.
More details: see p. 313
Roman Sculpture
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Emphasized Roman victories: triumphal
arches and victory columns (obelisks
redesigned in Roman style)
Sculptures of Roman emperors, in
realistically detailed Roman breastplate and
idealized faces and proportions (Caesar
Augustus, upper left
Equestrian statues were added in the 2nd
Century BCE
Emphasis on realism was evident in balding
senators and matronly women
Fig leafs in nude male statues such as
Mercury (left) were a Roman invention after
conversion to Christianity;
Greek statues had shown male organs in
detail
Roman Murals and Paintings
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The technique give a three-dimensional image on a
two dimensional surface
Portraits were common, as seen in Young Woman
With a Stylus (lower left)
Paintings depicted realistic representations of
mythical themes, historical events, and landscapes
Murals in atria (sing. Atrium), large airy rooms,
were commonplace
Mosaics were commonly used
Frescos gave the impression that viewers were
looking out into actual gardens (trompe l’oeil, or
“fool the eye”)
Fall of Rome
Barbarian Invasions /disease and
the 8 issues!
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Rome was besieged
by various tribes
from modern day
Germany and
France.