Rome - Culture

The Roman Empire
From about 300 BC onwards, Rome conquered a very large area of land, subduing Barbarians all around them such as Gauls and Celts. There were several reasons why they were so successful in building this Empire and keeping it under control for hundreds of years.
	Roads Romans built roads wherever they went. These roads were straight and well-made and some are still in existence today. The first one was the APPIAN WAY built going South from Rome in 312 BC.
The Roman Army The key to Rome's greatness was its army. It was well-organized, its soldiers were disciplined, well fed and well paid. It was a good life for a Roman to join the army. They trained continuously and fought well. A centurion commanded 100 legionaries and 10 cohorts totaling 6,000 men.
	Administration and Government Rome kept a tight hold on the far-flung parts of the Empire, keeping taxes coming in and organisation running smoothly. It had a system of office holders who were honest and hardworking. They made sure every part of the empire paid their taxes and were provided with paved roads, water canals and overhead canals called AQUADUCTS some of which are still in existence today.
Entertainment was provided in theatres and what were called CIRCUSES where wild animals fought gladiators, and gladiators fought each other.
	To give extra excitement, sometimes Christians were thrown to the lions.
Everywhere public baths, drainage, and comfortable houses were provided and even people in Spain, North Africa, Britain or anywhere else, felt themselves to be Roman and lived in peace. Life was quite tolerable even for conquered people.
	Julius Caesar 100-44 BC Julius Caesar was an extraordinary able general and dictator of Rome. He conquered Britain, Gaul and many other countries and spread the Roman Empire all over the known world. He was very much admired by the Roman people. However, he began to get very proud ideas, that he was invincible. He made himself an Emperor of Rome, which had never been done before. The members of the Senate felt that he had made himself almost a God. They were also angry that, even though he was married, he married Cleopatra of Egypt and had a son by her. He was therefore assassinated in the Senate by Brutus and others in 44 BC.
Mosaics Their floor tiles, wall paintings, and art have come down to us in the form of MOSAICS pictures made of small coloured stones or pieces of glass, fitted together with great artistry.
	The End of the Roman Empire Constantine, a Roman Emperor, set up an Eastern Capital in 330 AD which he called Constantinople. He had become a Christian, and so this city was a Christian City. From 400 AD Christianity became the official religion of Rome. Rome continued to be the Western capital until it was sacked several times by barbarians and its empire began to decline. In 476 AD the Goths took over Rome and killed the last Roman Emperor.