Roman Civilization

Life in Ancient RomeThe Pax Romana “Peaceful Rome”

Emperor Augustus 27 B.C. – 14 A.D.

Julio-Claudian EmperorsTiberiusCaligulaClaudiusNero

The “Golden Age”The Period of Antonines

96-192Era of the “Five good emperors”

Nerva

Trajan

Hadrian

Antoninus Pius

Marcus Aurelius

Life in Ancient Rome

Rome’s population 500,000 and 750,000Most people lived in jerrybuilt apartment housesFire and crime were constant problemsStreets were narrow and sanitation was a problemCompared to medieval and early modern cities, Rome was healthy enough to live in

City life in Rome

The city was so big that the countryside could not feed it

Because of starvation, the emperor provided the citizens with free bread, oil, and wine

This prevented riots

Non-citizens were given grain at low prices

This kept the favor of the people

Entertainment

The emperor entertained the population at his expenseGladiator contest

Dueled with usually swords and shieldsMany were criminals sentenced to be killedSome were prisoners of war or slaves of gladiator trainersSome were free men who volunteered and women

Entertainment

Chariot racingRomans were more addicted to chariot racing than gladiator showsFour permanent teams competed against one another (red, white, green, and blue)Two-horse or four-horse chariots (seven laps or about five miles)This was comparable to today’s modern past-time activities

Roman Decline

Third century A.D.Civil Wars and barbarian invasions

Economy shattered and cities got smaller

Commodus was unsuited to govern the empire

20 different emperors in 49 years

“Barracks emperors”Rule of military commanders

Barbarians on the Frontiers

They came westward from AsiaGoths

Vandals

Huns

Alamanni

Franks

Saxons

Turmoil in farm and village life

The people of the villages had more trouble with corrupt officials than with the barbarians from the east.

Some had to leave for their safety.