Download Rome and the Roots of Western Civilization

Rome and the Roots of Western
Civilization
Rome
 Rome borrowed and adapted cultural elements from
the Greeks and Hellenistic culture, but they created
their own great civilization that became the legacy of
the world.
The Legacy of Greco-Roman Civilization
 Under the Roman empire hundreds of territories
were knitted into a single state governed in the same
manner.
 The Romans were proud of their ability to rule but
acknowledged Greek leadership in the fields of art,
architectures, literature, and philosophy.
 By second century B.C., Rome had conquered Greece
and educated Romans learned the Greek language.
The Legacy of Greco-Roman Civilization
 The mixing of elements of Greek, Hellenistic, and
Roman culture produced a new culture called,
Greco-Roman Culture. (aka classical civilization)
 Roman artist and philosophers did not simply copy
the Greek and Hellenistic models, but adapted them
to their own purpose and use.
 Roman literature and art came to convey the Roman
ideals of strength, permanence and solidity.
Cultural Elements-Sculpture
 Romans learned the art of sculpture from the Greeks.
Greek Sculpture
Roman Sculpture
Cultural Elements- Sculpture
Greek Contributions
Roman Contributions
 Greeks provided a
 Created realistic portraits in
model for fine art of
sculpture.
 Greeks were know for
the beauty and
idealization of their
sculptures. (realism)
stone.
 Most of Roman art was used
for a education to tell stories
and represent crowds of
people, soldiers in battle, and
landscapes.
 Realism. However, the
Roman sculptors also
captured their models facial
expressions showing an
individuals character and
feelings.
Cultural Elements- Sculpture
 Romans developed a
new sculpture
technique called basrelief (images
projected on a flat
background),painted
frescos, and mosaics
( pictures or designs
made of small pieces
of glass, stone, or
tile).
Greek Fresco
Roman Fresco
Greek Mosaic
Roman Mosaic
Pompeii
 The best examples of
Roman painting was in
the town of Pompeii.
 It was destroyed by the
eruption of Mount
Vesuvius which covered
the town in ash and
killed 2,000 people but
preserved many
buildings and works of
art.
Cultural Elements-Philosophy
Greek Contribution
Roman Contribution
 Philosophers founded
 Applied the teachings
schools of philosophy,
such as Stoicism, which
encouraged virtue,
duty, moderation, and
endurance
of Greek philosophers
to administration of
their empire
Cultural Elements-Literature
Greek Contribution
Roman Contribution
 Provided forms and
 Wrote epics as well as
models for literary
works, such as epics by
Homer.
 Homer wrote Odyssey
light, witty, poetry and
prose, especially
history.
 Used themes about
everyday life in Rome.
 Virgil- Wrote the
Aeneid.
Roman Achievements-Language
Romans introduced and
spread Latin, which remained
the language of learning and
the Roman Catholic church
long after the Roman empire
fell.
Roman Achievements-Architecture
 Romans introduced the
arch, dome, and use of
concrete. The Romans
built the Colosseum and
other massive
structures.
Roman Colosseum-Roman Dome
Roman Achievements-Engineering
 Romans built bridges,
aqueducts, and an
extensive network of
roads.


Arches supported bridges
Aqueducts were used to
bring water into towns
and cities. (see page 181)
Greek
Science
Roman
Galen- used experiments to
Aristarchus 
heliocentric theory. further medical research.
Developed an encyclopedia
 Euclid  geometry.that was used for over a
1,000yrs later.
 Archimedes 
-Applied geographic features
pulley.
to maps
 Ptolemy 
Pliny the elder- compiled
geocentric theory. encyclopedia volumes on
such topic as zoology,
geography, and botany.
Volumes were based on other
peoples work.
Rome’s lasting legacy
 Rome’s most widespread contribution was not only
cultural but their system of law.
 The Romans created the systems of criminal and
civil laws.


Civil laws-laws which dealt primarily with the individual rights
of citizens.
Criminal law- Crimes against the rights of people or breaking
the laws of government.
Citation
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