Section 4: Roman Society and Culture

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Section 4 Roman Society and Culture

• The Pax Romana was one of the longest periods of
  peace and stability the world has ever known. As
  a result, the Romans made great advances, many of
  which affect people even today. If you were to
  travel to Europe today, for example, you could
  find your way by using the same road system built
  by the Romans two thousand years ago.

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I. Building a Strong Empire

• The Romans created a well-organized
• government that kept order and enforced laws

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I. Building a Strong Empire

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

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I. Building a Strong Empire

• Roman law unified the empire and was
• revised and interpreted as needed

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I. Building a Strong Empire

• Government policies encouraging trade
• helped unify the empire

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I. Building a Strong Empire

• The Roman army built roads and bridges that
• promoted trade, travel, and communication

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I. Building a Strong Empire

• The Roman army kept peace at home and
• along the frontiers

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II. Life in the Empire

• Wealthy citizens had luxurious homes and
• attended huge banquets, but most Romans
• were poor

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II. Life in the Empire

• The poor include farmers, laborers, and
• urban working people barely making a living

Marble relief of a farmer with his cow passing a
roadside shrine on the way to market, 1st c. B.C
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II. Life in the Empire

• For Romes several million slaves life was
• cruel, but a few did gain their freedom

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II. Life in the Empire

• The family was at the heart of Roman society
• fathers held the most power and mothers
• managed the household

Mother nurses infant while father looks on
father holds infant youth rides in chariot drawn
by goat youth recites lesson before tutor
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II. Life in the Empire

• Rich children were taught at home and other
• children attended school to study reading,
• writing, arithmetic, and music

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II. Life in the Empire

• Early Romans sought harmony with the gods
• and the spirits of their ancestors (the lares)

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II. Life in the Empire

• A state religion evolved with temples,
• ceremonies, and daily rituals to promote
• patriotism

The Pantheon in Rome
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II. Life in the Empire

• Romans enjoyed a variety of entertainment,
• including brutal animal and gladiator contests

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III. Science and the Arts

• Scientists collected and organized
• knowledge and applied it to create practical
• solutions

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III. Science and the Arts

• Engineers built bridges, buildings, aqueducts
• and invented concrete architects built arches
• and vaulted domes

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III. Science and the Arts

• Romans used Greek science to plan cities,
• build water and sewage systems, and improve
• farming and livestock

Cutaway view of a typical Roman street during the
Roman Empire, showing lead water pipes and a
central channel for sewage under the pavement.
Perpendicular connections brought sewage from
nearby homes and businesses.
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III. Science and the Arts

• The physician Galen wrote books summarizing
• all the medical knowledge of his day

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III. Science and the Arts

• Virgil, Horace, Tacitus , and Ovid were all
• important Roman writers

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III. Science and the Arts

• Plutarch, a Greek, wrote Parallel Lives, a
• collection of Greek and Roman biographies

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III. Science and the Arts

• Romans adopted the Etruscan alphabet, which
• was adapted from Greek - the alphabet we use
• today

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III. Science and the Arts

• Latin is the parent of the Romance languages,
• including Italian, French, Spanish, and
• Portuguese