Roman Culture & Society SS.A.2.4.5; SS.A.1.4.1; SS.B.2.4.1

Roman Art BC: Romans adopt Greek culture BC: Romans adopt Greek culture Romans loved Greek art Romans loved Greek art Greek statues displayed in public & in homes Greek statues displayed in public & in homes Later, copies of Greek statues used Later, copies of Greek statues used Original Roman works more realistic Original Roman works more realistic Greeks created art to idealize the reality Greeks created art to idealize the reality Romans created realistic art, showing even unattractive physical features Romans created realistic art, showing even unattractive physical features

Roman Architecture Architecture=practical art Architecture=practical art Continued to use many Greek conventions Continued to use many Greek conventions Colonnades and rectangular buildings Colonnades and rectangular buildings Roman architectural styles, included: Roman architectural styles, included: Arches, vaults and domes Arches, vaults and domes Used concrete in almost everything Used concrete in almost everything Engineers built roads, bridges and aqueducts Engineers built roads, bridges and aqueducts 50,000+ miles of road 50,000+ miles of road

Roman Literature The “golden age” of Latin literature=Age of Augustus (31 BC-AD 14) The “golden age” of Latin literature=Age of Augustus (31 BC-AD 14) Virgil: best poet of Augustinian Age Virgil: best poet of Augustinian Age Approved of Augustus; wrote his greatest work—Aeneid—in honor of Rome Approved of Augustus; wrote his greatest work—Aeneid—in honor of Rome Horace: pokes fun at human weakness Horace: pokes fun at human weakness Live: Historian, prose writer, treated history as series of moral lessons, advocated virtue, not always accurate Live: Historian, prose writer, treated history as series of moral lessons, advocated virtue, not always accurate

Roman Family Paterfamilias: patriarch, dominant male Paterfamilias: patriarch, dominant male Households included: wife, children, wives and children of children, slaves Households included: wife, children, wives and children of children, slaves Children raised at home, unlike in Greece Children raised at home, unlike in Greece Children expected to learn reading/writing Children expected to learn reading/writing Teachers usually Greek slaves, as learning Greek was important to success in empire Teachers usually Greek slaves, as learning Greek was important to success in empire Boys learned morals, family values, law and physical training for war Boys learned morals, family values, law and physical training for war

Roman Women Womanly weakness=male protection Womanly weakness=male protection Minimum age for marriage= 12 years Minimum age for marriage= 12 years Median age for marriage= 14 years Median age for marriage= 14 years Marriage was for life, usually Marriage was for life, usually Divorce possible after 3 rd Century B.C. Divorce possible after 3 rd Century B.C. Men and women allowed to ask for divorce, and process was easy Men and women allowed to ask for divorce, and process was easy Could not participate in politics Could not participate in politics

Changes to the Family A.D. 200: Paterfamilias no longer absolute authority over children, more freedoms A.D. 200: Paterfamilias no longer absolute authority over children, more freedoms Could not sell as slaves, or put to death Could not sell as slaves, or put to death Also true about authority over wife Also true about authority over wife Women allowed to attend races, theater and other public events, sit in women sec. Women allowed to attend races, theater and other public events, sit in women sec. A.D.: Women have right to property, center of household social life A.D.: Women have right to property, center of household social life

Slavery Slavery common in ancient world Slavery common in ancient world Romans had heaviest dependence on slaves, more than other peoples Romans had heaviest dependence on slaves, more than other peoples Slaves considered part of family Slaves considered part of family Slaves from all over empire, even Italy Slaves from all over empire, even Italy Greek slaves in demand as tutors, musicians, doctors, and artists Greek slaves in demand as tutors, musicians, doctors, and artists Some mistreated slaves, believe easier to work to death and replace, than treat well Some mistreated slaves, believe easier to work to death and replace, than treat well

Slave Revolts Some slaves would revolt against owners, even killing them Some slaves would revolt against owners, even killing them Some Romans lived in fear of slaves Some Romans lived in fear of slaves 73 BC: A gladiator named Sparticus, leads 70,000 slaves in revolt, beating many legions of Roman soldiers 73 BC: A gladiator named Sparticus, leads 70,000 slaves in revolt, beating many legions of Roman soldiers Killed in 71 BC, followers crucified Killed in 71 BC, followers crucified

Daily Life Rome is place to be, population 1 million Rome is place to be, population 1 million Largest city in empire, capital city, richest Largest city in empire, capital city, richest Overcrowded and noisy Overcrowded and noisy Walking at night dangerous, crime Walking at night dangerous, crime Dirty, garbage dumped out windows Dirty, garbage dumped out windows Rich lived in large, beautiful villas Rich lived in large, beautiful villas Poor lived in apts. (insulae) 1-6 floors Poor lived in apts. (insulae) 1-6 floors Concrete with wood floors, often poorly built Concrete with wood floors, often poorly built Building fires common Building fires common

Public Programs Rome had many great buildings Rome had many great buildings Baths, theaters, government buildings, markets, temples= impressive, grand Baths, theaters, government buildings, markets, temples= impressive, grand 200,000 poor get free grains from gov 200,000 poor get free grains from gov Free entertainment for the people Free entertainment for the people Paid for by emperors Paid for by emperors Circus Maximus: horse and chariot races Circus Maximus: horse and chariot races Dramas Dramas Gladiatorial Shows Gladiatorial Shows