Rome

• Rome


  One of the greatest powers in the ancient world, lasting for nearly 1000 years and having a huge and enduring influence on the world we live in today
• The ancient Romans believed that the Prince Aeneas escaped his city's destruction by the Greeks at the end of the mythical Trojan war and then came to Italy where Rome was founded by his descendants Romulus and Remus in 753 BC
• Early Rome


  1. Until 509BC the city was ruled by kings

  2. They were expelled and the city became a republic

  3. The Roman republic managed to conquer all of Italy by the 270 BC and then expanded to control North Africa, Greece and Spain by 140 BC
• The republic collapsed in the 40's BC and was replaced by the empire, under the first emperor, Augustus
• By AD100, Rome controlled all of Europe around the Mediterranean sea
• Rome became rich from its conquests and founded towns and cities all over its empire
• From the second century AD onwards, Germanic tribes from across the Rhine began attacking the empire and eventually, the last emperor was forced from the throne in 476 AD
• The empire fell
• Empire


  A group of territories or nations ruled over by a single monarch, oligarchy, or sovereign state
• As the Romans expanded into Europe


  They controlled each local area from towns they founded
• Romans lived here with the native people, many of whom became citizens of the empire
• Roman towns


  • Designed in a similar way with many of the same features
• Features of Roman towns

  • Towns had walls for defence
  • Streets were laid out in a grid system (met at right angles to form rectangular blocks)
  • The forum, a large town square, was the centre of business, political activity and religious activity
  • The Gods were worshipped in temples
  • Aqueducts brought freshwater from nearby mountains and rivers straight into the town
  • Public baths were where people held
  • Many towns also had public toilets & drinking fountains using water from the aqueducts
  • The amphitheatre is where gladiatoral games were held
• Patricians


  Wealthy noble families who ruled Rome, had huge estates and hundreds of slaves, controlled the roman government and army
• Toga


  A long white robe draped over the shoulder and down to the feet, worn by men
• Stola


  A dress worn by women
• Domus


  A patrician house in a town
• Villa


  A patrician house in the countryside
• Plebeians


  The poor, who made up the vast majority of the population, they farmed, worked in trades, served in the army
• Dobe payment of grain


  Given to plebeians so they would support the rule of patricians
• Tunic


  A knee-length garment worn by plebeian men
• Equites


  Plebeians who became quite wealthy through trade and business, had money but no political power
• Insulae


  Apartment blocks where most plebeians lived
• Women, both patrician and plebeian, were unable citizens but unable to vote or take part in public life
• Gladiators


  • They were the most popular entertainers in ancient Rome
  • They fought in oval arenas called amphitheatres in nearly every major Roman city
• Colosseum


  The most famous amphitheatre in Rome, which could hold over 50,000 spectators in tiered seating
• The Colosseum had a canopy to protect people from the sun
• Seating arrangement in the Colosseum


  • Male patricians closest to the action
  • Male plebeians behind them
  • Male foreigners behind them
  • Women and slaves at the very back
• Legio


  The Roman soldiers
• Life of a Roman soldier


  • Enlisted at age 20
  • Served for 25 years
  • Received final payment and plot of land at end of service
  • Allowed Rome to settle loyal soldiers throughout the empire
• Soldier training


  1. Trained with wooden weapons twice the weight of ordinary weapons

  2. Marched up to 30km every day, carrying over 35 kg of weapons and equipment

  3. Built camp at destination

  4. Practised constantly to ensure battle-readiness
• Soldier duties when not on campaign


  • Employed to build public works such as aqueducts, bridges, defensive walls and roads
• Soldier roles


  • Infantry (foot soldiers)
  • Cavalry (on horseback)
  • Artillery (projectile weapons)
• Roman military engineering


  • Developed catapults, ballistas and other machines of war to throw boulders, urns of burning pitch or huge crossbow bolts over great distances at an enemy army or city
• By the end of the republic, one man had all the power - Julius Caesar
• Roman architecture


  • Romans were great engineers and builders
  • Invented concrete to make buildings more durable
  • Used rounded arches and pillars to hold up large ceilings
  • Built huge domes on their temples
  • Many Roman buildings are still standing today
• Roman architecture techniques were copied in the Renaissance and still influence modern architecture
• Roman society


  • Elite who ran the empire
  • Educated and their daughters
  • Plebeians - the vast majority who lived in apartment blocks and worked
• All Romans enjoyed a variety of entertainment including theatre and gladiator fights
• Roman army


  • Served for 25 years
  • Fought with a vast array of weapons
  • Could march long distances