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The Rise And Fall Of Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was founded in 753 BC, i.e., more than 2700 years ago. Initially, the civilization was just a society of small farmers who settled along the Tiber River. Over time, the society grew from a small town to a large civilization with more than 2000 cities. In fact, in the civilization's most glorious days, the city of Rome had more than 1 million residents. This means it's likely that it was the largest city in the world at the time!
So how did ancient Rome grow to become so vast? Well, it's all thanks to its many great emperors (including Caesar), who improved the military, economic and political powers of the state. Initially, though, the Romans suffered severely due to the invasions of Gauls in northern Italy.
In the third century BC, the Romans were able to spread beyond Italy. They especially became successful after they took over control of the Mediterranean Sea, thanks to their victory against Hannibal (one of the greatest military generals of all time.) Rome reached its peak under the wise rulership of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. They are known as the "Five Good Emperors."
But as you may have guessed, things didn't end well for the Romans. As Barbarian invasions and the church became more powerful, Rome's beautiful villas, well-built roads, and large trade centers fell to their knees. In the year 476, Romulus Augustulus abdicated his throne to the Germans, ending the era of the Romans.
Art In Roman Society
Greek influence is ever-present in all of ancient Rome's artistic endeavors. The sculptural portraits of their emperors are almost unbelievably realistic. The preserved paintings, statues, and busts from the era are still on display in Italy's most famous landmarks and museums.
To understand the true prowess of the empire, one cannot miss the magnificent architecture of the period. The Romans built impressive structures featuring domes, arches, and columns; marble, concrete, and timber were the preferred materials. The Colosseum is a limestone marvel, standing tall as the largest amphitheater in the world to this day. It's also a testament to the engineering feats of the Romans.
Life In Ancient Rome
Although it may seem hard to believe, city life in ancient Rome involved theaters, gymnasiums, marketplaces, and libraries. The people indulged in dice, board, and card games for entertainment. Of course, athletic plays were also popular, with the most famous being chariot races and gladiatorial combats. The best of these shows and events would take place at the Colosseum.
Music and literature played an essential part in everyday life for Romans. Initially, they mostly revolve around historical epics of the early periods of the empire. Poetry, comedy, and ritualistic musical performances developed over time.
In terms of cuisine, ancient Romans enjoyed the fruits of the Mediterranean basin. More than 30 varieties of olives, 4 pears, and plenty of vegetables were part of their diet. An interesting fact is that the Romans were fascinated with aquaculture. They even built large-scale oyster farming industries. Much like today's Rome, the ancient empire was also well-known for indulging in fine wine.
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FAQs
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What was a remarkable engineering achievement of ancient Romans?
The ancient Romans invented the first form of concrete, with which they could build large bridges, buildings, and piping systems. The base of this concrete was made from volcanic lava.
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Where can we find the remains of ancient Rome today?
Many places in Italy, including the cities of Pompeii and Rome, continue to preserve the historic structures and objects from the era.
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What religion did ancient Romans follow?
The ancient Roman religion was all about complex interactions between gods and humans. Some important gods include Jupiter, Juno, Saturn, and Neptune.
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How big was the Roman military?
The ancient Roman military included 4000-6000 members. They were usually divided into units of 100, known as a century. They were some of the most formidable military units in history.
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What language did the ancient Romans speak?
The ancient Romans primarily spoke Latin. Although the language is not used today, it's still widely studied by enthusiasts. Many chemical and biological scientific names are derived from Latin. It's interesting to note that the elite class at the time also spoke Greek, as many literary pieces were written in the Greek language.
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What type of musical instruments did the Romans play?
The commands were given out using trumpet instruments like the tuba and buccina in the military. For entertainment, the Romans played a variety of musical instruments. These include the kithara, cymbals, and tambourine.
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