Chapter 6 Section 5
Rome and the Roots of Western Civilization
Preview: Make a list of ways that you believe
Western civilization has been
influenced by Rome.
The Legacy of Greco-Roman Civilization
Greco-Roman culture – mixture of Greek, Hellenistic and Rome
Roman Fine Arts
-create mosaic
-painting
-Best examples found in Roman town of Pompeii
-Mount Vesuvius (volcano) erupted; city covered in thick ash;
killing about 2,000
Learning and Literature
-philosophy and literature from works of Greeks
-Virgil (Aeneid)
-Tacitus (Annals and Histories)
Roman Achievements
Latin, the Language of Rome
-Romance language
-French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian
Architecture, Engineering, and Technology
-arch, dome and concrete = structures like the Colosseum
-aqueducts = water into cities and towns
-stone, concrete, sand – Roman roads
Roman System of Law
-influence legal systems of Europe and United States
Rome’s Enduring Influence
-strengthened Western cultural tradition
Above the elite are ordinary citizens, dressed in
plain white togas because only the elite are allowed
to wear the purple border. Crowded near the top of
the stadium, are the poor people and slaves in dull
grey clothes. They have no seats and stand for
hours waiting for the games to begin.
Water was taken
from mountain
sources and
moved along
underground and
aboveground
channels using
the force of
gravity
A fountain could
be found at the
terminus of each
aqueduct to
release its
pressure
Roman aqueducts provided as much fresh
water to Roman citizens as is provided today
Hadrian’s Wall - Hadrian put the empire into a defensive mode
Roman Baths
Roman System of Law
All persons had the right to equal treatment under the law.
A person was considered innocent until
proven guilty.
The burden of proof rested with the
accuser rather than the accused.
A person should be punished only for
actions, not thoughts.
Any law that seemed unreasonable or
grossly unfair could be set aside.
Rome’s Enduring Influence:
By preserving and adding to Greek civilization, Rome
strengthened the western cultural tradition. The world
would be a very different place had Rome not exist.