Approximately Two Thousand Years Ago, Rome Was The World

Ancient Rome was an empire that stretched over two million square miles, at its height. It reached the shores of the Rhine River to the Caspian Sea, and along the outskirts of Africa to Spain (Eyewitness to History, 2007). The empire was an advancement for humankind, combining multiple cultures for trading, and the collaboration of different peoples for science. Overall, it was an empire so large, that during that time, one in every four people on the planet were under Roman rule (PBS, 2014). However, it wasn’t like that all the time. The early Roman army was a simple Greek phalanx, a rectangular formation of heavy infantry. Later, emperor Servius Tullius introduced the census, and divided the citizens of Rome into recruits for the army, organizing and reforming it. The ancient Roman Empire was considered the greatest and most formidable empire of that time period (753 BC – 476 AD) (Scaruffi, 1999). This was due to a multitude of reasons, the most prominent being the ways of the Roman army. The Roman Army has specific traits that made it so powerful. Its advanced tactics, training methods, and reforms made it a highly reliable and successful army, and has greatly influenced today’s militaries.

One of the most striking uses of architecture for glorification of a Roman emperor is the Arch of Titus. Built specifically upon the highest point of the Via Sacra, or Sacred Road, this arch is a lasting monument to the glorification of Titus. The Arch of Titus was built by Emperor Domitian to honor the capture and siege of Jerusalem by Titus and his apotheosis, or deification. This arch is an outstanding example of one of the most celebrated ways used by the Romans to express the honor and glory of their emperors.

To look back upon the propaganda used by the Roman Empire, it seems particularly ingenious that they accomplished such a feat. To keep an empire with that many problems, problems that could undermine even the greatest leaders, relatively stable is astonishing. In conclusion, through propaganda in art that depicted victorious war campaigns, successful emperors and a halcyon family life the Rulers of ancient Rome were able to extend their respective time in power as well as increasing their already great

The Roman Empire is still known today as one of history’s most powerful period. Rome government had stick rules and policies. The Roman government at this point was known as the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was controlled by the roar Rome. Bureaucracy was ran throughout the region, but Rome did not want this nor could they afford it. However, they did allow small cities to run a lower level of government. The exercise of indirect rule thus became a basic principle of imperial government. The business of local administration and jurisdiction was delegated to the existing communities of city or tribe. This type of structure was deemed to be a weakness to some historians because of the consequences. Consequences that allow a third level government to enforce the emperor’s rules. Because of the expansion of the territory, this was the only reasonable way for it to function normally. The empire was a "commonwealth of cities" which acted as economic and cultural of the Roman world and were integrated into the administrative system as local foci of government. This imperial ruling was first implemented by Rome. It came about because of social trends and not the Roman strategic policies that was often changed by Romanized upper class citizens. These upper classman brought about firmness throughout the land with their strategic and educated planning.

Rome began in 31 BCE when Augustus Caesar became the first emperor of Rome, and the Roman empire was a significant and powerful western civilization with a complex political, religious, and social system by 117 CE (Mark, Roman Empire). From the parallel streets in cities of the Roman empire to the layout of the Roman forum to the living structures of the different classes, the Roman empire at this time was highly organized and methodical. And these are but a few examples of the power and authority of the Roman empire, which clearly put the citizens in their place. Looking at Rome and Pompeii, ancient art, building structures, and city layouts clearly stratified citizens based on economic and social status.

Rome was a very large and powerful city by the first BC but the reign of Augustus transformed it into an imperial city. In 31 BCE, Augustus became the supreme commander of the Roman Republic. During the Augustan Revolution, art and architecture pushed a political agenda. Art portraying Augustus remains common throughout his reign. The art and architecture helped reinforce Augustus’ political message that he was the restorer of Rome.

Rome was the most successful civilization of its time. Its strategic location in the center of the Italian Peninsula and the fertile plains that supported the growing empire allowed Rome to thrive. The Romans were able to turn the Italian city state into a large empire. A very well organized army insured their success. Soldiers were paid, giving them the ambition to fight. Conquered lands were also redistributed to the soldiers. The Romans used foreign military techniques, such as Greek techniques, to their advantage. The Roman army was successful and used their victories to their advantage. They treated their enemies with generosity but also firmness. Their most successful achievement, however, was their advanced system of government. The Roman Republic was a system of government that divided power among two consuls, the senate and the plebeian army. Here came the idea of a representative democracy, which would thrive for over 450 year. By that time, the republic had spread its control throughout the mediterranean sea and as far as Britain. Beginning with the Republic’s Twelve Tables, law would develop over years into a legal

In order to make plans for buildings and division of the land, there had to be intelligent people to plan out the ideas so that they would work. For example, the intelligent people knew that they would need to divide the land into blocks, so they divided the land into a chessboard-like design, with almost all of the blocks being 80 square yards. They also knew that food and water had to be accessible by all of the people, which is why they placed public water fountains, the aqueduct that would bring the water, and a central food market, along with public baths and toilets. The city has a social Hierarchy, where the emperor has the most power, and the laborers had the least.The city planners also created a good economy, where people had to pay for the construction of their own house, which could not happen in the first place if there were not construction workers, bringing up the necessity of the physical strength that was involved in the building of this town.

The Ancient Roman’s had a wicked idea of entertainment. The Colosseum or Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an elliptical amphitheater in the center of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and stone, it is the largest amphitheater ever built and is considered one of the greatest works of architecture and engineering. The Roman Colosseum, constructed in 79 AD, is a visual representation of the importance of physical strength and military proficiency in Ancient Roman civilization, this is because it was constructed to revel Rome’s military accomplishments and to provide entertainment for Roman citizens. Many events prompted the construction of the Roman Colosseum.

Rome in the 3rd century AD was a “nation” in crisis. During this period we see a shift from the old, Italian dominated, ancient ways of antiquity into a new, more modern commonwealth where a vast number of its peoples were considered citizens, and could even aspire into prominent positions that were once reserved to leading Roman families. Initially, some of the changes that came to the Roman Empire sound good; indeed, I’m sure many Romans sometimes felt that way. However, when looking at the overall changes and the hardships that in brought on some of its people, one begins to see a very different picture develop. In order to better understand how the 3rd century contrasts from others one needs to take a small look at what life in the Roman Empire was like for people in early and late antiquity, under the republic and early empire and especially in the 2nd century. Without going into too much detail, the Roman Republic and early Roman Empire were dominated by Senators and Emperors that only came from dominating Roman/Italian families. Roman citizenship was a privilege that not everyone was able to enjoy. Rome was expanding its territorial power and beginning to define itself as the central power of the Mediterranean region. The 2nd Century AD was a golden age for the Roman Empire. In fact, this is the time period that is referred to as the happiest age known to man in Edward Gibbon’s book The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Rome was in the middle of what is

14 As Stamper argues, this is a significant aspect of portraying authority when one an emperor uses precedent of Rome’s founding 15 and this is shown by Augustus in commemorating the temple to Julius Caesar as a sign of celebrating his own triumph. The Temple of Julius Caesar sat on an elevated podium with rostra in front of the colonnade where prows of the ships captured from the Battle at Actium were hung.16 Similarly, the public rostra erected at the opposite site of the Forum also consist of captures obtained from the Battle of Actium and these rostra that faced each other act as a reminder of the glories of the old Republic and the achievements of the restored Rome under its new leader, Augustus.17 To reflect more of the idea of power, Augustus uses different architectural elements to deliver them. Similar to the nearby Temple of Castor and Pollux erected during the Republic, the Temple of Julius Caesar had a pycnostyle composition that consisted of six closely arranged columns with

Ancient Rome was built on hills, the people living on the top of the hills, and farming closer to the bottom. The climate of Ancient Rome was humid and cool and ranged from 55 to 95 Fahrenheit year round. The Alps to the far north of Rome protected them from threats coming from North Europe, while not isolating them on the peninsula. Being on the Italian peninsula was useful for trading and sailing to other areas in the Mediterranean to conquer land. Rome did not trade as much as some other civilizations around the Mediterranean such as the Egyptians. Most people in Ancient Rome were farmers and sold most of what they grew to the markets. Rich landowners had lots of land and either rented it to poorer farmers, or had their many slaves farm it for them. Some wealthier shopkeepers sailed around the Mediterranean trading for papyrus and similar items that ordinary people could afford; however, some traders went further into the Indian Ocean, or West Asia, some traders even imported silk all the way from China, which only the richest could afford.

In 27 BC Augustus began his political career with a “new policy which embodied a national and Roman spirit” (Galinksy, 1996, 225) and “represented new heights in creativity and sophistication” (Galinksy, 1996, 225). Augustus created a new political propaganda campaign that used art and architecture to promote and enhance his regime. The most fundamental message can be regarded as to establish the legitimacy of his rule and to portray him as the natural successor of Rome, as this is consistently presented throughout the visual programme. Yet factors such as the restoration of the Republic, reviving the old religion, nationalism and militaristic triumph can also be seen to be communicated prominently through art and architecture.

As most great things Rome started small. The great city of Rome was merely a village made up of a huts which the people called their home. As Rome emerged more in to a city a government was put into place. Rome was not

The city of Rome was the epicenter of the Roman Empire. Major decisions and world influence came from Rome. Rome transformed into a city that held almost a million people. Why did these people go to the city and what affect did the city have on them? Urbanization is a massive global trend in today’s world. People flock to cities in search of opportunities or a better way of life. What a city looks like today is vastly different than what Rome looked like almost two millennia ago. However, the causes for urbanization and the effects urbanization has on the inhabitants have stark similarities and differences in Ancient Rome and in cities today.