Roman Society and Roman Society and CultureCulture

AgendaAgenda Daily Life in the Roman EmpireDaily Life in the Roman Empire Roles of family membersRoles of family members ReligionReligion EntertainmentEntertainment Arts, Sciences, Literature and LanguageArts, Sciences, Literature and Language

Roman Society and CultureRoman Society and Culture

Rome shared ideas between all Rome shared ideas between all cultures. Brought the ancient world cultures. Brought the ancient world together. (most important together. (most important contribution)contribution)

A Strong EmpireA Strong Empire

To stay together Rome needed to be To stay together Rome needed to be organized. organized. Allowed conquered people Allowed conquered people to keep their traditions (helped to keep their traditions (helped prevent rebellions) but insisted on prevent rebellions) but insisted on order.order. Same laws for all parts of the Same laws for all parts of the empire. Taxes were high to provide empire. Taxes were high to provide security. Penalty for disobedience- security. Penalty for disobedience- painful death (crucifixion)painful death (crucifixion)

Trade and TransportationTrade and Transportation

Huge empire meant that were many Huge empire meant that were many products available. Focus on trade products available. Focus on trade inside the empire. Farming was done inside the empire. Farming was done everywhere- but each province had everywhere- but each province had special productsspecial products

Transportation was critical- Transportation was critical- government paid for and maintained government paid for and maintained ROADSROADS that connected the empire. that connected the empire. (built by the army)(built by the army)

The Roman ArmyThe Roman Army

Now that they are an empire- they need a Now that they are an empire- they need a permanent army. Many soldiers served a permanent army. Many soldiers served a “career” of 20 years. Forts in most cities- “career” of 20 years. Forts in most cities- soldiers were very well trained and soldiers were very well trained and disciplined.disciplined.

Army’s duty was to defend Army’s duty was to defend

the borders and keep the peace- the borders and keep the peace-

respected and feared- theirrespected and feared- their

presence was enough to stop most presence was enough to stop most problemsproblems

Life in the EmpireLife in the Empire

Pyramid societyPyramid society Wealthy had spacious homes (villas) Wealthy had spacious homes (villas)

Poor lived in crowded wooden Poor lived in crowded wooden apartment buildings (fire a huge apartment buildings (fire a huge hazard)hazard)

Empire was too large to feel a Empire was too large to feel a “connection” like Polis. Patriotism for “connection” like Polis. Patriotism for Rome was strongRome was strong

SlaverySlavery

Millions in Empire. Some conquered, Millions in Empire. Some conquered, others for breaking laws. Slavery was others for breaking laws. Slavery was permanent and hereditary. Slaves could permanent and hereditary. Slaves could buy freedom, but had no rights in society. buy freedom, but had no rights in society.

Slavery was more common in the east Slavery was more common in the east (Greece, Egypt etc…) where it had a long (Greece, Egypt etc…) where it had a long history, than in the West and North (Spain, history, than in the West and North (Spain, Britain) where it was new.Britain) where it was new.

Slavery was Slavery was notnot essential to the Roman essential to the Roman economy and slave ownership was more a economy and slave ownership was more a status symbol than a necessity.status symbol than a necessity.

Family structureFamily structure Family run by the Paterfamilias (father) who Family run by the Paterfamilias (father) who

controlled the family business and income. Wife controlled the family business and income. Wife had control over the home. Men were often gone had control over the home. Men were often gone with the army- women ran much of day to day with the army- women ran much of day to day life.life.

Informal education came from parents. Fathers Informal education came from parents. Fathers taught their sons how to be good citizens. taught their sons how to be good citizens. Mothers taught their daughters how to manage a Mothers taught their daughters how to manage a household. household.

Formal education was done primarily at home Formal education was done primarily at home with a private tutor (for the rich). Schools were for with a private tutor (for the rich). Schools were for advanced learning, and focused on Greek advanced learning, and focused on Greek literature, debate, and rhetoric.literature, debate, and rhetoric.

ReligionReligion

Roman RepublicRoman Republic– Lares – ancestral spirits – Romans wanted Lares – ancestral spirits – Romans wanted

harmony with their ancestors.harmony with their ancestors.– Vesta – god who guarded fire and the hearth.Vesta – god who guarded fire and the hearth.

Roman EmpireRoman Empire– Polytheistic religion based on the family Polytheistic religion based on the family

traditions of the Republic.traditions of the Republic.– Purpose was to advance loyalty to the republic.Purpose was to advance loyalty to the republic.– Augustus became the chief priest.Augustus became the chief priest.– Rituals, ceremonies and processions were a Rituals, ceremonies and processions were a

part of daily life.part of daily life.

EntertainmentEntertainment

Government paid for public entertainment Government paid for public entertainment to keep population happy. Musician, to keep population happy. Musician, jugglers, acrobats could be seen most jugglers, acrobats could be seen most days in the forum. (marketplace) days in the forum. (marketplace)

Two most famous sportsTwo most famous sports– Chariot Races (held at Circus maximus in Chariot Races (held at Circus maximus in

Rome)Rome)– Gladiators (held at Coliseum in Rome) trained Gladiators (held at Coliseum in Rome) trained

fighters (slaves or criminals) fight to the death. fighters (slaves or criminals) fight to the death. Sometimes one on one, sometimes groups- Sometimes one on one, sometimes groups- even animals were popular.even animals were popular.

Intellectual and cultural Intellectual and cultural achievementachievement

Discovery was not important for Discovery was not important for Rome (unlike Greece)Rome (unlike Greece)

Collected and used best of other Collected and used best of other people’s ideas- added on to what had people’s ideas- added on to what had been done (adaptors not innovators)been done (adaptors not innovators)

Preserved and cataloged knowledgePreserved and cataloged knowledge Learning focused on the practical Learning focused on the practical

and useful.and useful.

Building/ArchitectureBuilding/Architecture

Loved big public building projects.Loved big public building projects. Borrowed Greek style, more Borrowed Greek style, more

elaborate, less symmetricalelaborate, less symmetrical Loved ArchesLoved Arches Invented Concrete- buildings could Invented Concrete- buildings could

be bigger, more open and strongerbe bigger, more open and stronger Aqueducts and Sewers made Aqueducts and Sewers made

people’s lives betterpeople’s lives better

Pont du GardPont du Gard

LiteratureLiterature

Again, copied Greeks in format (Epic Again, copied Greeks in format (Epic poems, history, philosophy)poems, history, philosophy)

Virgil: “The Aeneid” (Trojan prince Virgil: “The Aeneid” (Trojan prince founds Rome)founds Rome)

Plutarch: Historian “Parallel Lives” Plutarch: Historian “Parallel Lives” (Compare Rome to other Empires)(Compare Rome to other Empires)

Cicero: Philosopher/politician “On the Cicero: Philosopher/politician “On the Republic” (speeches on how Republic” (speeches on how government should work)government should work)

LanguageLanguage

LatinLatin Alphabet came from Etruscans (who had Alphabet came from Etruscans (who had

borrowed idea from Greeks)borrowed idea from Greeks) 23 letters (J, Y, W come later)23 letters (J, Y, W come later) Latin was “universal” you could use it Latin was “universal” you could use it

anywhere in the empire. Would remain anywhere in the empire. Would remain language of “education” until modern agelanguage of “education” until modern age

Modern “Romance Languages” come from Modern “Romance Languages” come from Latin- Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese Latin- Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese & Romanian & Romanian