Chapter 9 Life in Ancient Rome

Main Ideas In addition to their own developments

in science and engineering, Roman artists and writers borrowed many ideas from the Greeks.

The rich and poor had very different lives in the Roman Empire, as did men and women.

Reading Strategy Compare and Contrast – Use a Venn

Diagram like the one below to show similarities and differences between the rich and the poor in Rome

Roman PoorRoman Rich

Roman Culture Romans admired and studied Greek

statues, buildings, and ideas.*

The Romans differed from Greeks in one important way: the Greeks liked to talk about ideas, while Romans believed that ideas were only important if they could solve everyday problems.

What Was Roman Art Like? Roman art was much more realistic than

Greek statues.* Roman architecture was also inspired by

the Greeks: They used Greek-style porches and rows of columns called colonnades.*

Rows of arches were often built against one another to form a vault.**

Roman Art…

The Colloseum is one example of how magnificent Roman architecture was. It was completed in A.D, 80 and was a huge arena that could seat around 60,000 people.

What Does This Have to Do With Me?

The Astrodome in Houston is commonly referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and houses around 42,000 fans.

Although there are other, larger stadiums, this will give you an idea of how magnificent the Colosseum was, and would still be, today.

The Pantheon

Roman Literature The Roman writer Virgil drew some of his

ideas from Homer’s Odyssey and wrote the Aeneid.*

The poet Horace wrote satires, which poked fun at human weaknesses. He also composed odes, or poems that express strong emotions about life.

Roman Literature

One of Rome’s most famous historians was Livy. He wrote the History of Rome around 10 B.C.*

*Tacitus thought that Romans were losing the values that made them strong. He accused them of wasting time on sports and other pleasures.

Roman Literature *Romans especially liked humorous plays Two Romans who wrote comedies were

Plautus and Terence. Roman authors influenced later writers, but

their language, Latin, had an even greater influence.**

Roman Science and engineering A Greek doctor named Galen (GAY-luhn)

brought many medical ideas to Rome. He emphasized the importance of anatomy,

the study of body structure.* Ptolemy was another important Roman

scientist who studied the sky and mapped over 1000 different stars.**

All Roads Lead to Rome… Romans built a large

amount of roads and bridges to connect the empire.

These were well built and some have survived until today*

A Day in the Life of a Roman… *Rome was a huge

city with over a million people living there by the time of Augustus.

The Forum was a marketplace and public square. It was at the center of Rome with the Coloseum.**

Life of a Roman Cont… Wealthy Romans

lived in large, comfortable houses.***

Inner courtyards are called atriums.

Poor people who lived in cities, had to live in tall wood or brick apartment buildings called insulae, without any courtyard

Entertainment “Bread and circuses” were started by

Roman emperors trying to keep people from rioting.*

At these events, the people would get free grain (or bread) and a show (circus).

GLADIATORS Gladiator contests –

gladiators fought animals and each other.

Most gladiators were enslaved people, criminals, or poor people. Gladiators were admired, like sports heroes today.

Chariot Racing Chariot races – What

could we compare this to that takes place today?

Took place in the Circus Maximus; Latin for greatest circus

Family life Family was very important, and families

were large Paterfamilias – The “Father of the family”

had complete control over family members. He would punish them severely for

disobedience and arrange their marriages.*

Family Life Wealthy children—boys and girls—received

an education through hired tutors

Some boys went to school.

Rhetoric was public

speaking

Family life cont… *Roman boys became a man between the ages of

14-16. They burned their toys as offerings to the household gods.

He would put on a toga and join the family business, become a soldier, or begin a career in government.

Roman women did not become adults until they were married, and they wore long flowing robes called palla.

Women of Rome Not full citizens Some became famous

themselves Livia was the wife of

Augustus and had a say in Rome’s politics and was later honored as a goddess.*

Women’s freedom depended on their husband’s wealth*

Enslaved people Slave labor grew as the territory grew* They worked in homes, fields, mines, and

workshops. They helped build roads, bridges, and aqueducts.

Many enslaved Greeks were well educated*

Wages bought them freedom

Enslaved people Cont… Most were treated

horribly and punished severely for poor work or running away

Many often rebelled Spartacus was a

gladiator who led a revolt in 73 B.C.

Roman Religion

Ancient Romans believed in gods and goddesses* Greek gods were popular in Rome, but they were

given Roman names. Zeus became Jupiter, the sky god, and Aphrodite became Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.

Roman Religion Romans honored them by offering food

and praying.* Government officials made offerings in the

temples

Roman Religion Cont… Roman priests looked for signs from the

gods They would study the inside of dead

animals or watched the flight of birds, looking for meaning.

Romans began having issues with other religions as the empire grew