1ST SEM MIDTERM: Roman Architecture (copy)

Rome

capital of Italy

History of Civilization in Ancient Rome

• Etruscan Period (753-510 BC)

• Republican Period (510-44 BC)

• Imperial Period (44-476 AD)

GEOGRAPHICAL

• surrounded by water, almost flat

• Rome is the capital of Italy

• strategic commanding postion, conquer several countries: Africa, portion of Europe (expect the Goths, present-day Germany), Western Asia

Rome is surrounded by:

NORTHWEST: Gaul (present day France)

SOUTH: Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea

WEST: Tyrrhenian Sea, Ligurian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea

Cement

was invented by the Romans with the use of pozzolana (porous volcanic ash)

Concrete

chief building material in Roman Architecture

Geology of Rome

• stone

• bricks

• sand

• gravel

• timber

MARBLE, STONE, TERRA-COTTA, TRAVERTINE, TUFA, PEPERINO, SAND, AND GRAVEL

Climate in Rome

NORTH: temperate

CENTRAL: sunny

SOUTH: almost tropical; diversity of architectural features

Religion in Rome

• lesser veneration of gods

• veneration of Emperors

• a part of the constitution of the state

• adapted the Greek gods and goddesses, but changed the names and attributes

Roman Social Class Order (494 BC)

• Patricians (wealthy landowners, ruling class)

• Plebeains (poor small farm owners)

• Freemen (released slaces freed by owners)

• Slaves (treated harshly, usually immigrants or prisoners of wars)

Patricians

• top of the pyramid

• wealthy landowners

• ruling class

• consuls, senators, practors

• descendent of founding fathers

• more rights, had veto power

Plebeains

• poor small farm owners

• little rights

• no veto power

• no say in government

Freemen

• released slaves freed by owners

• little rights like plebeains

• became craftsmen, traders

Slaves

• treated harshly, whipped, beaten, and branded

• usually immigrants or prisoners of war

• had to do private house work, mining, farming, engineering, etc.

• can be released to become freeman

Latin

official language of Rome

Romans were NOT sea-faring people

True

Roman citizens are divided into two classes:

1) Members of the Roman Senate belonging to the highest social class

2) and other citizens

The Roman people were essentially 1) __________ and __________, many also aspired to become 2) _________ and ___________.

1) farmers and traders

2) soldiers and warriors

The Forum

• the center of social life

• very similar to the Greek Agora

• the place for social, political, recreational, and religious activities

Democratic

• the system of government in Ancient Rome

Government of two elected consuls during the Republican period:

1) Senate

2) Judiciary

page 199