1. Chapter 12
Roman Civilization

2. Lesson 1: The Roman Way of Life
Chapter 12
Lesson 1: The Roman Way of Life
Bell Ringer
Look at the map on pages Complete the “Step Into the Place” activity questions 1, 2, 3, and 4.

3. Guiding Question What was daily life like for the Romans?
Roman cities were centers for business, culture, and government
Many romans lived in cities throughout the empire
We have learned a great deal about these cities through studying the archaeological ruins
The heart of the Roman Empire was located on the Italian peninsula

4. The Empire’s Chief City
AD 1 – Rome is one of the largest cities in the world
Over 1 million people lived in the city
Many people traveled there from all over the empire
It was carefully planned in the shape of a square with streets crossing at right angles
The emperor lived in a grand palace in the city of Rome
The Forum was a public shopping market/meeting place located near the palace
Temples and other public buildings surrounded the Forum
Wealthy Romans lived in large houses built on the city’s hills
These homes had marble walls, tiled floors, and running water
Some Romans also had villas (homes) on their large farms outside of the city
Most Romans living in the city were poor
They lived in crowded, noisy, and dirty neighborhoods
Their apartment buildings were made of wood and stood up to seven stories tall
Garbage was thrown out into the streets
Thieves prowled the streets at night

5. The Empire’s Chief City
Roman government offered “bread and circuses” to gain support of the poor
Chariot races in the Circus Maximus
Gladiator fights in the Colosseum
most gladiators were poor, criminals, slaves, or prisoners of war
Romans admired the gladiators for their skill and bravery
The Roman Family
Large families were common during the time Rome was a republic
Children would live in the same house with their parents well into adulthood
Fathers kept close watch over their wives and children
Later on, families grew smaller and divorce became more likely
Education differed depending on what class you were in
Upper class children would learn at home, boys would attend schools as they got older
Poorer Romans couldn’t afford school, but would often learn enough to be able to run a business
At 15, boys would be considered adults and would begin to work
Girls would be considered adults once they married, usually around 14 years old

6. Life for Roman Women
In early Rome, women were not citizens and had very few rights
They did, however, have influence over their family and husbands
In the Roman Empire, women began to have more freedoms and power
Wives of emperors exercised some political power
Wealthy women could own land and businesses, and had free time because slaves handled the housework
Poor women had less freedom and more responsibilities to the home and other forms of work

7. Rome and Slavery
Slavery grew as Rome conquered more and more territory
Slaves were made of conquered people
100 BC – almost 40% of people in Italy were slaves
Slaves would perform many different jobs around Rome
Enslaved Greeks, being educated, served as teachers, doctors, and artisans
Life was miserable for slaves: punishment was harsh, work days were very long
Many slaves rebelled to escape their hardships
73 BC – Spartacus leads a slave rebellion
His forces grew to 70,000 strong as they tried to reach the Alps and escape to their homes
The Roman army crushed the rebellion, Spartacus was killed, and 6,000 followers were crucified

8. Religion and Philosophy
Romans believed gods controlled all aspects of life
Greek gods/goddesses were given Roman names
Ex: Zeus became Jupiter, Aphrodite became Venus
Beginning with Augustus, emperors were officially considered gods by the Senate
Romans worshipped with prayer and offerings
Each house had an altar where the head of the house would lead prayers
Government officials worshipped in temples, but they were open to all Romans
Romans adapted Greek philosophies like Stoicism
Greeks thought this to be happiness through reason
Romans thought this to mean living in a practical way (civic duty, participate in public affairs, treat conquered people well)
Rome allowed conquered people to practice their own religion as long as they didn’t threaten the government

9. Guiding Question How did the Greeks influence Roman culture?
Romans admired the Greeks for their art, architecture, and philosophy
They copied many things, but adapted them to their needs

10. Science Romans learned about anatomy from the Greek doctor Galen
Galen acquired his knowledge by cutting open dead animals
Doctors studied Galen’s work for over 1,500 years
Ptolemy, a great Roman scientist, lived in the city of Alexandria
He mapped over 1,000 stars and explained the movement of the planets and stars
His ideas would be followed for centuries
Romans developed excellent engineering skills
They built efficient roads connecting all parts of the empire
Aqueducts supplied cities with fresh water (one is still in use today)
Roman numerals helped businessmen with accounting
We still use these today

11. Art and Architecture Literature
Romans also adopted these Greek ideas, but in their own style
Greek statues would be of perfect looking people, Romans built them more realistic
Roman architects added arches and domes to their buildings
By mixing volcanic ash, lime, and water they created concrete
Literature
Romans respected writers and philosophers
They were interested in learning the “meaning of life”
They expanded on subjects the Greeks wrote about
Comedies about their gods, stories of military successes and failures
Added realism to their stories, showing a more human side of their characters
Horace wrote satires and odes
Herodotus, a Greek historian, inspired the Romans Livy and Tacitus to record Rome’s history as well
They believed the story of Rome had lessons to teach future people
Livy celebrated Rome, and Tacitus criticized it

12. Theater and Language
Attending plays was one of Rome’s most popular pastimes
These were usually part of religious celebrations or nation festivals
Actors wore masks to represent characters, and it let them play different characters in the same play
Men and boys acted in most of the plays, but women were allowed to act in comedies called mimes
Latin, the Roman language, had a huge and lasting impact on Europe
Its was the official language of government, trade, and education until about AD 1500
It influenced many languages of today including English, Spanish, French, and Italian

13. Lesson 2: Rome’s Decline
Chapter 12
Lesson 2: Rome’s Decline
Bell Ringer
Why do civilizations borrow elements from earlier civilizations? What are some elements of American culture that have been borrowed from past civilizations?

14. Guiding Question What problems led to Rome’s decline?
A Troubled Empire
Marcus Aurelius is the last emperor of the Pax Romana
100 years of violence and confusion followed
Political Confusion
Government grew weak, armies grew stronger
Emperors had to pay soldiers more to stay in power
In 50 years, Rome had 22 different emperors

15. Political Confusion (continued)
Duty, courage, and honesty were no longer valued by Romans
Many government officials were dishonest
Wealthy Romans stopped paying taxes
Support for education declined
Slaves made up the majority of the population
Economic Weakness
AD 200s – Roman soldiers and foreign invaders attacked farms and traders
Led to food shortages and high prices
Merchants went out of business, workers lost their jobs
People exchanged goods instead of using money

16. Invasions Who Was Diocletian?
Germanic tribes raided the west, Persians invaded the east
People built walls around cities for protection
Who Was Diocletian?
A general who became emperor in AD 284
Introduced reforms to make things better
Set maximum prices for goods
Made local officials responsible for collecting taxes
Built forts along the borders
Divided the empire into four parts
People ignored his rules and Diocletian failed

17. Guiding Question What effect did Germanic invaders have on the Roman Empire?
The Fall of Rome
AD 305 – Diocletian leaves office and conflict breaks out throughout the empire
AD 312 – Constantine comes to power, fighting stops
Constantine’s Rule
Issued orders to reinforce Diocletian’s rules
Wanted a stable workforce and military
Sons followed their fathers

18. Constantine’s Rule Germanic Invaders
AD 330 – Constantine moves the capital to Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople
Rome continues to decline
Constantine dies a few years later, Theodosius takes power
Theodosius realized the empire had become too big to govern
He decided that it would be split into two separate empire once he died
AD 395 – the division takes place
Germanic Invaders
Germanic tribes were looking for better land to raise livestock and farm
Many were fleeing the Huns, terrifying warrior from Asia
Late AD 300s – the Visigoths asked Romans for protection from the Huns
Visigoths promise to be loyal to the Romans
Romans treated them poorly
Visigoths rebel and defeat the Romans in Adrianople

20. Germanic Invaders (continued)
More Germanic tribes begin to attack the Romans all over the empire
AD 410 – Alaric, the Visigoth leader, led his people to Rome and looted the city
AD The Vandals looted and destroyed the city again
AD 476 – Odoacer seizes control of Rome
No Roman would rule the empire again
Continued fighting between Germanic rulers ends the Western empire
AD 550 – Roman culture lived on in these Germanic kingdoms
The Eastern empire becomes the Byzantine empire, and lasts for 1,000 years

21. Guiding Question What are the key achievements and contributions of Roman civilizations?
Rome’s Legacies
Roman achievements and contributions still surround us
Laws, government, spread of Christian religion
Influence on Law and Government
Many American beliefs come from Roman ideas
Everyone is equal, innocent until proven guilty, judges decide cases
Republican government developed in Rome
Many countries use this today
People vote, participate in government, and help improve communities

22. Rome’s Cultural Impact
Many Western cultures use the Latin alphabet
Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian languages come from Latin
Latin phrases are used in science, medicine, and law
Roman writers are still admired today
Roman architecture can be seen all over the world
Washington, D.C.