Rome: An Empire of Cities



Rome: An Empire of Cities

Largest Population Centres of the Empire

• Rome

• Carthage

• Antioch – capital of empire in the east (Syria)

• Alexandria

*Each numbered between 200,000 – 300,000

Average City Population = 10,000

Public Buildings

• Erecting and maintaining public buildings was responsibility of local authorities and rich private citizens

• Euergetism = benefaction, doing good

o Social contract

▪ Upper classes provided public amenities and entertainment in return for prestige and status

The Roman Forum

• The Heart of a Roman city

• All roads lead to it

• Religious Centre

o Temple of Jupiter = symbol of loyalty to state

o Buildings dedicated to the “Capitaline Triad” (Jupiter, Juno, Minerva / Zeus, Hera, Athena)

• Economic Centre

• Political (curia) Centre

• Judicial (basilica) Centre

• Large open piazza hosted a 9-day market

o 2-storey portico around the sides

o Where gladiatorial spectacles would take place

City Attractions

• Taverns

• Snack-shops

• Public toilets

• Places of entertainment and relaxation

Housing and Zoning

• People lived in apartments or townhouses, depending on wealth

• Modern zoning not practiced

o Apartments (up to 5 floors), houses, shops, bars, public facilities evenly distributed throughout towns

Aqueducts

• Importance of cities demonstrated by aqueducts throughout the countryside

o Took water from local springs (miles from town) into urban centre (gravity)

▪ Rome: 11 aqueducts that ran for 300 miles total bringing 180 gallons of water per head per day!

Roman Architecture

• Built best roads, bridges, arches/domes, water systems, bath houses, sewer systems, stadia, buildings, temples, ornaments (statues to celebrate Roman heroes)

• Concrete invented in 2nd century BCE

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