Ancient Rome

Weapons Modern 'Roman soldiers' show how an army catapult or 'onager' was fired. It threw rocks or balls of burning tar. Modern 'Roman soldiers' show how an army catapult or 'onager' was fired. It threw rocks or balls of burning tar. This a modern reconstruction of a 'ballista' or crossbow used by the Roman army This a modern reconstruction of a 'ballista' or crossbow used by the Roman army

Roman Roads There is an old expression, "All roads lead to Rome." In ancient Rome, Rome was the heart of the empire. Each time a new city was conquered, a road was built from that city back to Rome. Roads were built in straight lines. Many had gutters. Along the side of road, the Romans built road signs called milestones. Milestones did not give any information about other towns in the area. Milestones told how far it was back to Rome.

Roman Architecture: Arches and Domes The Grand Pantheon was a temple first built in the very early days of the Roman Empire. It was dedicated to all the Roman gods. The Romans used concrete (an ancient Roman invention) to build the dome of the Pantheon, which even today is still one of the largest single- span domes in the world. The construction of this building greatly influenced western architecture. The Grand Pantheon was a temple first built in the very early days of the Roman Empire. It was dedicated to all the Roman gods. The Romans used concrete (an ancient Roman invention) to build the dome of the Pantheon, which even today is still one of the largest single- span domes in the world. The construction of this building greatly influenced western architecture.

Roman Aqueducts As cities grew, the ancient Romans needed more fresh water. To solve this problem, they built aqueducts. These were massive construction projects. As cities grew, the ancient Romans needed more fresh water. To solve this problem, they built aqueducts. These were massive construction projects. An aqueduct, properly speaking, is the entire channel - from fresh water spring to town. A natural or artificial channel through which fluids may be conveyed). An aqueduct, properly speaking, is the entire channel - from fresh water spring to town. A natural or artificial channel through which fluids may be conveyed). Where aqueducts had to cross valleys, some were built above ground, on arches. Most of the time, they were underground channels, and sometimes conduits lying right on the ground. These channels could be made of clay or wood, covered or encrusted with stone. The pipes inside the channels, that carried the water, were made of lead, which in turn required vast mining enterprises and then transportation to get all this pipe out into the field all over the empire, although most of the lead was mined in Spain. Where aqueducts had to cross valleys, some were built above ground, on arches. Most of the time, they were underground channels, and sometimes conduits lying right on the ground. These channels could be made of clay or wood, covered or encrusted with stone. The pipes inside the channels, that carried the water, were made of lead, which in turn required vast mining enterprises and then transportation to get all this pipe out into the field all over the empire, although most of the lead was mined in Spain. The Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct (for carrying water). It is in the south of France

The Colosseum was a huge public entertainment center. The Colosseum could seat 45,000 spectators. Some people were not lucky enough to have a seat in the Colosseum. If you didn't mind standing, the Colosseum could hold up to 70,000 spectators! This is where the ancient Romans gathered to watch bloody combat between gladiators, and battles between men and wild animals. This is where they threw people to the lions! To see men being killed was very entertaining to the ancient Romans. On occasion, they flooded the Colosseum with water, to hold naval battles. During the battles, many competitors died. The Colosseum was a huge public entertainment center. The Colosseum could seat 45,000 spectators. Some people were not lucky enough to have a seat in the Colosseum. If you didn't mind standing, the Colosseum could hold up to 70,000 spectators! This is where the ancient Romans gathered to watch bloody combat between gladiators, and battles between men and wild animals. This is where they threw people to the lions! To see men being killed was very entertaining to the ancient Romans. On occasion, they flooded the Colosseum with water, to hold naval battles. During the battles, many competitors died. The ancient Romans were great builders. They built things to last. The Colosseum was built of concrete, faced with stone, as were most amphitheaters. It was built in the early days of the Roman Empire, around 70 CE. It was designed to host huge spectacles. Anyone could attend the events in the Colosseum. Admission was free.

Even for the poor, life in the city was lively. The ancient Romans enjoyed many different kinds of entertainment. Plays were performed in large open air theaters. There were lots of theatres, and even the small ones could seat 7,000 people. If ancient Romans wished to go out, there was always something going on, like the great State festivals including shows in the theatres, races, and fights in the arenas. These were free spectacles that citizens could enjoy. Since most events were free, poor people could attend as well as the rich. Some events were scheduled during the day, some were scheduled at night. If wealthy Romans stayed home, they lit oil lamps, to enjoy the evening. Wealthy Romans might invite friends over for a dinner party. The poor, unless they went out, went to bed as soon as it got dark as they couldn't afford to keep oil lamps burning.

The Public Baths were extremely popular. Roman women and men tried to visit the baths at least once every day. The baths had hot and cold pools, towels, slaves to wait on you, steam rooms, saunas, exercise rooms, and hair cutting salons. They had reading rooms and libraries, as among the freeborn, who had the right to frequent baths, the majority could read. They even had stores, selling all kinds of things, and people who sold fast food. The baths were arranged rather like a very large mall, with bathing pools. The Public Baths were extremely popular. Roman women and men tried to visit the baths at least once every day. The baths had hot and cold pools, towels, slaves to wait on you, steam rooms, saunas, exercise rooms, and hair cutting salons. They had reading rooms and libraries, as among the freeborn, who had the right to frequent baths, the majority could read. They even had stores, selling all kinds of things, and people who sold fast food. The baths were arranged rather like a very large mall, with bathing pools. The baths were packed. The people loved them. At one time, there were as many as 900 public baths in ancient Rome. Small ones held about 300 people, and the big ones held 1500 people or more! Some Roman hospitals even had their own bathhouses. A trip to the bath was a very important part of ancient Roman daily life. The baths were packed. The people loved them. At one time, there were as many as 900 public baths in ancient Rome. Small ones held about 300 people, and the big ones held 1500 people or more! Some Roman hospitals even had their own bathhouses. A trip to the bath was a very important part of ancient Roman daily life. Roman Baths

Sewer Systems The Romans were keen on keeping clean. The Romans were keen on keeping clean. Towns and forts had underground drains to take away dirty water and sewage. The drain pipes were flushed through with water from the baths, so they didn't get too smelly. From remains and writings found at Pompeii, in Italy, we know that most towns had plumbers, and also laundries where workers washed and ironed people's clothes. Fresh clean water and sewers are important. Without them, people risk catching diseases from drinking dirty water or from sewage left around streets and houses. Towns and forts had underground drains to take away dirty water and sewage. The drain pipes were flushed through with water from the baths, so they didn't get too smelly. From remains and writings found at Pompeii, in Italy, we know that most towns had plumbers, and also laundries where workers washed and ironed people's clothes. Fresh clean water and sewers are important. Without them, people risk catching diseases from drinking dirty water or from sewage left around streets and houses.

Roman Republic 5 Levels: When the Roman Republic was first set up, in 500 BC, the people in charge were two men called consuls. The consuls controlled the army, and they decided whether to start a war and how much taxes to collect and what the laws were. They both had to agree in order to change anything; if one of them said “veto”, Latin for “I forbid it”, then nothing would be done. When the Roman Republic was first set up, in 500 BC, the people in charge were two men called consuls. The consuls controlled the army, and they decided whether to start a war and how much taxes to collect and what the laws were. They both had to agree in order to change anything; if one of them said “veto”, Latin for “I forbid it”, then nothing would be done.

The Senate The consuls got advice from the Senate, which was made up of men from wealthy families in Rome.. Once you got into the Senate, you stayed in for the rest of your life. Most consuls eventually joined the Senate, and most senators were from families where their fathers and grandfathers had been in the Senate. Most of the time, the consuls did what the Senate advised. The consuls got advice from the Senate, which was made up of men from wealthy families in Rome.. Once you got into the Senate, you stayed in for the rest of your life. Most consuls eventually joined the Senate, and most senators were from families where their fathers and grandfathers had been in the Senate. Most of the time, the consuls did what the Senate advised.

The “Prefects” There were also prefects in Rome, whose job it was to run the city – some heard court cases, some ran the vegetable markets or the meat markets or the port. There were also prefects in Rome, whose job it was to run the city – some heard court cases, some ran the vegetable markets or the meat markets or the port. A Roman Courtroom

The “Tribunes” There were tribunes, who were supposed to speak for the poorer people in the Senate. Tribunes were elected by the Assembly, and they could veto (forbid) anything the Senate voted for that affected the poor (which ended up being pretty much anything the Senate voted on). These, too, were all men. There were tribunes, who were supposed to speak for the poorer people in the Senate. Tribunes were elected by the Assembly, and they could veto (forbid) anything the Senate voted for that affected the poor (which ended up being pretty much anything the Senate voted on). These, too, were all men.

The “Assembly” Finally, there was also an Assembly of all the men (not women) who were grownup and free and had Roman citizenship. They voted on some big issues, if the consuls asked them to – things like whether to go to war. And they elected the consuls and prefects and the Senators. But the Assembly was set up so that richer people got more votes than poorer people Finally, there was also an Assembly of all the men (not women) who were grownup and free and had Roman citizenship. They voted on some big issues, if the consuls asked them to – things like whether to go to war. And they elected the consuls and prefects and the Senators. But the Assembly was set up so that richer people got more votes than poorer people

Toys and Games TOYS: Balls, board games, hobbyhorses, kites, tiny models of people and animals. The ancient Romans played with hoops, with pieces of metal on them, like bells, to jingle and warn people in their way. Boys walked on stilts and played games with balls. They played tic-tac-toe, and a game called "knucklebones", which is a lot like jacks, only played with bones. The boys played war-type games. They played war, and fought with wooden swords, quite fiercely. The game of "Troy" was a team thing involving resisting a whole pack of kids outnumbering you, who'd try to drag you across a line. TOYS: Balls, board games, hobbyhorses, kites, tiny models of people and animals. The ancient Romans played with hoops, with pieces of metal on them, like bells, to jingle and warn people in their way. Boys walked on stilts and played games with balls. They played tic-tac-toe, and a game called "knucklebones", which is a lot like jacks, only played with bones. The boys played war-type games. They played war, and fought with wooden swords, quite fiercely. The game of "Troy" was a team thing involving resisting a whole pack of kids outnumbering you, who'd try to drag you across a line. The girls played with rags dolls and dolls of wax or clay. Some dolls even had jointed legs and arms. The girls played board and ball games, and even lifted weights. The girls played with rags dolls and dolls of wax or clay. Some dolls even had jointed legs and arms. The girls played board and ball games, and even lifted weights. The ancient Romans loved games. Horace tells of children building small houses, riding on hobbyhorses, and hitching mice to little carts. Kids from poor families had to work a great deal, but they still found a little time to play. Kids from wealthy families did not work or help around the house. They had slaves who did all the work for them, so they had lots of time to play. The ancient Romans loved games. Horace tells of children building small houses, riding on hobbyhorses, and hitching mice to little carts. Kids from poor families had to work a great deal, but they still found a little time to play. Kids from wealthy families did not work or help around the house. They had slaves who did all the work for them, so they had lots of time to play.

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