ROMAN EMPIRE (6000 B.

C- 476 AD)

The history of the Roman Empire can be divided into three

distinct periods: The Period of Kings (625-510 BC),
Republican Rome (510-31 BC), and Imperial Rome (31 BC –
AD 476)

The history of the Roman Empire can be divided into three

distinct periods: The Period of Kings (625-510 BC),
Republican Rome (510-31 BC), and Imperial Rome (31 BC –
AD 476):

The Age of Kings (625-510 BC)

The first period of Roman history is known as the Period of
the Kings and lasted from the founding of Rome to 510 BC.
During that short period of time, Rome, ruled by at least six
kings, developed both militarily and economically, increasing
physical boundaries, military power, and the production and
trade of goods, including oil lamps. Politically, the Roman
constitution was formed early in this period. The Age of
Kings ended with the fall of the Etruscans, ushering in the
Republican Age of Rome.

Republican Rome (510-31 BC)

Rome began its republican era in 510 BC. The Romans were
no longer ruled by kings, but they established a new form of
government in which the upper classes ruled, namely
senators and horsemen, or knights. However, during a crisis, a
dictator could be appointed.

Imperial Rome (31 BC – AD 476)

The Roman Imperial Period was its last, beginning with the
rise of Rome's first emperor in 31 BC. and lasting until the
fall of Rome in AD 476. During this time, Rome saw several
decades of peace, prosperity, and expansion. By 117 AD,
the Roman Empire had reached its greatest extent, covering
three continents, including Asia Minor, North Africa and most
of Europe.

In 286 AD The Roman Empire was divided into the Eastern

and Western empires, each ruled by its own emperor. The
Western Empire suffered several Gothic invasions and was
sacked by the Vandals in 455 AD. The decline of Rome
continued thereafter until AD 476, when the Western Roman
Empire ended. The Eastern Roman Empire, better known as
the Byzantine Empire, survived until the 15th century AD. It fell
when the Turks took control of its capital Constantinople (now
Istanbul, Turkey) in 1453.

FLAVIUS THEODOSIUS

Emperor of the Rome, known as the Theodosius the Great".

He issued decrees the effevtively made Christianity the official
state religion of the romans. Theodosius was the last emperor
of both the Eastern and Western Roman Empire. After his
death, the two parts split permanently.

Hygiene in Ancient Rome was also what they are most known
for. One of them is baths (Thermae and Bulneae). Roman
citizens came to expect high standards of hygiene, that is why
the army was well provided with latrines or public baths, known
as Thermae. On the other hand Bulneae is a smaller-scale
bathing facility that is commonly seen in private houses, back
in time. Aqueducts were used to supply water everywhere in
the empire to be used in drinking water and baths, but also in
other needs such as: fountains, irrigation, public toilets, sewer
system, etc.

ROMAN EMPIRE’S CONTRIBUTION TO PHYSICAL

EDUCATION
Romans were influenced by the Greeks, however, Romans
were not comfortable with the all-round development of man
that emphasized the aesthetic and educated aspects of Greek
culture. The purpose of physical training for Roman citizens
was solely to make them “obedient, disciplined, and ready to
be a warrior”.

ROMANS AND SPORTS

In Rome, the Campus Martinus was served as a place for

fathers to teach their sons physical abilities necessary for
entering into manhood and then into the military. Running,
jumping, swimming, wrestling, horsemanship, boxing, fencing
and archery were taught. Absolute obedience to commands
was emphasized at the Campus Martinus. These activities
served two purposes. One purpose was to educate the boys in
basic military skills. Secondly, by participating in physical
activity, the boys could improve their general health and
fitness.

They enjoyed exercising and keeping their bodies in shape.

The Romans were quick to accept the concept of health
gymnastics because the maintenance of health was a
worthwhile and natural goal for them. Ancient Romans
considered physical training for women simply as
entertainment and unnecessary. The women engaged in
swimming, dancing, as well as tossing the ball back and forth.
Women who participated in weight-training exercises to tone
muscles were considered fashionable. While physical
education in ancient Rome was mainly for military reasons,
sport and competition had become entertainment for the
masses. Unlike the Greeks, who thrived on competing in the
events during their festivals, the Romans became a nation of
spectators and not participants. Fights in the Colosseum and
the horse and chariot races at the Circus Maximus provided
large-scale entertainment and was extremely popular. They
enjoyed watching slaves, Christians, criminals, and other
political prisoners engage in brutal competitions ending in
death. These are the people known as Roman gladiators.
Roman gladiators also consisted of free men who volunteered
to participate in the games. The Romans preferred to watch
the free men, although the slaves were well-liked
entertainment. Criminals that had committed a capital crime
had to fight in the gladiatorial arena without weapons. All other
criminals had formal training in private gladiator schools. At
these private and imperial schools, gladiators became
specialist in combat techniques that disabled and captured
their opponents rather than killed them quickly. Weapons and
the armour of the gladiators’ choosing were allowed in these
schools. If the criminals survived three to five years of combat
without dying, they could earn their freedom. However, few
survived the three to five years. These festivals provided
leisure-time and relief from strenuous training but served no
educational purposes (Lumpkin, 1990, p.177).

The Romans, known for their staging of sporting events and

competitions combining military strategy and entertainment,
may have contributed to current practices of producing sport
and competition to make money and amuse society. The value
of physical education to the Romans continues to play a role in
the modern world.

References:

Konieczny, G. (2022, October 29). Hygiene in ancient

romans. " IMPERIUM ROMANUM.
https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-society/hygiene-in-
ancient-romans/amp/

The Roman Empire: A brief history. Milwaukee Public

Museum. (n.d.).
https://www.mpm.edu/research-collections/anthropology/anth
ropology-collections-research/mediterranean-oil-lamps/
roman-empire-brief-history?fbclid=IwAR1mNl2hPMv9mY28-
6VLxc461UYziUU_SnZPtLu4Ir1oi9RqSLoPZN9YOF4

Theodosius I. Visit the main page. (n.d.).

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Theodosius_I

The philosophy of Physical Education and sport from ancient

times to ... (n.d.).
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298341167_The_P
hilosophy_of_Physical_Education_and_Sport_from_Ancient_
Times_to_the_Enlightenment

YouTube. (2017, November 7). History of physical education

in Roman Empire. YouTube. https://m.youtube.com/watch?
v=iDd90IeBdWo