Ancient Rome Summary Scaffold (3)

Initially ruled by kings until 509 BCE.
Established a republic ruled by senates.
Key positions include:
- Magistrates: General officials.
- Consuls: Managed the army and government affairs.
- Praetors: Judged Roman law.
- Aediles: Oversaw public buildings and food supply.
- Quaestors: Managed financial matters.
- Tribunes: Represented the plebeians (common citizens).
Voting:
- Only ordinary citizens (plebeians) could vote for magistrates.
- Voting age for males was 25; women were not citizens.
- Citizenship was contingent on wealth; slaves could not be citizens.

Divided into three main classes:
- Patricians: Wealthy descendants of noble families.
- Equites: Descendants from farmers, often served in the military.
- Plebeians: Common men, including rural workers and townsmen.
Women, while essential for family structure, had limited rights:
- Expected to be wives and mothers; could marry at age 12.

Polytheistic beliefs, adapting many gods from Greek mythology.
Worshiped in public temples with festivals for each god:
- Priests offered sacrifices.
Burial practices varied:
- Cremation was preferred.
- Wealthy Romans were buried in elaborate tombs.
- Funerals differed in extravagance based on wealth; rituals included feasts.
- Emperors were often buried within the city.
The Pantheon served as a temple for various gods.

Wealthy children received formal education:
- Boys studied subjects like history and geography.
Daily life involved:
- Wearing tunics made of linen or wool.
- Wealthy women focused on personal grooming.
- Clothing included silks, furs, and felts.
Common entertainment:
- Chariot racing in circuses.
- Visits to public baths with pools.
- Theatre for drama performances.

Poor citizens faced challenges:
- Lived without heating or running water.
- Access to public toilets and occasional free food.
- Limited living amenities, no bathing facilities in homes.
Availability of public resources:
- Public libraries, fire services, and notices.

Trade was vital, expanding across the Mediterranean and Silk Roads:
- Goods included pottery, fabrics, special stones, spices, and slaves.
Conflict and military life:
- Military organized into 30 legions, each with 6,000 men.
- The army was integral to Roman citizen life, expanding the territory.

Factors contributing to decline:
- Economic hardship and plague from soldiers.
- Power struggles among generals.
- Empire overwhelmed and split in two.
- Invasions by barbarian tribes led to military losses.
Cultural and political legacies:
- Spread of Christianity and the endurance of the Latin language.
- Influences on legal systems (fair courts, property rights, law codes).
- Architectural achievements such as arches, vaults, domes, aqueducts.
- Advancements in engineering and infrastructure including plumbing and heating systems.