1. Roman Culture and Achievements

2. Objectives
Summarize the works of Roman literary figures, historians, and philosophers.
Describe the art and architecture developed by the Romans.
Understand how Romans applied science and mathematics for practical use.
Explain how Rome’s legal codes protected everyone in the empire.

3. Terms and People Virgil – poet who wrote the epic poem The Aeneid
satirize – to make fun of
mosaic – picture made from chips of colored stone or glass
engineering – the application of science and mathematics to develop useful structures and machines

4. Terms and People (continued)
aqueduct – stone structure that carried water from the hills to the cities
Ptolemy – astronomer-mathematician who proposed a theory that the Earth was at the center of the universe 4

5. How did advances in arts, learning, and the law show the Romans’ high regard for cultural and political achievements?
Through war and conquest, Roman generals carried the achievements of Roman civilization to distant lands. Yet the resulting civilization was not simply Roman.
It blended _________, ________________, and ____________ achievements.

6. The blending of Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman traditions produced Greco-Roman civilization.
The Romans admired and adapted ideas from Greek culture. Travel during the Pax Romana spread this new tradition. 6

7. ______________ epic poem The Aeneid describes how the Greek hero Aeneas escaped from Troy to found Rome.
Virgil’s goal in writing the poem was to increase patriotism and help unite Rome after years of civil war.
The poem stressed the cultural links between Rome and Greece.

8. Romans were impressed by the Hellenistic philosophy of _____________.
Stoicism stressed duty, acceptance of one’s fate, and concern for the well-being of all people.
Emperor ____________________became a noted Stoic philosopher and writer.

9. __________ used wit to attack human folly.
Many poets satirized Roman Society.
____________ was so biting he had to use a fictitious name to protect himself.
Historians often stressed patriotic virtue.
_________ recounted tales of heroes such as Cincinnatus.
__________ wrote of the loss of liberty after the fall of the Republic.

10. Roman art and architecture were adapted from Etruscan and Greek roots.
Artists and sculptures stressed realism and sought to focus on the subject’s character and expression.
Some sculpture was highly idealistic, portraying traits of power, grace, or strength.

11. Romans used art to beautify their homes
Romans used art to beautify their homes. __________ were created from small bits of stone or glass.
In A.D. 79, a volcano, Mt. Vesuvius, erupted, burying Pompeii in ash and trapping residents, but preserving their homes and artwork.

12. Roman architecture stressed grandeur.
Immense palaces, temples, and stadiums were monuments to Roman power. Architects improved on structural devices such as columns and arches. Using concrete enabled them to build strong structures with domes.
The dome of the Pantheon in Rome

13. Romans excelled at engineering, the practical application of science.
Engineers built roads, bridges, and harbors throughout the empire.
These structures were so solidly built that many were still in use long after the empire fell.

14. Eleven _________ brought water from the surrounding hills into the city of Rome.
The water supplied large public baths.
Wealthy Romans had water piped into their homes.

15. Roman scientists are generally remembered for recording rather than creating new advances in science.
Galen
Ptolemy
Pliny the Elder

16. Rome’s greatest legacy was its commitment to justice and the rule of law.
A single, written legal code covered citizens and noncitizens alike.
However, penalties varied according to social class. Lower-class defendants often received harsher treatment.

17. Rome’s commitment to law is a legacy still followed in the modern United States.1 2 3 4
Many Roman principles became part of the modern American legal code.