White Plains Public Schools / Overview



Rome’s Legacy World History/Napp

“Romans borrowed and adapted cultural elements freely, especially from the Greek and Hellenistic cultures. However, the Romans created a great civilization in their own right, whose art and architecture, language and literature, engineering, and law became its legacy to the world.

By the second century B.C., Romans had conquered Greece and had come to greatly admire Greek culture. Educated Romans learned the Greek language. As Horace, a Roman poet, said, ‘Greece, once overcome, overcame her wild conqueror.’ The mixing of elements of Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman culture produced a new culture, called Greco-Roman culture. This is also often called classical civilization.

Roman artists, philosophers, and writers did not merely copy their Greek and Hellenistic models. They adapted them for their own purposes and created a style of their own. Roman art and literature came to convey the Roman ideals of strength, permanence, and solidity.

Romans learned the art of sculpture from the Greeks. However, while the Greeks were known for the beauty and idealization of their sculpture, Roman sculptors created realistic portraits in stone. Much Roman art was practical in purpose, intended for public education. Roman artists were particularly skilled in creating mosaics. Mosaics were pictures or designs made by setting small pieces of stone, glass, or tile onto a surface. Most Roman villas, the country houses of the wealthy, had at least one colorful mosaic.” ~ World History

- What is Greco-Roman culture?

- In what way did Roman art differ from Greek art?

- How does the study of art provide insights into a culture or a people?

- Provide examples of cultural diffusion from the reading.

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These architectural achievements best indicate that

1. advanced technology existed in early civilizations

2. religion was of little importance

3. entertainment was important to these ancient societies

4. trade routes existed between China and the Americas

|Learning and Literature |Legacy |Roman Law |

|- Romans borrowed much of their philosophy from|- Latin, the language of the Romans, remained |- Rome’s most lasting and widespread |

|the |the language of learning in the West |contribution was its law |

|Greeks | | |

| |- It was the official language of the Roman |- As the empire grew, however, the Romans came |

|- The poet Virgil spent ten years writing the |Catholic Church into the 20th century |to believe that laws should be fair and apply |

|most famous work of Latin literature, the | |equally to all people, rich and poor |

|Aeneid, the epic of the legendary Aeneas |- Latin developed into French, Spanish, | |

| |Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian |- Some of the most important principles of |

|- Virgil modeled the Aeneid, written in praise | |Roman law were: |

|of Rome and Roman virtues, after the Greek |- These languages are called Romance languages | |

|epics of Homer |because of their Roman heritage |*All persons had the right to equal treatment |

| | |under the law |

|- Yet the poet Ovid wrote light, witty poetry |- Latin also influenced other languages; for | |

|for enjoyment |example, more than half the words in English |*A person was considered innocent until proven |

| |have a basis in Latin |guilty |

|- Tacitus, a Roman historian, is notable among | | |

|ancient historians because he presented the |- The Romans were also skilled builders |*The burden of proof rested with the accuser |

|facts accurately | |rather than the accused |

| |- The arch, the dome, and concrete were | |

| |combined to build spectacular structures, such |* A person should be punished only for actions,|

| |as the Colosseum |not thoughts |

| | | |

| |- Aqueducts were designed by Roman engineers to|*Any law that seemed unreasonable or grossly |

| |bring water into cities and towns |unfair could be set aside |

| | | |

| |- Roman roads were also technological marvels | |

Identify and explain the following terms:

Virgil

Ovid

Tacitus

Latin

Colosseum

Roman Roads

Principles of Roman Law

- What influence did Latin have on the development of Western languages?

- Which principle of law do you think has been Rome’s greatest contribution to modern legal systems?

- Do you agree with Horace’s claim that when it came to culture, Greece in essence conquered Rome? Explain.

- Describe how the world might be different if Rome had not existed.

- Imagine you are a historian. Write an expository essay describing the importance of Rome’s legacy.

Review: Greeks and Romans

|Which society practiced direct democracy? |What effect did the geography of ancient Greece have on its early |

|ancient Athens |development? |

|dynastic China |The mountainous terrain led to the creation of independent |

|Gupta Empire |city-states. |

|early Egypt |A lack of natural seaports limited communication. |

| |An inland location hindered trade and colonization. |

|What was one effect of Alexander the Great’s conquests? |Abundant natural resources encouraged self-sufficiency. |

|expansion of Hellenistic culture | |

|formation of the Christian church |Roman women could own property. |

|decreased importance of the Silk Roads |Roman women could make wills leaving their property to whomever they |

|increased support of the Mayan leaders |chose. |

| |A valid conclusion drawn from these facts is that Roman women |

|One contribution of ancient Roman culture was the development of |had the right to vote |

|the concept of zero |enjoyed some legal rights |

|the process of making silk |were equal to men |

|a republican form of government |could hold political offices |

|the printing press | |

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- What features of the Colosseum do you find most beautiful – most useful – and worthiest of copying? Why?

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