The Roman Empire

Paul, Elena A, Jacob, Sofa, Anna, Sarah, Chris, and Mishu

Religion/Beliefs

• Polytheistic

• Believed in invisible forces

• Equated Greek gods with Roman ones, and took over Greek mythology

Social Development/Structure

• Diverse populations and ways of life

• Large and successful middle class

• Diverse populations

• Not as focused on cult of ancestors as Han China

• Cultural unity

Technological Advancements

• Arches could support a lot weight without needing thick supporting walls

• The invention of concrete allowed things to be poured into molds and create domed and vaulted spaces- more interesting architechture

• Army engineers built siege works, and ballistic weapons, they were more technologically advanced than their neighbors so they were not threatened by them

• China’s military technological advancements were horse breeding to support cavalry and crossbow, not as effective for attacking walled cities

Aqueducts

• Allowed for easy water transfer from source to key locations

• Better than Han canals because they could be built above or below ground, they were more durable, and they used specialized workers (anyone can dig a canal)

Roads and Other Advancements

• Roman roads allowed for easy travel.• Better than Han roads because Han roads were

built mainly for military, Roman roads served more purposes in that they encouraged trade throughout the empire.

• Roman roads were paved with concrete.• Arches and concrete also made massive

structures more stable because they distributed weight evenly.

The Republic

• The Roman Senate was an governing body comprised of the heads of families who they would vote on political decisions. members in the roman senate would stay for life in it the more educated and successful men’s votes would have greater influence.

• The Senate would annually vote for the men occupying the political offices. The highest office was the Consul who presided over the meeting of the Senate and led military ventures.

• There were also tribunes that came from the lower classes to represent them in the government.

• There was also the patron client relationship where the upper classes would protect the lower classes while the lower classes would support the upper classes political infuence.

Principate (31 B.C.E- 330 C.E.)

• The period following the Republic.• Augustus felt it important to maintain the forms

of the Republic, while creating a more stable form of government.

• Equites became the core of a new, paid civil service that helped run the empire.

• It was a governmental bureaucracy.• Divisions of Roman law: persons, things,

actions.

Trade and Commerce

• Trade supported the entire Roman Empire. Each province had specified goods that no other province had, so inner-empire trading was necessary. The Pax Romana guaranteed safe trade, and so made this possible. Romans used their own technological advances, such as lighthouses to improve and create safer trade.

• Trade routes stretched all of the world, reaching China, Africa, India, and Britain. Many routes were over sea, so the Mediterranean Sea was heavily used, as were rivers that led into Italy, such as the Tiber River.

• Ostia was the main Roman port. It was the port closest to Rome, and had access to the Tiber River. Goods that were destined for Rome stopped at Ostia, were loaded onto barges, and were shipped up the Tiber River.

Imports and Exports

• Roman imported many raw materials such as silk, tin, timber, iron, leather, lead, marble, silver, perfume and purple dye.

• They also imported food items like beef, corn, grain, and spices.

• They exported manufactured goods such as glassware, metal, wine, olive oil, and pottery, along with native crops such as grapes, olives, and papyrus.

Third Century Crisis

• The crisis occurred because of major political instability which in turn led to economic turmoil.

• The constant change in rulers and invading tribesman decreased the economic prosperity of the Empire.

• Eventually caused the value of the coin to decrease dramatically.

• However, the Empire quickly adapted by reverting to a barter economy.

Importance of Slaves and Peasants in Trade and Commerce

• Slaves were used strategically to grow large surpluses of food.

• Peasant farmers often left the farm to fight in the army.

• Their farms where overtaken by wealthy aristocrats who grew wine, grapes, and olives.

• This caused a large need for imported grain.

Bibliography

• http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ancient_rome_and_trade.htm

• http://www.unrv.com/economy.php• http://www.roman-empire.net/articles/article-018.

html