UNIT 9: ANCIENT ROME

• What was the natural environment like in Ancient Rome?

• What characterized the Roman monarchy, republic and

empire?

• What was the Roman economy based on ?

• What was Roman religion like?

• In what areas of the arts, science and culture did the

Ancient Romans make important contributions?

• Who were the Germanic people?

TOPICS

1. The natural environment

2. The history of Ancient Rome

3. Economy and society

4. Religion

5. Culture and Science

6. Art

7. The Germanic people

1. The natural environment

1. The natural environment

Characteristics of Italian Peninsula:

• Very mountainous

• Alps in the North

• Apennines cross the country from North to South.

• Large plain surround the river Po.

• The islands of Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia

1. The natural environment

The city of Rome is located on the banks of the River Tiber, in the centre of the Italian Peninsula. It dominated most of the Mediterranean area for centuries.

1. The natural environment

In the 8th century B.C. (when Rome was founded), the Italian Peninsula was inhabited by various civilisations:

THE ETRUSCANS THE LATINS THE GREEKS

In the North (between the River Tiber and the river

Arno)

In the Centre (the region called Lacio, where the city of Rome is located)

In the South (this territory is known as Magna Graecia)

1. The natural environment

The Etruscan civilisation was very important. We don´t know its origin:

Some historians believe that the Etruscans came from the East, while others think they were natives of the Italian peninsula. They developed a great civilisation, with cities as Caere, Vulci and Volterra. The remains of many tombs have been found in these cities. The tombs are similar to houses. Inside there are sarcophagi with painted sculptures depicting the dead man accompanied by his wife.

Sarcofago degli Sposi, de finales del siglo VI a. C.

2. The history of Ancient Rome

The history of Ancient Rome is divided in three periods:

MONARCHY REPUBLIC EMPIRE

753 – 509 B.C. 509 -27 B.C. 27 B.C. – 476 A.D.

2. The history of Ancient Rome

MONARCHY (753-509 B.C.)

• According to legend, Roma was founded by Romulus in 753 B.C.

• Later, the city was occupied by the Etruscans.

• At that time, Rome was ruled by a monarchy.

• The last Etruscan king was deposed in 509 B.C. because he was a tyrant.

2. The history of Ancient Rome

REPUBLIC (509 - 27 B.C.)

• Rome was a republic and the citizens elected the government.

• Power was shared between: o The people´s assemblies.

o The magistrates.

o The Senate.

2. The history of Ancient Rome

REPUBLIC (509 - 27 B.C.)

• During this time Rome had control of the Mediterranean Sea (after victory in the Punic Wars against Carthage in 146 B.C.) and control over the Iberian Peninsula (between 218 and 19 B.C.).

2. The history of Ancient Rome

REPUBLIC (509 - 27 B.C.)

• The Republic ended when some magistrates and generals, including Julius Caesar, took control of the government of Rome.

2. The history of Ancient Rome

EMPIRE (27 B.C. – 476 A.D.)

• The Roman Empire began in 27 B.C., when the Senate gave political and religious power to Augustus.

• Augustus held all power and the other political institutions lost their importance.

2. The history of Ancient Rome

EMPIRE (27 B.C. – 476 A.D.)

• Some of the most significant episode were: oPax Romana: a time of social, political and

economic stability that lasted until the 2nd century.

oTerritorial conquest: the Empire went reached its maximum size.

oCrisis of the Third Century: the Empire went into decline.

Why did the Empire go into crisis? Solutions?

2. The history of Ancient Rome

EMPIRE (27 B.C. – 476 A.D.)

Crisis of the Third Century • In 395 A.D., Emperor Theodosius divided the

Empire into two parts:

Western Roman Empire Eastern Roman Empire

Rome as the capital. Ruled by Honorio.

Constantinople as capital. Ruled by Arcadio.

2. The history of Ancient Rome

EMPIRE (27 B.C. – 476 A.D.)

Crisis of the Third Century • In 476 A.D., the Germanic people deposed the last

emperor of the Western Roman Empire. • The Eastern Roman empire became Byzantium

and lasted many years more.

3. Economy and society

How was cities like?

Cities

3. Economy and society

• Cities were the basis centres of trades.

• Rome became the economic capital of the Ancient World, because all the products obtained in the Empire´s different provinces were taken to Rome.

Cities

3. Economy and society

• The Romans designed their cities on a grid system.

• The two main streets were cardo and decumanus.

• A forum was located at the point where the two main streets crossed.

Cities

3. Economy and society

• There were two kind of houses:

o Domus for rich people, with a courtyard.

o Insulae, poor quality buildings with several floors where many families lived.

Cities

3. Economy and society

How did they live?

Economy

3. Economy and society

AGRICULTURE

• The Romans grew cereals, beans, fruit, grapes and olives.

• They introduced new farming techniques, including the use of fertiliser, irrigation, crop rotation and leaving land fallow.

• Farmer also raised livestock: goats, chicken, geese, ducks, sheep and pigs.

Economy

3. Economy and society

AGRICULTURE

• Small farms belonged to peasants and big farms belonged to the richest citizens and the Roman State.

• There were large villas on big farms, where slaves and tenant farmers worked.

Economy

3. Economy and society

CRAFTWORK

• It was an urban activity.

• The Romans made textiles, furniture, weapons, jewellery, pottery, etc. with materials such as glass, metal and clay.

• The production on different types of food was also important activity: oil, wine, bread, salted food, etc.

Economy

3. Economy and society

TRADE

• There was a lot of trade between Rome and the rest of the Empire where the raw materials came from:

Economy

From Hispania Oil, wheat, wine, garum and metals

From Syria Gold, silver, cooper and textile

From Asia Minor Metals and livestock

3. Economy and society

TRADE

• The Romans also traded with regions outside the Empire. They bought:

Economy

From North and East of Europe

amber, wheat, slaves, and animals skins.

From Africa Slaves, gold, ivory, and gemstones.

From Asia (India and China)

Spices, silk and perfumes.

3. Economy and society

TRADE

• Trade increased because of seas and land routes and the use of money.

• The Romans built a lot of roads, reaching all parts of the Empire.

• Sea transport, which was safer and quicker than road transport, was also of great importance.

Economy

3. Economy and society

How was society like?

Society

3. Economy and society

Society

FREE PEOPLE SLAVES

PATRICIANS PLEBEIANS • Were not considered as people.

• Had no rights. • Worked in agriculture,

mining, craftwork, housework, etc. but were not paid.

• Why did people become an slave? *

• A minority • They were nobles. • They held all political

rights.

• Most people • They had some rights but

did not participate in government.

• During the Republic, the plebeians rebelled and achieved equal rights.

WOMEN • Belonged to their fathers or husbands. • They didn´t have the right to vote, but they could own property. • Girls went to school and women did not live in separate areas of the house (unlike

the Greeks)

3. Economy and society

Society

SLAVES

People became slave if: 1. Were taken prisoner in a war. 2. They didn´t pay their debts. 3. They were children of slaves.

4. Religion

What did they believed in?

4. Religion

The Romans believed in many gods:

STATES GODS HOUSEHOLD GODS

• There were a lot of these • Romans copied the Greek

gods, but changed their names*

• The main ones were:

• They protected the home. • There were various types:

JUPITER JUNO MINERVA LARES MANES PENATES

Some emperors were deified and worshipped as gods.

At the beginning of the Empire, a new religion emerged: Christianity.

Romans copied the Greek gods, but changed their names:

4. Religion

CHRISTIANITY

• Christians believed in: o A single God (monotheism) o The equality of all humans o The existence of life after death.

Constantino I (272 – 337) Teodosio I el Grande (347-395)

4. Religion

CHRISTIANITY

• The Christians were persecuted because they refused to worship the emperor.

• In 313 A.D., Emperor Constantine established freedom of worship through the Edict of Milan.

• In 380 A.D., Emperor Theodosius proclaimed Christianity to be the official religion of the Roman Empire.

5. Culture and science

What about culture and science?

5. Culture and science

Language

Latin was the language used by all inhabitants of the Empire. Many European languages are derived from the Latin.

Legislation Their laws form the basis of modern Western legislation.

Philosophy Seneca and Cicero

Literature Virgil, poet and author of the Aeneid

History Julius Caesar, Tacitus, Plutarch and Livy

Medicine Books by the doctor Galen became the basis for medicine in the

Middle Ages.

The calendar The Romans used the calendar that Julius Caesar developed in 45 B.C.

(the Julian calendar).

5. Art

The Romans constructed a lot of public buildings and engineering works.

Architecture

5. Art

Architecture

Aqueducts: these took water to the cities. They had one of several tiers of arches supported by pillars.

5. Art

Architecture

Basilica: these were places for meeting, trials and commercial activities.

5. Art

Architecture

Amphitheatres: these held gladiator and animal fights, and simulated naval combats.

5. Art

Architecture

Circus: these were in the shape of a rectangle and were a venue for chariot races.

5. Art

Architecture

Roads: these were made of several layers of stone with big flat slabs placed on top of them.

5. Art

Architecture

Triumphal arches: these had several entrances and commemorated a military victory or an important event.

5. Art

Architecture

Theatres: these were where actors performed comedies and tragedies. They were semi-circular.

5. Art

Architecture

Thermal baths: these were public baths and consisted of several different rooms.

5. Art

Architecture

Bridges: these had several semi-circular arches resting on pillars.

5. Art

Architecture

Temples: these were the houses of the gods and were rectangular or circular.

5. Art

Architecture

Construction materials included stone, bricks of various sizes, wood and mortar (mixture of water, sand and lime).

5. Art

Architecture

The Romans used the following architectural elements: semi-circular arches, vaults, Greek columns.

5. Art

Sculpture and other art forms

Roman sculpture imitated Greek sculpture.

Portrait: special attention was given to the face of the person represented. This could be idealised or realistic.

5. Art

Sculpture and other art forms

Historical relief: these depicted important military victories as reliefs on triumphal arches and commemorative columns.

5. Art

Sculpture and other art forms

Painting: the Romans used painting to decorate building. These imitated blocks of marble or depicted buildings, landscapes and scenes of mythology.

5. Art

Sculpture and other art forms

Mosaics: they used mosaics to decorate walls and floors. These could have geometric designs or depicted scenes from mythology, daily life, etc.

6. The Germanic people

Who were the Germanic people?

6. The Germanic people

•The Germanic people

settle close to the River Rhine and River Danube on the northern borders of the Roman Empire. • They lived in scattered

villages close to lakes, rivers or springs.

6. The Germanic people

• They were organised into tribes. • The men met in assemblies to make the decisions

that would affect their communities. • They had tribal chiefs, who led the people in times

of war. • They lived from hunting, livestock and agriculture. • When the land became exhausted, they moved to

another place. • They worshipped various gods and produce simple

decorative items.

German barbarians

6. The Germanic people

• In the 3rd century A.D., Germanic barbarian began to invade the Roman Empire. o Some signed pacts with Rome and became allies. o Other were hostile to the Empire.

• At the end of the 4th century A.D., the Huns, led by their King Attila, began to move west and attacked the Germanic tribes.

• The Germanic people were forced to scape and occupy territories belonging to the Western Roman Empire.

• The barbarians finally conquered the Western Roman Empire in 476 A.D.

Attila the Hun

THE END By José Luis Alcaide

Geography and History teacher

IES Puerta de la Axarquía