Saturday, February 23, 2008

The Roman Life

Life in Rome was good. Rules and regulations kept the city under control and many rulers kept one man from gaining too much power. Roman life also was very much grounded by the city. All things started with the city, and its success. Without Rome itself, most of the things that we know of the Romans, are never found or maybe never happen. Most of life in Rome, was ran through the landholders and the city. These people and the city of rome, started one of the greatest empires ever known to man.
The work done in Rome was mostly done by the men. All the bills, the fields, all was done by the men. The woman's job was to care for the house and to give birth to Roman boys. An average Roman man awoke early and worked a six hour day in the fields. For the most part, sons also followed in their father's footsteps inheriting their profession and their business. The rich men and women of Rome, were restricted too a career in law, politics, or the army. Other occupations were deemed to low for their kind. (source)
Roman Education sat in the hands of the parents. They decided if their children went to school or worked with the father. This made education very different than we see it today. The parents sent their children to sachool based on whether or not the family was having success. If the family was struggling in the work field, the son would skip school to help the father. School started in March, holidays were observed and days off every ninth day. Summer has never been proven, but historians say some period like summer would have existed.
The use of slavery in Rome was as big as anywhere else in the early world. Romans kept slaves and used them in all areas of needed assistance. The Romans saw slavery as simply carrying on the tradition started by the Egyptians, Babylonians, Indians, Chinese.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Roman Developement

The Romans made a monumental impact in the area of art, and architectural building. Often in our world today one hears of a Roman style house or a Roman style painting or sculpture. These two areas are the biggest when it comes to the impact of Rome on our society. Both are still extremely evident in our world today.
The Romans treated architecture in a different way than the rest of the world. They were the first to use their buildings as a way to serve the nation's needs. Before them, buildings purposes were to either serve the gods, the dead, or the royal families. "As far as Roman Architecture goes, it is difficult to compare it with that of other nations, because the Romans applied architecture to so many and such varied purposes, and so constructed monuments involving both architectural and engineering skill." (source) The Romans were the first to take architecture toa different level. Most try to simply be better, but to be different, that is where true greatness is found.
The Romans also took a different step in art. Roman art was practiced for 1,000 years and it was the first to really trademark a style of buildings and sculpture. They developed the arch and the pillar a great signatures of roman art. These adeas were vitally important to the success of Roman art and architecture.