6-5

6-5 Rome and the Roots of Western Civilization

__•Greco- Roman Culture-__ The mixing of elements of Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman culture produced into a new culture. Also called Classical Civilization. __•Mosaics-__ Pictures or designs made by setting small pieces of stone, glass, or tile, onto a surface. __•Frescoes-__ Large, bright murals that were painted directly on their wall. __•Pompeii-__ A Roman town where you can find the best examples of Roman paintings. In A.D. 79, nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted, covering Pompeii in a thick layer of ash and killed about 2,000 residents. The ash acted to preserve many buildings and works of art. __•Aqueducts-__ Aqueducts were designed by Roman engineers to bring water into cities and towns. When the water channel spanned a river or ravine, the aqueduct was lifted high up on arches.
 * Bold Words:**

__•Virgil-__ A Roman poet who spend ten years writing the most famous work of Latin literature, the //Aeneid,// an epic of the legendary Aeneas. He modeled //Aeneid//off of the Greek epics of Homer and was known to carry the weight and seriousness of the Roman character. __•Tacitus-__ Roman historian presented the facts accurately and showed concern of Romans lack of morality in his //Annals// and //Histories// and talked about the good/bad of Rome.
 * Key People:**

• Roman empire were in the same state, and had the same governed ways. Romans were proud of their ability to rule but liked Greek leadership in art, architecture, literature, philosophy. • 2nd Century B.C. Romans conquered Greece and liked inherited the Greek Language and came up with a new culture named Greco- Roman Culture. • Roman artists, philosophers, and writers adapted a new style of their own for newer purposes. The Roman literature conveyed Roman ideals of strength, permanence, and solidity.
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 * The Legacy of Greco-Roman Civilization**

//__Roman Fine Arts__// • Learned sculpture from the Greeks, but Roman sculptures created realistic portraits and was practical in purposes unlike the Greeks sculptures. • The reign of Augustus was when the sculptures bas-relief, low-relief, images project from a flat background and were used to tell stories or represent crowds of people, soldiers in battle, and landscapes. • Romans were good at creating Mosaics. Wealthy houses had at least 1 colorful mosaic. • Romans were good at painting as well. Wealthy Romans had frescoes. Roman paintings are found in Pompeii and date as early as the 2nd century B.C.

//__Learning and Literature__// • Romans were influenced by Greek Stoicism (the philosophy of the Greek teacher Zeno) was especially influential. It encouraged virtue, duty, moderation, and endurance. • In philosophy Romans found influence in Greeks as well by using some of their models and forms but also using their own. • The poet Ovid wrote light, witty poetry for enjoyment and said in //Amores//, he could only compost when he is in love. • Romans wrote excellent prose, especially History. Livy created history on rome from 9 B.C. He created more a of national myth of Rome instead of real history.

//__The Latin Language__// • Latin, Roman's language was still in the West even after the fall of Rome and was the official language of Roman Catholic Church into the 20th century. • Latin turned into Romance languages (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian, English)
 * The Legacy of Rome**

//__Master Builders__// • The arch, the dome, and concrete were combined to build spectacular structures, such as the Colosseum. Visitors like the architecture. • Arches supported bridges and aqueducts • Thomas Jefferson in the 18th century built the U.S capital and sate buildings with Roman features because the Roman architecture was so practical. • Army built roads to connect rome and some are still used today because of the technological marvels.

//__Roman System of Law__// • Biggest contribution was law. Romans believed the laws should apply equally to all people, rich and poor. The standards of justice were influenced by teachings of Stoic philosophers and were based on common sense and practical ideas. They included: - Everyone has equal rights to treatment under law - Person was considered innocent until proved guilty - Burden of truth rested with the accuser rather than the accused - Person should be punished only for actions, not thoughts. - Any unreasonable law or grossly unfair could be set aside. • Roman law was the basis of legal systems

//__Rome's Enduring Influence__// • By preserving and adding to Greek civilization, Rome strengthened the Western Cultural tradition. R.H. Barrow says "Rome never fell because it turned into something even greater- an idea- and achieved immortality." • India was forming and so was China