Ancient Rome: Economy, Society, Religion, and Art

Roman Economy

Mercè JansàRoman economy

O The Roman economy was based on slaves.

• Worked in both agriculture and urban activities
• Slaves were acquired by Roman conquests of territories

Farming in Ancient Rome

o The main economic activity was agriculture. Mediterranean triad: olives, cereals & vines.

O Small properties > worked by their owners · Large properties > worked by slaves.

Mining in Ancient Rome

o Very important activity for Rome.

o Due to its huge size, in Rome there were many different valuable minerals: gold, silver, iron, coal and tin. Workforce was completely slaves.

Las Médulas gold mines for Roman Empire (Castilla-León)

Commercial Activity (Trade)

o Trade was a huge part of Rome's economic activity.

. They imported raw materials and exported manufactured materials (look at p. 132 for products)

-o Commerce increased with the following developments:

• A common currency
• A road network
• Standardized weights
• Control over the Mediterranean (security against pirates)

ANIN The use of the same currency & units of measure across the whole empire made trading easier.

pes pedis, m = 0.29 m oubitus -i. m. = 0,44 m Ivel oubitum -i, n.l gradus -0s. m. = 0,74 m

Common Coins of the Roman Empire

As 280 BCE-250 CE 9-12g, -27mm

Follis 294-310 CE 5-12g. ~ 26mm (early)

Dupondius 23 BCE-250 11-15g, -29m

AR Aureus 200 BCE-305 CE 7g,~20mm

Solidus 310-693 CE 4.5g,~20mm

AE3 315-400 CE 2-4g .- 18mm

AF4 383-400 0.5-1.5g .- 14

Denarius 211 BCE-241 CE 3g,~19mm

Tremissis 380-367 CE 1.5g .~ 14mm

Sestertius 23 BCE-250 CE 20-30g .- 35mm

Antoninianus 215-295 CE 3-5g .~ 21mm

Siliqua 310-650 CE 1-3g .~ 18mm

Activity 8: Roman Economy Questions

Activity 8: copy & answer in your notebook: ROMAN ECONOMY

• P. 132: exercises 1 & 2.
• What factors helped commerce grow in Rome?

Roman Society

During the Monarchy & early years of the Republic (until 3rd Century BC)

Since the late years of the Republic (from 3rd Century BC onwards)

Social Division Based on Political Rights

Social division was based on political rights We distinguish:

• Patricians
• Plebeians
• Slaves

Social Division Based on Wealth

Social division was based on wealth We distinguish:

• Citizens: · Honestiores · Humiliores
• Non-citizens: . Conquered population · Foreigners · Freedmen · Slaves

Monarchy & Early Republic Social Classes

Monarchy & early years of the Republic

PATRICIANS:

• Were the aristocracy of Rome.
• Richest & most powerful families.
• Had huge plots of land.
• Had political rights, and controlled the government.

PLEBEIANS:

• Artisans, small farmers ...
• Paid taxes.
• Had some civil rights, but no political rights.

SLAVES:

• Worked for their owner.
• Had no rights at all.

Late Republic & Empire Social Classes

Late years of the Republic & the Empire

THE CITIZENS: had all political and civil rights. Divided into:

• Honestiores: the wealthiest · Humiliores: lower social status

Female citizens: less rights than a man of the same status.

THE NON-CITIZENS: all the people who had no right to citizenship:

• Conquered populations: non-citizens until 212 AD, when, thanks to the Edict of Caracalla, they became citizens.
• Foreigners: came from beyond the Empire's borders. Usually traders or artisans.
• Freedmen: slaves freed by their owners (manumission) or who had bought their freedom
• Slaves: no rights; property of their master. People could become slaves if · Conquered in war · Not paying debts · Born from slave parents

Activity 9: Roman Society Questions

Activity 9: copy & answer in your notebook: ROMAN SOCIETY

1. Define "patrician" & "plebeian".
2. Design 2 social pyramids: . One for the Roman society until the 3rd Century BC. . One for the Roman society after the 3rd Century BC.
3. Explain the Edict of Caracalla: When and by who was it issued? What was its consequence?
4. What is manumission?
5. Why could a person become a slave?

Roman Religion

Traditional Roman Religion

At first, Romans were polytheistic:

o Domestic/private religion:

• Worship of household gods (lares & penates) and the spirits of ancestors (manes).
• The pater familias (head of the house) made offerings in the lararium (altar).

o State/official religion:

• Worship of different gods, many taken from Greek mythology (Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Neptune ... ).
• From the 1st Century AD onwards: worship of the emperor.

Roman Gods and Goddesses

ROMAN GODS AND GODDESSES

Apollo God of the sun and music

Diana Goddess the moon and hunting

Jupiter God of the sky and most important god

Mars God of war

Mercury Messenger of the gods and god of trade

Minerva Goddess of wisdom

Neptune God of the sea

Venus Goddess of love and beauty

Birth & Expansion of Christianity

Birth & expansion of a new religion: Christianity

· BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY:

• 1 st Century AD.
• Preached by Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified by Pontius Pilatus.

O EXPANSION OF CHRISTIANITY:

• EARLY DAYS: Christians were persecuted by the Romans (refusal to worship the emperors, to enrol in the army ... ). However, Christianity expanded rapidly since it promised life after death in heaven, equality ...
• 313 AD: emperor Constantine announced the Edict of Milan > Christians were authorized to practice their religion.
• 380 AD: emperor Theodosius announced the Edict of Thessalonica > made Christianity the official religion of the empire.

Roman Art

Roman Architecture Characteristics

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE

CHARACTERISTICS:

• It was practical.
• Influenced by Greek art.
• Materials: stone, brick, concrete.
• Flat ceilings supported by columns: Greek architectural orders: Doric, Ionic & Corinthian. A new order: Tuscan. They also combined different orders.
• Arches & domesT.

C D) 2 A E 1 1 4 F 6 GB GBG

Greek Doric lonic Corinthian

Tuscan Composite

Greek orders

New order (Tuscan)

Sometimes they combined different orders !!!

Arch eye Traitx |.

Dome (The Pantheon of Rome, temple consecrated to all the Roman gods)

Activity 11: Roman Architecture Questions

Activity 11: copy & answer in your notebook: ROMAN ARCHITECTURE

1. Complete: . Roman architecture was ... and functional. . The ceilings were ... and supported by ... . However, they also used ... and ... to cover large surfaces.
2. Which civilisation mostly influenced Roman architecture?
3. What materials did Romans use to construct their buildings?
4. What architectural orders did Romans used?

Roman Building Materials

Bricks & concrete WALL OF OPUS INCERTUM

WALL OF OPUS RETICULATUN

Stone (Temple of Jupiter, Baalbek, Lebanon)

WALL OF OPUS TESTACEUM 10+2+2+++ 4

Main Roman Buildings

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE

o MAIN BUILDINGS: Religious buildings: Temples: Greek influence. Tombs: catacombs (subterranean collective burials)

Public buildings: Entertainment: circuses, amphitheatres, theatres, thermal baths. Administrative: basilicas Commemorative: columns, triumphal arches.

- Engineering constructions: Roads Bridges Sewer systems Aqueducts

Religious Buildings

Religious: TEMPLES

Temple of Hercules The ultimate sundial Only at noon on an equinox does the sun shine through the Pantheon's oculus at the perfect angle to pass through a grille above the closed door and light up the front courtyard

48° NORTH-+ 43.3 metres Pantheon of Rome (Temple of all the Roman gods)

Religious: CATACOMBS

Catacombs of Saint Callixtus (Rome)

Entertainment Buildings

2 Entertainment: CIRCUS

CIRCVS MAXIMVS. PATINI LALIMOR

Entertainment: AMPHITHEATRE

Gladiators & naumachia show

Entertainment: THEATRES

Roman theatre in Merida (Extremadura)

Entertainment: THERMAL BATHS

D Water & air was heated using the hypocaust system -anut tubuli piscine chasde ........ ypecusto plotes chauffage du caldarium

Administrative Buildings

Administrative: BASILICAS

Basilica of Maxentius & Constantine (Roman Forum, Rome, Italy)

Commemorative Buildings

Commemorative: COLUMNS

Trajan column (Rome, Italy) It commemorates emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars (Rome VS Dacia, an area north of Macedon and Greece)

W A B

Commemorative: TRIUMPH ARCHES

Arch of Constantine (Rome, Italy) It was erected to commemorate Constantine l's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312.

Engineering Constructions

Engineering: ROMAN ROADS

O http://majocobe.blogspot.com Ruins of a Roman road that belonged to the Silver Route (Vía de la Plata. Caceres, Extremadura)

Engineering: BRIDGES

Roman bridge in Cordoba

Roman bridge in Merida

Engineering: AQUEDUCTS

Roman Aqueduct intake reservoir conduit aqueduct bridge city

Roman aqueduct in Segovia (Spain)

Engineering: SEWER SYSTEMS

Activity 12: Roman Architecture Poster

Activity 12: ROMAN ARCHITECTURE POSTER!

• In groups of 2, you need to prepare a poster about ROMAN ARCHITECTURE. You'll be given a topic: · Religious buildings · Entertainment buildings · Administrative buildings · Commemorative buildings · Engineering constructions
• AT HOME: you need to look for (internet, books, magazines ... ): · Pictures of buildings of your topic. · Information of each building (function, when was it build, by who ... )
• IN CLASS: you'll be given time in class to prepare your poster (organize information, stick pictures, write information, colour things in ... )

YOU HAVE TO PRESENT TO THE CLASS YOUR FINISHED POSTER

Roman Sculpture, Paintings & Mosaics

ROMAN SCULPTURE, PAINTINGS & MOSAICS

• Sculptures: · Copied Greek models. · Very realistic. · Romans developed 2 new genres: Portrait Historical relief
• Painting: Frescoe technique · Used to decorate walls of Roman villas.
• Mosaics: Made with small pieces of coloured stone (tessellas). Used to decorate floors.

Roman Sculptures

SCULPTURES

Portrait of a emperor Caracalla

Sculpture of Neptune

Portrait of a Roman priest

Detail of the column of emperor Trajan

Roman Paintings

PAINTINGS

Frescoe: technique in which colour pigments are dissolved in water and applied to a wet plaster wall. When it dries the paint becomes an integral part of the wall.

Frescos in "Villa dei Misteri" (Villa of the Mysteries). Pompey (Italy)

Frescos in a Roman Villa in Herculaneum (Italy)

In both cases, they survived quite undamaged to the eruption of the Vesuvius volcano of 79 AD

Roman Mosaics

MOSAICS