1. Day 24: Romans Society and Culture Unit 3

2. Life in Imperial Rome Rich citizens live in villas (country homes) Running water, baths Public officials not paid, only wealthy served 1 million poor people in cities Lived in 3-4 story apartments, crowded Fire was greatest threat Free food and entertainment to prevent revolts “bread and circuses”

3. Public Entertainment Circuses: chariot races, crashes Circus Maximus racetrack accommodated 250k people Theater Comedies and satires Performers Mimes, jugglers, dancers, acrobats, clowns Amphitheater entertainment Wild animals battle professional fighters Gladiatorial combats: two slaves fight to the death In Rome, took place in Colosseum (50,000 seats) Public Baths: hot and cold pools, steam rooms, exercise, meetings

4. Family Paterfamilias: family father, patriarchy Power over family: wife, sons, DIL’s, unmarried daughters Virtues: simplicity, religion, obedience Adoption Families w/no sons adopt teenage boys to be heir Women could inherit property, but not family name Lower class women: more freedom, work outside home

5. Education and Religion Upper classes: education and literacy Children taught at home Sometimes tutors or sent to schools Boys (and some girls) learn Latin, Greek, law, math, public speaking Greek mythology transformed Also borrowed gods from Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Persian Local household god: paneates Emperor worshiped as god Priests (augurs) interpreted signs from gods

6. Science/Engineering Galen: physician, AD 100s Wrote medical textbooks Ptolemy: astronomer, earth=center of universe Pliny the Elder: wrote about eruption of Mt. Vesuvius Romans were more practical than Greeks Applied knowledge to planning cities, sewers, farms Aqueducts: built channels to bring water to cities Bridges, grid system of roads, baths, theaters, forum

7. Architecture Round arch and vault Larger buildings than early societies Inspired Renaissance and US architects

8. Language Literature Latin: language of Rome Root of French, Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Portuguese, (kind of English) Roman satire, Virgil themes Civil Law Law based on a written code of rules Used in most countries today

9. Compare and Contrast Life for Poor Both Life for Rich