Rome  1000 Years  only 200 years of peace – Pax Romana  Megalopolis  International Culture VALUES:  Practical  Rational  Hard Working  Group Oriented  Thrift, Honesty, Loyalty  Self-deprecating  Art’s main function – Entertainment, not Enlightenment

2 Major Periods: Republic & Empire 2 Foundation Myths Republican – Romulus & Remus Hard Work Roman success more important than family ties Imperial – Aeneas 1)Long-suffering 2)Total dedication to destiny

Roman Cultural Timeline Early Influences:  800 – 308 BC – North/Central Italy controlled by the Etruscans  Southern Italy controlled by Greeks Beginnings:  509 BC - Roman Republic established (Oligarchy)  Patricians – wealthy landowners (10% of population)  Plebeians – landless masses (90% of population) Government:  Two Consuls (Patricians) – executive heads  300 member Senate (Patricians)  Dictator (Patrician) – military leader in time of war  Tribunes (Patricians) – protectors of the Plebeians’ interests Law:  Twelve Tables – (Greek based, but on Draco, not Solon) Land Ownership:  Large estates controlled by Patricians  As time goes on, Plebeians forced into virtual slavery  Welfare system created out of necessity

Military:  Most organized in ancient world  Based on the Legions  Punic Wars ( BC) vs. Carthage begins move towards empire  Most of Mediterranean / Northwestern Europe conquered  Citizenship offered to conquered peoples  Cosmopolitan culture develops End of Republic:  Period of Civil War follows ( BC)  Gaius Julius Caesar becomes Dictator in 45 BC but is assassinated Empire:  Caesar’s nephew, Octavian maneuvers to become virtual Emperor by 27 BC  Bureaucracy established – so efficient that it can withstand bad rulers  Pax Romana ( BC) – no major wars, stability throughout the Mediterranean  180 BC – death of Marcus Aurelius, last truly great Emperor  BC – Decline and collapse of the Empire  Growth of Christianity  Constantinople established – foundation of Byzantine culture

Etruscan Culture and Art {Etruria}  Origins in Lydia/Asia Minor?  Confederations of city-states ruled by warrior aristocrats  Control N.Italy for 400 yrs.  rule Rome for 100 yrs. until driven out in 3 rd Century BC  Undeciphered unique language  Most of what we know is from their tombs  Pursuit of the good life  Accused of hedonism by the Romans  Greek influences  Borrow nothing from the Romans, but huge influence on Rome  Religion –  Asian origins  Divination  Gods similar in function to Greco-Roman  Human Sacrifice – origins of gladiatorial combat

 Art is distinctive – earthy, vigorous, sometimes homespun  Unique elements but also Hellenic & Hellenistic influences  Sculpture – Terra-cotta is their favorite medium, but also use of bronze Painting – Murals  Strong, black-outlined figures with bright colors  Religious, Leisure, & Greek-based subjects

 Jewelry – highly skilled goldsmiths Architecture -  Cities - Rectangular, planned, fortified on hilltops  Greek elements in buildings – colonnades  used Atriums, Aqueducts, Bridges, Sewers BEFORE Romans