ANCIENT

ROME

Isabella Kunsak, Isabella Gibson, Ainsley Bissett

Contents •
•
Economy
Law/Punishment System
• Culture
• Society
• Rome vs. Greece
ECONOMY
Economy • Rome’s economy was based on strade, and Agrarian ideals.
• Rome’s focus was to provide food to its vast community, and to
regulate trade throughout the Mediterranean.
• Some of Rome’s biggest trading partners were India, China,
Africa, Asia, Europe, Greece, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Britain.
• Since Rome was constantly building, and expanding its empire, it
needed many building materials from which was mainly obtained
for Italy, and Greece. In a result of the expanding this made
Rome’s largest industry mining (for materials).
• Rome was completely dependent on imported goods, and trade.
• The farmers in Rome grew a wide variety of grains, olives, and
grapes, that they used for their wine. These farmers could bestow
a selection of their healthy crop as a substitute for their fiscal tax.
As a consequence of these taxes, this gave farmers little
motivation for producing the crops that Rome so very much
depended on because the more crops converted to more tax.
LAW/PUNISHMENT
SYSTEM
 Law/ • Rome’s ancient legislation was known as “The Law of the Twelve
Tables”, or Lex XII Tabularum in Latin.

Punishment • The Twelve Tables were a set of “rules” constructed by the Roman
leaders, that all citizens had to live by.
System • The citizens of Rome were given rights, and privileges, over the
slaves of that time.
• As in every government there is a disciplinary system. The average
Roman citizen was punished heavily for there crimes, but not to the
extent of the slave’s punishment.
• Some of them consisting of being beaten with a whip and being
suspended with a weight dangling at their feet so they could not
move.
• But when it came to punish someone for a capital offence no mercy
was shown for anyone.
• When found guilty you could be banished, forced into slavery, or
killed. When you were given the death penalty you could be
strangled in prison, beheaded, buried alive, crucified, or thrown into
the river. But one of the cruelest, being stripped of all your clothes,
and with your head held up with a fork, be whipped to death.
ROMAN CULTURE
Roman
• The culture mostly revolved around the city itself
• One major part was their religion

Culture • Believed in many Gods, but the government was tolerant

towards many religions as long as they didn’t cause problems
• You could also attend to both the Roman Gods and your own
Gods to show both your Roman and personal identity
• Romans would have shrines in their homes to worship their
favorite Gods
• Many would worship in a temple, which were also used to host
sacrifices to the Gods
• The Romans were known for their development of the arch and
the dome in architecture
• Romans would watch gladiator fights and chariot races in
colosseums
• One popular food in Rome was cheesecake
• The Romans liked to make and eat donuts to celebrate special
events, such a weddings and parties
ROMAN POLICIES/
SOCIAL CLASSES
 Roman • Traditional Roman law was found in places such as ancient legal
texts, literature, wax tablets and inscriptions

Policies/Social • The primary way of establishing official laws was through the
Roman Assemblies, the people that represented the Roman

Classes
Legislative Branch in the ancient empire
• There were many levels of Roman citizenship, which related
to the amount of rights one had. If a citizen were to break a law,
common punishments include hanging, crucifixion, and torture.
– The social status determined the brutality of the
punishment
• While the Romans were prepared to punish the guilty, they took
major precautions to prevent crime
• The Roman laws were enforced by the Roman Praetor, the title
granted by the Roman Emperor to the leader and commander of
the Roman Army
• The Roman legal and law system has impacted the governing
techniques of today, as similar aspects of these ideas are still
used
 Roman
Policies/ Social • The Roman class system began with the slaves at the bottom
– Slaves were treated as poorly or as well as their master wished

Classes – Slaves were often expected to dress, assist, and serve their masters
to any extent
• Second social class were the plebeians
– The working class of Ancient Rome
• Third social class were the patricians
– The patricians were the original members of the Roman civilization,
thus giving them one of the highest seats in Roman social status
• Social class system ended with the emperor as the highest
– Emperors ruled over all citizens and has great military powers
– Many emperors over their times also constructed some of the
greatest architectural feats known to man such as the Ark of
Constantine and the Trajan's Column
ROME VS. GREECE
Compare/ • Both empires were both Mediterranean civilizations.
• Rome and Greece both had economies that were based

Contrast on agriculture.
• Greece considered trade to be degrading, while Rome
encouraged it.
• They both mainly focused on wine and olive oil.
• Both civilizations were made up of social classes, where
the lower class were not considered citizens.
• In Greece, they had developed a democracy that
allowed citizens to vote. In Rome, however, they had a
republican government.
• In art, the Greeks wanted to see perfection, whereas
the Romans wanted to see real life with flaws and all.
• Rome was a united civilization, whereas Greece was
divided into city-states.
 Why Rome
• Greek and Roman civilizations have had many cultural, architectural, political, and
educational influences on today’s societies
– However, Rome has managed to accomplish greater feats in most aspect of their civilization

was Superior • Rome had many notable and accomplished leaders

– Some leaders include Constantine the Great, Hadrian, Tiberius, and Trajan who were all
successful and significant leaders of their time

• Rome's impressive architecture

– Monuments such as The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, constructed by Constantine the Great
and the Colosseum are both great representations of Rome's sophisticated architectural skills
– Rome's constructions made a major impact on modern day architecture and design

• Romans had more power and control

– The Romans conquered more land than Greece

• Romans were essentially experts in politics, law, and battle strategies

– Many aspects of the Roman government are still used in some of today's modern governments

– They have won many battles under the control of many great emperors, some
of which include the Battle of Nola, Numistro, Zama, Carthage, and Munda just
to name a few
– The Roman system of law was advanced for its time, and it was also very
organized
– Their battle tactics also aided them in conquering land and winning numerous
battles
• Due to these reasons, Rome is superior to Greece