Aim What was the greatest achievement of the

Aim: What was the greatest achievement of the Pax Romana? Do Now: Look at the photos of Pompeii. What do you think life in Pompeii was like? Pompeii was a wealthy port town. In 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted and encased the Pompeii in burning ashes and molten rock, preserving the city.

The Pax Romana (27 BCE – 180 CE) was an era of peace and stability within the Roman Empire, beginning with Emperor Augustus. Without having to put down continual rebellions, the Roman Empire was able to focus on building great cities and developing its famed technologies such as public baths, aqueducts and roads.

I The Roman Arch The Romans perfected the Etruscan arch and used it in their aqueducts, the Coliseum, and monuments. By rotating an arch 360 degrees they created a dome. Triumphal Arch of Trajan, Roman Pantheon

II Roman Concrete The Romans invented concrete by mixing lime and volcanic rock.

III The Roman Pantheon The Pantheon was a building that used Greek columns and a dome. It housed the Roman gods.

Roman Pantheon Reconstruction

IV Roman Aqueducts were bridges built on a slight slant, that carried fresh water for miles. They incorporated the arch.

V Roman Bath Houses All Romans (even slaves) went to the Bath House! There were hot, cold, and warm rooms. The baths were heated from under the floor. “…picture… the man who likes to hear himself sing in the bath, and to that you can add those who plop down into the water with a loud splash. In addition… you have to imagine the shaver… He never closes his mouth, except when he is pulling out armpit hairs. . . Then there are the alcohol vendors, the sausage sellers, the pastry bakers… Seneca, 1 st c. CE

VI Roman Roads Over 700 years, the Romans built more than 55, 000 miles of paved roads. They allowed for fast movement of goods, soldiers and information across the Empire. (Most were straight rather than curved. )

Roman Roads Continued… Crews began by digging 3 foot trenches and erecting retaining walls along either side of the proposed route. The bottom section of the road was usually made of leveled earth or sand topped with small stones. This was covered with crushed rocks cemented with lime mortar. Finally, the top layer was constructed using neatly arranged blocks made from gravel, pebbles, iron ore or hardened volcanic lava. Ditches were built to ensure easy water drainage. The Appian Way

VII The Coliseum was the largest Roman stone amphitheater of the empire. It was built 70 -72 on the former site of Nero’s Golden Palace, commissioned by Emperor Vespasian. three stories of arched entrances–a total of around 80–supported by semi-circular columns. It sat 50, 000. Awnings protected the audience from the sun as they watched gladiatorial combats, wild animal fights and even mock naval battles (for which the arena was flooded with water).

Roman Coliseum Continued… “It was really mere butchery…men were thrown to lions and to bears. . . "Kill him! flog him! burn him alive" was the cry…Do not, my Lucilius, attend the games, I pray you. . . – Seneca, 1 st century CE

VIII The Circus Maximus Romans watched chariot racing at the Circus Maximus. It held up to 160, 000 spectators.

IX Roman Literature G) Literature: Virgil, a Roman poet, wrote The Aeneid, 30 BCE about the Trojan War. Instead of the true story, Virgil wrote that the survivors helped to found the city of Rome. *Showed that the Romans admired Greek culture Arms, and the man I sing, who, forc'd by fate, And haughty Juno's unrelenting hate, Expell'd and exil'd, left the Trojan shore. Long labors, both by sea and land, he bore, And in the doubtful war, before he won The Latian realm, and built the destin'd town; His banish'd gods restor'd to rites divine, And settled sure succession in his line, From whence the race of Alban fathers come, And the long glories of majestic Rome.

X Roman Art The Romans copied the art of the Etruscans and the Greeks. *Most of the Greek sculptures that exist today are actually Roman copies. Unlike the Greeks, the Romans didn’t mind showing imperfections.

XI Roman Trade Romans imported expensive exotic spices and silk from Asia.

Key Vocabulary Aqueduct Circus Maximus Coliseum Concrete Constantine Gladiators Pantheon Pax Romana Roman Arch Roman Bath House The Aeneid Virgil