Chapter 7 Section 4

Roman Society

&

Culture

Review• In Africa Hannibal met his match in a general

named ______?• What happened to the people Rome conquered?• What war did roman allies fight to have the right

to participate in government?• Who was named dictator for life by the Senate?• What happened when Caesar increased the

Senate to 900 members?

• What was a period of peace that lasted 200 years?

5 worst Roman Emperors

Trade and Transportation

• The Roman government developed policies that were designed to encourage trade and commerce.

• Most goods ended up in Rome then were distributed through the rest of the empire

• Nearly everywhere it went the Roman army built roads and bridges that also promoted trade

• These roads were built to last and the well made surfaces made travel fast

Building a New Empire

• The Roman government was the strongest unifying force in the empire

• The emperor ran the government, appointed officials and made all policy decisions

• Roman law also helped unify the empire• {The government helped keep the empire

together by changing laws called the Twelve Tables}

• First, they passed new laws as needed• Second, judges interpreted the old laws to fit

new circumstances• They believed basic legalities should apply to all

humans

Tables 1&2 of the Twelve Tables

Roman Slave Court

Slaves and Slavery

• There were several million slaves in Italy • Life was usually easier for “household” slaves

than other slaves. They often, if skilled, served as doctors, teachers or secretaries.

• Roman slaves could but their freedom or be freed by their masters

• {Historians do not believe slavery was essential to the Roman economy because of the many poor, underemployed labor class.}

• Slavery became more of a status symbol than a necessity

The Roman Army

• {The Roman army helped strengthen the empire by keeping the peace}

• Men from surrounding province enlisted to serve 16 to 20 years in the Roman Army in exchange for citizenship at the end of service

• If necessary the huge armies would use force to keep the peace. But usually provincial governors aligned themselves with local leaders helping to ensure the locals would work to keep peace

The Roles of Men, Women & Children

• The family was the heart of Roman society• Father held most of the power • Mother ran the household and by the end of the

republic { Women could own property} and had political influence

• Boys were taught the duties of citizenship• Girls were taught how to manage houses• Boys and girls attended elementary school

learning basic writing, reading, math & music• If families could afford it boys could go to

secondary school to learn philosophy, languages, and composition

Fun & Games• Romans enjoyed many types of

entertainments and amusements• They enjoyed theater, street performers,

and brutal sports• Gladiators, trained fighters who were

usually slaves, were a favorite.• Public executions also drew a large crowd

as many times it was a fight to the death between two criminals this also served as a warning to would be criminals

Science, Engineering & Architecture

• Romans used ideas from the Greeks to plan cities and build water and sewage systems

• In most cities {Roman engineers built aqueducts, bridge like structures, to carry water from the mountains}

• {Roman engineers also built domes and arches}

• {Perhaps the greatest contribution of Roman engineers and architects is the use of concrete} to build large buildings

Roman Aqueducts

Literature & Language• { as well as producing great scientific works, the

Romans produced great literature as well}• Some of the great writers include, Virgil, Horace,

Ovid, {Tacitus, who criticized Roman lifestyles in one of his works}, & Plutarch

• Romans developed the alphabet from the Etruscans. Today we use their 23 letter alphabet plus J, Y & W.

• Long after the Roman Empire fell the Latin language continued to be used throughout Europe becoming the parent of the Romance Languages

Review• What war did roman allies fight to have the right

to participate in government?• Who was named dictator for life by the Senate?• What happened when Caesar increased the

Senate to 900 members?• Why do Historians not believe slavery was

essential to the Roman economy?• Could women own property?• What bridge like structures carry water from the

mountains?

Catapultam habeo.

Nisi pecuniam omnem

ad caput tuum saxum

immane mittam

Dabis, mihi

I have a catapult. Give me all your money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head