ROME

Questions to think about when writing on your half piece of paper: Where is Rome today and what does the country that it is in look like? How does the land compare to Ancient Greece or even China? Does Rome have any influence on the World today?

I Can… I can distinguish the difference between the historical and mythological idea of how Rome was created. I can distinguish the differences between the Etruscan and Greek influences on Roman culture.

WHERE IS ROME??

Rome’s Creation Rome is believed to be created by the two brothers of Romulus and Remus. Romulus and Remus were the sons of a god named Mars, the God of War, and a princess. Their uncle feared that these two boys would come to Rome and take over, so he ordered his soldiers to take the twin boys and drown them in a river. Before they could be drowned they were saved by a wolf. The wolf raised them and the twins came back to Rome, becoming joint rulers. However, Romulus killed Remus for total power, and called the city he ruled Rome.

How was Rome really founded? Rome is said to be created sometime before 700 BCE by a group of people named the “Latins.” The Latins were one of many that had invaded Italy. The village of Rome was built on top of Palatine, a hill that overlooked the Tiber River and was 12 miles from the sea. Around Rome, there were two major groups that helped shape Roman culture: 1. The Etruscans 2. The Greeks

Etruscans were said to be people that had dominated Etruria, an area north of Rome. They had built some City-States but they had also conquered others. By 600 BCE, this civilization controlled most of Northern Italy, as well as the city of Rome. Rome absorbed the idea of sports and engineering from the Etruscans. Etruscans

Sports and Engineering Romans became great builders, but they had to learn the art of building (or the science of building). They learned this science through Etruscan methods of building: THE ARCH and CUNICULUS. Arches were built upon two pillars and the arch would spread the weight of the roof onto the two pillars. At the center of the arch, there was a keystone. This technology reduced the chance of the roof collapsing and also allowed taller ceilings. Cuniculus was a long underground tunnel. The tunnel had vertical shafts that connected to open ground and were used to irrigate land.

Sports and Engineering Etruscan sports were also absorbed into Roman culture; Slave fighting and chariot races. Slave fighting would mainly take place during funerals. The slaves would fight each other to the death and once the winner was declared, that slave’s head would be cut off. This would later develop in Roman culture as Gladiator fighting. Chariot racing was also bloody. Chariot drivers, or pilots would be strapped into their chariot. If the chariot would overturn, the driver would be dragged along, killing them.

Greece The Greeks influenced the Romans in four major ways 1. Architecture 2. Writing 3. Art 4. Mythology The Greek architecture that the Romans adopted was how they built their structures. Greeks used marble to build with, which the Romans quickly adopted. In time, Romans would switch to using concrete which was much stronger and easy to make. Places like the coliseum and Circus Maximus were made of concrete. Writing indirectly influenced the Romans. Greek writing had been adopted by the Etruscans and then later evolved by the Romans. Greeks carved pieces of important laws into plaques of stone or bronze. The Romans adopted this and carved their laws into pillars in city squares so that everyone could see them. Greece

Greek art also contributed to the Roman culture Greek art also contributed to the Roman culture. Greek art was admired around the world and the Romans sought to imitate it as best they could. Clay pots, sculptures, and also buildings were all used as examples for Roman art. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between Roman and Greek art, which it would all later fall under Greco-Roman art. Another idea that the Romans adopted from the Greeks were the Gods, their mythology. Roman Gods would be based off the planets rather than different names. Zeus, the leader of the Gods for Greece, would become Jupiter. However, Roman gods would adapt over time with the conquest of other civilizations. Whereas the Greek gods stayed the same, Romans would integrate the conquered people’s god-like-features into their own to make those civilizations feel welcome in Roman society. Romans treated their gods through ritual instead of story telling.