Transcript The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire
Today’s Goal:
• Describe the culture and daily life in the
Roman Empire and its influence on later
Western civilization
Why is the period from 27 BC to AD 180 referred
to as the Pax Romana?
• Octavian, renamed Augustus, became 1st emperor of
Rome
- Also known as “princeps”, imperator
• Rome entered the Pax Romana,
or “Roman peace”, a period of
peace and prosperity
• Augustus secures the empire &
builds infrastructure
(roads, temples)
The Age of Augustus
Size of the empire under Augustus
Model of Rome
Economy
• Agriculture was the most important industry in the Roman
Empire
• The Roman coin was known as the denarius made trade easier
• The Romans had a vast trading network and built a navy to
protect their trade ships
Roman Religion
The Virtue of gravitas
Society & Culture
The lives of the rich and famous
How did Roman gov’t distract the poor?
• It offered “Bread & Circuses”
• Entertainment to distract poor
from daily struggles
- Gladiator contests
- Mock battles
- Chariot races
- Free games
• Over 150 holidays
• Events in the Coliseum,
Circus Maximus,
Hippodrome
How were slaves viewed and treated?
• Widespread, essential to economy
- 1/3rd of population
• Cruel treatment
- Property of masters
- Strong men fought
as gladiators
• Slave revolts – unsuccessful
• Possible manumission (freedom)
“All Roads Lead to Rome”
• Network of roads
- built for military purposes
- linked empire to Persia & Russia
- learned techniques from Etruscans &
Greeks
• Roman aqueducts
- Bring clean water to Roman cities
• Aqueducts provided
water for the Roman
baths
Circus Maximus
http://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=pbQvpJsTvxU
Coliseum
Pantheon (“temple to all gods”)
• Most well-preserved Roman building (saved
from ruin by Christian Church)
• Oculus (eye designed to let light enter building)
Poetry & Literature
Horace – poems that glorified Rome
& Augustus, described joys &
irritations of daily life
Virgil – pastoral lyrics celebrating artistry &
rural life (The Aeneid – story of Rome)
Augustus’ Building Projects
Temple to Apollo,
Palatine Hill
Roman Forum
The Bad Emperors
“Bootikins”
Fell ill  insane?
Hated by Jews
Assassinated by
Praetorian guard
#3 Caligula
Adopted by Claudius
Reforms
“Fiddled while Rome
burned”?
Condemned to death
by Senate  suicide
#5 Nero
#11 Domitian
Son of Vespasian
Despotic
His wife hired man to
stab him
The Good Emperors
#16 Marcus
Frail, often#14
ill Hadrian
Adopted by HadrianAurelias
Kindly & amiableCalm, kind, moral
Stoic philosophy
Ruled only 16 months
Daughter Faustina married
Wrote “Meditations”
Died of fever
Marcus Aurelias
Made son Commodus his
Died during sleep
co-emperor
Long-lasting illness
# 12 Nerva
#13
Spanish
Became close friend
of origin
Trajan
Adopted
by Nerva
Trajan’s wife Plotina
wrote
Humble,
respectful
letters to
senate stating
Public works, funds
Hadrian as successor
StrokePius
Adopted Antoninus
Trajan
Fell ill
Hadrians’ Wall #15 Antoninus
Pius