1. Culture and Society in Rome
Global Studies I

2. Roman Art and Architecture
Romans adopted many features of Greek art and architecture
Greek Statues
Ideal beauty and appearance
Greek Architecture
Colonnades, rectangular buildings

3. Roman Art and Architecture
Roman Statues
Romans produced realistic statues
Roman Architecture
Colonnades, rectangular buildings
Curved lines: arch, vault, dome
Concrete
roads, bridges, aqueducts

4. Roman Literature Augustan Age was the “golden age” of Latin literature
Virgil
Poet, wrote the Aeneid in honor of Rome
Hero: Aeneas is the ideal Roman
Virtues: duty, piety, and faithfulness

5. Roman Literature Horace poet
enjoyed pointing out “the follies and vices of his age.”
laughs at the weaknesses of humans
Satires
attacks job dissatisfaction and greed

6. Roman Literature Livy historian History of Rome
saw history in terms of moral lessons
celebrated Rome’s greatness
weakness:
Not always concerned about getting the whole truth

7. The Roman Family Headed by the paterfamilias – dominant male
Included wife, sons with their wives and children, unmarried daughters, and slaves
Roman children were raised in the home
Upper-class children (boys and girls) were expected to be educated

8. The Roman Family Attitudes toward women
Had a male guardian (until late 2nd century)
Arranged marriages (usually around age 14)
Divorce was acceptable and could be obtained for any reason
Upper-class women had considerable freedom and independence

9. Slavery Common throughout the ancient world
POWs brought back to Italy as slaves
Greek slaves served as tutors, musicians, doctors, and artists, shop assistants and craftspeople
Others worked in Roman households, built roads and public buildings
living conditions were pitiful

10. Slavery Slave revolts 73 BC, most famous Led by gladiator, Spartacus
Involved 70,000 slaves
Defeated several Roman armies before being trapped and killed in 71BC
6000 followers were crucified (put to death by hanging on a cross)

11. Daily Life in the City of Rome
Living Conditions
Overcrowded and noisy
Dangerous
Rich lived in villas, poor lived in weakly constructed apartment blocks called insulae
Constant threat of fire
Entire families lived in one room due to ridiculously high rents

12. Daily Life in the City of Rome
Public Programs
Serious problems
Emperors provided free grain for poor
Entertainment was provided to distract Romans from worries of the day
Circus Maximus
Dramatic performances
Gladiatorial shows

13. “Bread and Circuses”
What is meant by the following quote by the Roman poet Juvenal?
“Nowadays, with no vote…their motto is ‘Couldn’t care less.’ Time was when their vote elected generals, heads of state, commanders of legions: but now…there’s only two things that concern them: Bread and Circuses.”