The Early Romans and Their Neighbors Over time, the Romans borrowed many ideas and skills from their neighbors. Two groups who greatly influenced Roman culture were the Etruscans and the Greeks.
The Influence of Etruscan Engineering Romans learned a great deal about engineering from the Etruscans. Etruscan ideas included the arch and the cuniculus.
The Etruscans developed the sport of chariot racing, which the Romans later adapted. Claudio zaccherini/ShutterstockThe Influence of Etruscan Sporting Events The Romans also adapted some Etruscan sporting events. Most popular were chariot racing and slave fighting, which later became gladiator contests in Rome.
The Influence of Greek Architecture and Writing Greek civilization had a huge influence on Roman culture. The Romans used Greek temple designs in their own buildings.They used Greek-style capital letters in their writing, and many Roman poets were inspired by Greek poetry and stories.
The Influence of Greek Art and Religion The Romans greatly admired Greek art. The blend of Greek and Roman styles became known as “Greco-Roman” art. The Romans also made many Greek gods and goddesses their own, although they were more interested in rituals than in stories.
The Rise of the Roman Republic
Patricians and Plebeians Under Etruscan Rule Under the Etruscans, Roman society was divided into two classes, patricians and plebeians. Plebeians made up about 95 percent of Rome’s population, but had little voice in the government.
The Patricians Create a Republic In 509 B.C.E., patricians drove out the last of the Etruscan kings and created a republic. Most of the power was held by the patrician Senate and the consuls. Only patricians could participate in the new government.
The Plebeians Rebel The plebeians began to demand more political rights in a struggle with the patricians known as the Conflict of the Orders. In 494 B.C.E., angry over their lack of power, the plebeians rebelled.
The Plebeians Gain Political Equality The patricians agreed to let the plebeians elect Tribunes of the Plebs and the Council of Plebs. Around 451 B.C.E., the Twelve Tables were published. By 287 B.C.E., assemblies of all citizens could pass laws. Plebeians governed with patricians. The plebeians had won their fight for equality.
From Republic to Empire
Conquest of the Italian Peninsula The first period of expansion began in 509 B.C.E. The Romans rebelled against the Etruscans, and Rome became a republic. The Romans then conquered central Italy. By 264 B.C.E., Rome controlled all of Italy.
The Punic Wars During the second period of expansion, from 264 to 146 B.C.E., Rome fought Carthage in the three Punic Wars. As a result, Rome gained North Africa, much of Spain, and Sicily. Rome also conquered Macedonia and Greece.
The Final Years of the Republic During the third period of expansion, from 145 to 44 B.C.E., Rome took control of Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Gaul. But civil wars divided the republic. Julius Caesar made himself dictator for life. Then Octavian seized power, becoming the first emperor, Caesar Augustus.
Rome Becomes an Empire The fourth period of expansion began with the start of the empire and lasted until 14 C.E. The emperors continued to add a great deal of new territory. At its height, around 117 C.E., the Roman Empire stretched from Britain to the present-day Middle East.
The Daily Life in the Roman Empire
Daily Life in Ancient Rome Nearly one million people lived in the city of Rome. The Forum was its center. The empire had many large cities, but most people lived in the country.
Law and Order Romans believed in the rule of law. Laws were strict, but crime was common. Any Roman could accuse someone else of a crime. A jury decided the case.
Religion Religion was part of daily life. Romans made offerings to the gods. Festivals and holy days were held throughout the year. Each home had an altar for household gods and spirits. The Romans also honored their emperors as gods.
Family Life Each family was ruled by the paterfamilias. At nine days old, a baby was given a bulla, which he or she wore throughout childhood. Between 14 and 18, a boy became a man. Girls became adults when they were married, between 12 and 18.
Food, Drink, and Housing Only the rich had kitchens. The poor cooked on small grills or bought “fast food.” The main foods were bread, beans, spices, vegetables, cheeses, meats, and garum. Drinks included water and hot water with herbs and honey. The rich lived in large houses, built around a central atrium. The poor crowded into apartment buildings.
Education and Recreation Many poor children in Rome learned trades, instead of going to school. Wealthier boys and girls were tutored by their fathers or by slaves until they were about 6. Then boys went to school. Roman boys learned Latin, Greek, math, science, literature, music, and public speaking. Upper-class boys stayed in school until age 12 or 13. The rich enjoyed plays and musical performances. Both rich and poor often relaxed at Rome’s public baths. Besides celebrating many festivals, rich and poor alike enjoyed viewing gladiator contests and chariot races.
Country Life Ninety percent of the empire’s people lived in the country. The wealthy often owned villas. Farms provided much of the food for the cities. Slaves did much of the farm work. Many country people were not slaves, but their lives were hard. They lived in huts and worked their own small farms or on the great estates.
The Origins and Spread of Christianity
Judea: The Birthplace of Christianity Christianity began in Judea in the present-day Middle East. Jews there told prophecies about a Messiah who would remove the Romans and restore the kingdom of David.
The Birth of Jesus What we know about Jesus’s life and his birth around 6 B.C.E., comes from the four Gospels. Not much is known about his childhood, but when Jesus was about 30, John the Baptist identified him as the Messiah.
The Life and Death of Jesus Jesus preached with his disciples in present-day Israel.He emphasized love and mercy, and often taught in parables. His teachings angered some. In his early 30s, the Romans executed Jesus by crucifixion. According to the Christian Bible, three days later, he arose from the dead and appeared to his disciples.His disciples began to spread his teachings.
The Missionary Work of Paul Paul of Tarsus was a Jew. He persecuted Christians. But after a vision, he became an important Christian missionary, spreading the religion around the empire. His letters to early churches are part of the Christian Bible.
Christianity Spreads The new religion survived harsh persecution and spread across the Roman Empire. In 313 C.E., the emperor Constantine gave Christians freedom of religion in the Edict of Milan. It was the official Roman religion by 380.
Christianity
Christian Central Beliefs Christians believe in one God with three parts—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—known as the Trinity. Christians believe in the Resurrection of Jesus.They also believe in salvation from sin and in eternal life.
From One Church to Many In 1054, Eastern Orthodox Christianity split from Roman Catholic Christianity in the Great Schism. Beginning in the 1500s, Martin Luther and others began the Reformation that separated Protestants from the Roman Catholic Church and led to the creation of thousands of Protestant denominations.
Christian Sacraments Most Christians practice the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion. Baptism brings a person into the Christian Church. In Holy Communion, Christians share bread and wine or grape juice as Jesus did in his Last Supper.
Christian Worship and the Christian Year Many Christians make group worship at church services part of their lives. The most important Christian holidays of the Christian year are Christmas and Easter.
Legacy of Rome in the Modern World
Ancient Rome
Within District 8- Europe, lies Rome. Rome is located in Italy, which includes islands and a peninsula in Southern Europe. It was said to have been founded in quite unusual way. Watch this video on the mythical founding of Rome!
Early Rome was ruled by Etruscan kings from northern Italy. The Romans eventually overthrew the Etruscans and created a republic around 509 BC. The Romans were now free to govern themselves, but not all Romans were equal. Power in the republic belonged to rich men called patricians. The majority of Romans, theplebeians, had no say in government. Because of conflicts between patricians and plebeians , the Roman Republic became more democratic over time, which plebeians eventually winning more political power. In time, the important differences between plebeians and patricians disappeared as Rome grew from a small Republic into a mighty empire.