Expansion of Roman influence Brought economic and social changes to the Mediterranean basin Good roads and pax romana Encouraged trade between regions Existing cities Benefitted from wealth generated by trade; Romans founded new cities as links in the economy Strictly patriarchal society With extensive use of slave labor Roman engineers Built roads and paved the main street of cities Trade and urbanization Led to economic development and social change Agricultural production Was transformed with expansion of empire and growth of trade Latifundia Focused on production for export Commercial agriculture Played important role in economic specialization and integration Vigorous trade Over the Mediterranean sea lanes Roman military and naval power Kept seas free of pirates Merchants, military, and officials Linked regions into a well-integrated network of communication and exchange Remote rural areas Still used high-quality goods imported from afar Berenice on Red Sea coast Offered access to Indian Ocean and distant markets Cities Benefitted greatly from Mediterranean integration and played a prominent role in promoting change Profit from trade Flowed to Rome, fueling urban development Roman state Financed construction of temples, bathhouses, public buildings, stadiums, and aqueducts Use of concrete Allowed for construction of precise plumbing and water control systems Construction in Rome Provided employment for hundreds of thousands of workers and led to population surge and rapid growth of the city's economy Urban growth and development beyond Rome Some parts of the empire had long-standing urban traditions, while others were founded by Romans for purposes of government and administration Roman Cities Enjoyed amenities such as freshwater, elaborate sewage and plumbing systems, public baths, and entertainment options Roman Entertainment Enormous circuses, stadiums, and theaters provided entertainment for urban masses Family and Society in Roman Times Roman law vested immense authority in male heads of families and women usually wielded considerable influence within their households Wealth and Social Change New classes of merchants, landowners, and contractors accumulated private wealth and rivaled old nobility for prominence Urban Slaves Worked as domestic servants, laborers, craftsmen, shopkeepers, or business agents for owners and manumission was possible after a long term of service The Cosmopolitan Mediterranean Integration had effects on trade, economy, culture, and religion of the Roman empire and allowed for the spread of new popular religions Greek Philosophy and Religions of Salvation Stoicism became the prominent school of moral philosophy in Rome and religions of salvation provided comfort for both educated elites and unschooled masses. Greek Influence The Romans drew inspiration from the Greek tradition of rational thought and philosophy, particularly Stoicism. Stoicism A school of thought in Hellenistic Greece that sought to identify a set of universal moral standards based on nature and reason. Marcus Tullius Cicero A Roman thinker who adopted Stoic values and became a prominent figure in spreading Stoicism as the most prominent school of moral philosophy in Rome. Religions of Salvation Religions that offered comfort and a sense of purpose, promising a glorious future existence, and became popular in the Mediterranean basin and beyond during the Hellenistic period. Mithraism A popular religion of salvation among Roman soldiers and merchants, dedicated to the Persian deity Mithras, which associated Mithras with military virtues and offered hope for individuals who followed its teachings. Cult of Isis A popular religion of salvation, dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis, that welcomed both men and women, nurtured its followers, and helped them cope with life's stresses. Judaism and Early Christianity The Jewish people maintained their faith and communities under various imperial regimes, including the Roman empire, which created problems for their strict monotheism and eventually paved the way for the success of Christianity in the empire.
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