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Roman Civilization
Life in Ancient Rome
The Pax Romana “Peaceful Rome”
Emperor Augustus 27 B.C. – 14 A.D.
Julio-Claudian Emperors
Tiberius
Caligula
Claudius
Nero
The “Golden Age”
The Period of Antonines
96-192
Era of the “Five good emperors”
Nerva
Trajan
Hadrian
Antoninus Pius
Marcus Aurelius
Life in Ancient Rome
Rome’s population 500,000 and 750,000
Most people lived in jerrybuilt apartment
houses
Fire and crime were constant problems
Streets were narrow and sanitation was a
problem
Compared to medieval and early modern
cities, Rome was healthy enough to live in
City life in Rome
The city was so big that the countryside
could not feed it
Because of starvation, the emperor provided
the citizens with free bread, oil, and wine
This prevented riots
Non-citizens were given grain at low prices
This kept the favor of the people
Entertainment
The emperor entertained the population at his
expense
Gladiator contest
Dueled with usually swords and shields
Many were criminals sentenced to be killed
Some were prisoners of war or slaves of
gladiator trainers
Some were free men who volunteered and
women
Entertainment
Chariot racing
Romans were more addicted to chariot racing
than gladiator shows
Four permanent teams competed against one
another (red, white, green, and blue)
Two-horse or four-horse chariots (seven laps or
about five miles)
This was comparable to today’s modern pasttime activities
Roman Decline
Third century A.D.
Civil Wars and barbarian invasions
Economy shattered and cities got smaller
Commodus was unsuited to govern the empire
20 different emperors in 49 years
“Barracks emperors”
Rule of military commanders
Barbarians on the Frontiers
They came westward from Asia
Goths
Vandals
Huns
Alamanni
Franks
Saxons
Turmoil in farm and village life
The people of the villages had more trouble
with corrupt officials than with the
barbarians from the east.
Some had to leave for their safety.