Roman Achievements

Roman AchievementsIn early days, Romans borrowed heavily from

Greek culture. The blending of Greek, Hellenistic and Roman traditions produced what is known as the Greco-Roman civilization.

Architecture Medicine Art Science Language Literature Law

ArchitecturePantheonThe ColosseumForumCircus MaximusRoadsRoman ArchAqueducts

Pantheon

It was originally built as a Roman temple to all the gods. Pan = all, theo = god

The dome of the Pantheon influenced buildings for thousands of years including our nation’s capital building.

The Colosseum

First permanent amphitheater built in Rome which used 30,000 slaves and 500,000 tons of rock.

Seated 50,000 peopleEntertain the masses including chariot

races, bloody gladiator fights, mock animal hunts, and even naval battles.

One of the greatest architectural achievements in history.

The Forum

The Forum is located between Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill in Rome. It is the central area around which ancient Roman civilization developed.

Public meetings, markets, religious ceremonies, and burials were held here.

The Romans also constructed temples and some houses in the Forum, as well as an impressive drainage system, which is still visible where the main sewer empties into the Tiber River.

Circus Maximus

The Circus Maximus was the largest stadium in ancient Rome. At one point the Circus could seat 250,000 people

Mostly held chariot racesA chariot is a cart pulled by

horses and could race up to 45 miles per hour!

The races were very dangerous.

Those guys were CRAZY!

We’d NEVER do something like that?

Or would we?

Roads – The Appian WayMore than 300 miles long, it was the main

route between Rome and Greece

Roman Roads

The Arch

The Arch The Romans used arches in their

buildings and especially in their bridges.

Arches are very strong and can hold more weight than rectangles.

Many Roman bridges still stand because of the arches.

Roman Arch

ArchThe Romans perfected the Etruscan arch with the use of the keystone.The arch is one of the strongest methods for building any large structure. The arch distributes weight more evenly. Weight actually strengthens an arch.

ArchThe arch also made buildings cheaper to build because less building material

was required.

Arch

AqueductsWaterways that were engineered to bring

water into the cities from the mountains, often over hundreds of miles!

Some are still in use today, supplying water to Rome’s many fountains.

AqueductsRome itself was supplied by more

than ten aqueducts which provided more than 38 million gallons of water per day!!

AqueductsNot only brought in fresh water, but Rome was equipped with an elaborate sewer system which washed away the waste and sewage into the Tiber River. Rome was a very clean city especially when compared to some places we’ve studied!

And here it is….THE SPONGE

STICK!!!

MedicineEmphasis on public health

Public bathsKeep germs at bay, better hygiene

Public water systemLimited diseases associated with standing

waterEstablished a medical school

Eye Surgeries http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/

action/yt/watch?videoId=5lXgG88Xx8Q

Public Baths

ArtRomans were famous for their

MosaicsMosaics - Images made from small bits

of tile, stone, or glass Mosaics decorated the walls and floors

of many wealthy Romans

Inscription: Beware of Dog

Science

Ptolemy Astronomer Mathematician Geographer

He wrote down the Greek geocentric (earth-centered) view of the universe.

Mt. Vesusius erupts in 79CE in the town of Mt. Vesusius erupts in 79CE in the town of PompeiiPompeii A giant explosion ripped off the top of the A giant explosion ripped off the top of the

mountain and within 2 hours the town of mountain and within 2 hours the town of Pompeii had Pompeii had disappeareddisappeared..

As ash fell, people tried to flee. Most suffocated As ash fell, people tried to flee. Most suffocated and were and were buried in ashburied in ash..

Rain hardened the ash forming molds of people Rain hardened the ash forming molds of people and and preserving artifactspreserving artifacts..

Science – Reviewing the PastScience – Reviewing the Past

““History is not the accumulation of events of every History is not the accumulation of events of every kind which happened in the past.kind which happened in the past.

It is the science of human societies.” It is the science of human societies.” Fustel de CoulangesFustel de Coulanges

LanguageLatinRomance Languages

(also referred to as Romanic Language)FrenchSpanishItalianPortuguese

Literature Poetry

Virgil The Aeneid Story of the origins of Rome in

the style of Homer. Horace

Satires Histories

LivyPatriotic – recounted tales of

great heroes like Cincinnatus. Philosophy

Borrowed philosophy from Greeks.

Stoicism (duty/fate)

Law - Review

Twelve TablesOnce a law was made public, the

law was known to everyone.Protection of certain rightsThe principle of “innocent until

proven guilty”

Quick Check

Name the building in this picture.a. Pantheonb. Partheneon c. Forumd. Colosseum

What engineering feat provided water to Rome?a. Archesb. Aqueductsc. Forumsd. Public Baths

Weird Romanshttp://www.cleanvideosearch.com/

media/action/yt/watch?videoId=TFo4-N3EwsU

Decline and Division of the Western Roman Empire

Slow DeclineOver a 300-year period, the western part of the

Roman Empire steadily declined because of internal and external problems. By 284, the empire was split into 2 parts each with a co-emperor responsible to the Emperor.

There were 5 main reasons for the decline:

Economic Military Social Political Invasion

Economic ReasonsHigh Taxes: Cost to defend the empire =

big $$$

Government Costs = Taxes

Geographic size – difficulty of defense and administration

Devaluation of Roman currency = inflation

Inflation

Military ReasonsArmy membership starting to include

non-Romans, resulting in decline of discipline Rome was forced to hire mercenaries (non-

Romans) to defend their borders…little loyalty!!!

Social ReasonsMoral Decay - Decline in values

Patriotism devotion to duty Discipline

People’s lost of faith in Rome and family

Political Reasons

Civil Wars Remember that Augustus (Octavian)

Caesar failed to provide for the peaceful succession of emperors?

This often led to civil wars which led to a loss of support of the people.

Long line of weak emperors left the government impoverished and unable to fix the problems of the empire.

InvasionsATTACKS ON BORDERS!!!The Huns were a nomadic tribe from Asia

who loved to fight Many Germanic peoples were displaced by

fierce battles with the Huns Ultimately, invasion and displacement put

pressure on Roman borders, often which could not be defended with mercenary armies.

Under pressure from attacks, Rome surrendered territories in Britain, Gaul (France), and Spain.

Invadershttp://www.cleanvideosearch.com/

media/action/yt/watch?videoId=IOnkc0xFDW4

Quick Check

Name the 5 reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire.

a. Economic, Social, Psychological, Military, Invasion

b. Military, Psychological, Social, Medical, Politicalc. Economic, Political, Social, Military, Invasiond. Social, Economic, Political, Medical, Military

Division of the Empire In CE 284, Emperor Diocletian divided

the empire into western and eastern halves in order to make the large empire easier to govern.

He kept the wealthier eastern part for himself to rule but appointed a co-emperor to rule the western half

The eastern half thrived while the western Roman empire continued to decline.

Division of the EmpireIn CE 330, Emperor Constantine moved the

capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium and named it after himself,

Constantinople…Became known as the 2nd Rome!

Fading Power & InvasionsRoman Power fading

378 Roman army suffered a defeat at Adrianople by Visigoths

410 Visigoth general Alaric overran Italy and plundered Rome

More and more Germanic peoples occupied the western Roman Empire.

434 Attacks by Attilla the Hun. Called the “Scourge of God” because people

believed his attacks were punishment for the sins of humankind.

476 Odoacer, a Germanic leader, ousted the emperor in Rome. NO ROMAN EMPEROR

End of the Empire

The final end of the western portion of the empire came in CE 476 when Odoacer, a Germanic leader, overthrew the last western Roman emperor.

476 is considered the official date of the “fall of Rome.”

The Eastern Roman Empire continued as the Byzantine Empire.