《Romanculture》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《Romanculture（4页珍藏版）》请在金锄头文库上搜索。
1、Roman CultureRoman historyShe-wolf Earliest Roman history is part legend, on account of incomplete written records. Modest beginning in Roman legend. Romulus & Remus, Reputedly descendants of Aeneas, chose the place where the she-wolf had nursed them The City of Rome-The city on seven hills /the Ete
2、rnal City Life in ancient Rome revolved around the city of Rome, located on seven hills. The city also had several theaters and gymnasiums, and many taverns, baths residential architecture ranged from very modest houses to country villas Imperial residences: on the elegant Palatine Hill (the word “p
3、alace” is derived). The poor: in the city center, packed into apartments (almost like modern ghettos).Time-lineyear 753 BC-: Seven Kings of Romeyear 509 BC-: Roman Republicyear 27 BC-: Roman EmpireSeven kingsThe last king was called Tarquin the Proud, cruel and expelled before a republic. In 509BC,
4、there was a revolution. This incident of Lucretia sparked a revolution. The result was Tarquin was exiled from Rome.Roman Republic 509BC Octavian dictatorship in 27 BC. At first, Two consuls (archon) and a senate ruled the city Rome. Clashes between aristocracy and common people focused on political
5、 rights and land and debts. For political rights, common people united in a withdrawal movement, which resulted in the right to be appointed as consul. As to land and debts, the system of slavery was abolished by allowing people in debt to repay with property. The results of the clash were: Relieve
6、class distinction; Expand social foundations; Secure interest of common people; Increase common peoples power. Roman Legions: The major unit of the Roman army consisting of 3,000 to 6,000 infantry troops and 100 to 200 cavalry troops. The Roman Republic lasted for more than 700 years from 509 BC unt
7、il around the time of the assassination (暗杀) of Julius Caesar. This period was marked by a number of Roman conquests extending over several centuries. The burning of Corinth in 146 B.C. marked Roman conquest of Greece. The power was divided amongst a hierarchy of elected functionaries （官员）- the Sena
8、te （元老院）the Consuls （两名执政官）the Assemblies （议会） During the time of Roman Republic, Roman citizens were allowed to vote. These included patricians and plebeians. Women, slaves and children were not allowed to vote. Patrician(贵族) legal entities；Plebeians(平民) had no legal capacity and were not able to m
9、ake contracts;Slavesmostly prisoners of war. the Roman Republic won an empire, and destroyed itself in doing so While the highly efficient Roman military forces conquered fresh territories, they left behind a trail of socioeconomic impacts conquests brought an endless supply of fresh slave labor, ma
10、king the poorer Roman citizens jobless, creating unrest and unemploymentamong the citizenry. To keep them fed and engaged was a daunting task for the administration. A number of measures, including land reforms, were attempted on the one hand; on the other hand, certain events were institutionalized
11、 like inducing the criminals, outlawsand debtorsto enter arenasfor gladiatorial combats resulting in deathand mutilation. It is said that “the Roman Republic won an empire, and destroyed itself in doing so.” Cruel oppression led to the slaves resistance, as demonstrated in the revolt in Sicily and t
12、he uprising led by Spartacus, a heavy blow to the rule of slave owners. End of the Republic. Assassination of Julius Caesar (b. July 13, ca. 100 BC; d. March 15, 44 BC) Roman Empire Roman military commander L. Sulla Felix established dictatorship in 83 BC. After his death, Julius Caesar, Pompeius Ma
13、gnus and Licinius Crassus formed Triumvirate三人执政. Caesars death led to the second Triumvirate, consisting of Julius Caesar Octavian, Caesars nephew. Beginning of the Roman Empire is the leadership of Augustus. Caesar Augustus（奥古斯都） was proclaimed Emperor by the Roman Senate in 27 BC. Augustusthe exa
14、lted (尊贵的) or the holy one. Senates dream of restoring the republic was broken. The Roman Empire lasted for 500 years. It expanded into ancient Britain, Arabia, and Dacia, present day Romania. Augustus set into motion a process of political and social stability, resulting in a long period of peace l
15、asting two hundred years. (pax Romana- the Roman peace). Roman Empire at its Height 2nd century. The empire began to decline in the 3rd century. In the 4th century the emperor Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium, renamed it Constantinople (modern Istanbul) . After 395, the empire wa
16、s permanently divided into east(the Byzantine Empire) and West. In 476 the last emperor of the west was deposed by the Goths and this marked the end of the West Roman Empire. The east Roman Empire collapsed when Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453.Romans and GreeksMany aspects of the Roman culture were appropriated from the Ancient Greeks. In architecture
