Rome and the Roots of Western Civilization

Chapter 6 Unit 5Notes

The Legacy of Greco-Roman Civilization

• 2nd c. BC Rome conquered Greece– Immediately admired– Mixing Greek, Hellenistic, Roman = Greco

Roman culture (classical civ.)

• Didn’t copy but adapted to create own style

The Legacy of Greco-Roman Civilization

Roman Fine Art• Learned sculpture from the Greeks

– Greece = beauty and idealization– Rome = realistic and practical

• Used for educational purposes• Developed new sculpture method = bas relief

– Images project from a flat background• Mosaics = pictures/designs using small pieces of materials and

arranging them on a surface• Excelled in art, frescoes = painted on wet plaster

– Many have been found in Pompeii (AD 79 Mt. Vesuvius erupted covering town in ash, killed 2,000 but perserved art and buildings

The Legacy of Greco-Roman Civilization

Learning and Literature• Romans borrowed from Greek

philosophy (Stoicism and Zeno)– Encouraged virtue, duty, moderation,

and endurance• Virgil Epic poem writer

The Legacy of Rome

• Still see presence of Rome in language, institutions, and thoughts

Latin Languages• Language of the Romans, remained

after fall of Rome• Official language of the Catholic church

until 20th c.• Developed Romance languages:

– French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian

The Legacy of Rome

Master Builders• Colosseum from colossus “gigantic”:

– Religious festivities held, as well as gladiator games• AD 72-81, can hold up to 50,000, made of stone

and concrete, stands 157 ft high and 620 feet long, arena is 287 ft long and 180 ft wide

• Aqueducts: designed to bring water into cities and towns

• Thomas Jefferson: Roman rival in 18th c. DC to resemble Roman architecture

• Roads: Army built a massive network of roads through empire (still used in Middle Ages)

The Legacy of Rome

Roman System of Law• Most lasting contribution• Law should be fair and apply equally• Law influenced by Stoic thinking:

– (1) common sense and (2) practical ideas

• Important principals:– Right to equal treatment under the law– Innocent till proven guilty– Burden of proof is on the accuser– Punishment for actions not thoughts– Unreasonable/unfair laws set aside

The Legacy of Rome

Rome’s Enduring Influence:R.H. Barrow said “Rome never fell

because it turned into something even greater, an IDEA, and achieved immortality”

Mosaic Art

Roman Art

Colossum