Roman Literature and
Entertainment
Gina Kim
Keinai Johnson
Devin Moctezuma
Bread and
Circuses
●
●
●
Juvenal, a Roman poet, first used the
phrase “Bread and Circuses”
Roman Emperors maintained their
popularity and political power by handing
out free “breads” to plebeians each month
and holding entertaining “circuses”
Juvenal once wrote, “Give them bread and
circuses and they will never revolt.”
Livy
●
●
●
●
●
Livy was a Roman historian
His most famous work is “Ab Urbe Condita,”
which translates to, “from the founding of the
city”
Unlike other Roman historians, Livy was not
included in politics
Livy did not explain history with politics, but
instead used personal and moral terms
Proved that moral qualities were what made
Rome great
Roman
Plays
●
●
●
●
●
Roman plays were influenced by Greek
themes
There were more comedy plays than
tragedies
Theatres were built close to temples which
proved that they were important in Roman
life
Considered healthy because comedy
released tension
Roman plays started off as religious
festivals