ROMAN EMPIRE Book of the
The rise and fall of an immortal empire and its lasting cultural legacy
Fourth edition
Digital Edition
Discover the start of modern civilisation
Emperors & warfare
Culture & lifestyle
Religion & mythology
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CONTENTS Discover the rich history of one of the world’s most iconic and immortal empires
08 The legend of Rome
Track how Rome went from a kingdom to a republic to an empire, until its tragic downfall
18 Map of Rome’s territories
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Discover just how far Rome’s boundaries stretched, and when it was at its largest
Roman life and society 22 How the Romans lived
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Explore what daily life was like in Ancient Rome, from the class system to housing
28 The Roman houses
Take a peek inside the villa of a rich patrician in Ancient Rome
30 Birth of the Senate
One of the most enduring political bodies in Rome, how did the Senate come to be?
36 How to become a Roman consul
You too can learn how to gain influence in Roman politics through manipulation and fear
38 Roman inventions
Discover what Roman inventions defined their age and which ones we still use today
40 A legacy set in stone
The ingenuity of Roman infrastructure and engineering changed the world forever
44 Underworld of Rome
Ancient Rome was rife with debauchery and crime – dive deep inside it here
50 Bloods, guts & gladiators Roman entertainment included watching gladiators fight and precarious chariot races
56 Circus Maximus
Discover the ins and outs of Rome’s famous chariot racing arena
58 A day in the life of a chariot racer
What was life like for these athletic daredevils?
Roman icons and emperors 62 The dynasties of the Roman Empire
Track the power shifts in the Roman Empire across its duration
66 Caesar’s rise to power
How did the most iconic Roman come to power, and what consequences did it have?
74 Ides of March
Uncover what really happened on the fateful day that Julius Caesar was stabbed to death
76 Cicero: Voice of Rome
Cicero’s talent for speeches gained him the support of the people, but also made enemies
80 10 most despicable Romans
Many Roman leaders found creative and cruel ways to kill and torture their subjects
86 Julia Maesa: the rock of Rome
Discover the iconic woman that history forgot, and track her path to political influence
90 Constantine’s crusade
Constantine brought drastic changes to the Empire, including a conversion to Christianity
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76 Roman myths and religion 96 Dining deities and spirits of the pantry Discover how religion influenced daily life in Ancient Rome
102 Pantheon: Temple of the gods
An iconic feat of human engineering, uncover the many functions of the Pantheon
104 Romulus and Remus
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What is the story behind the famous image of the she-wolf with her human twins?
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110 Tree of the gods
Unravel the rather dysfunctional family that is the group of important Roman gods
112 Maidens of mythology
While their place in society was insignificant, women held an important role in mythology
118 Roman mystery cults
Uncover the secret rites and bizarre rituals of the Roman spiritual underworld
Rome’s military prowess
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126 Caesar’s invasion of Britain
Caesar’s invasion is why remnants of Roman civilisation can be found in Britain today
134 Attack on Rome
Find out how the Romans used their wit to bring down an army of elephants
142 Crisis of the Third Century
Discover a century of political turmoil so bad that it resulted in civil war
148 The Catalaunian Plains
The Romans took on a fiercer enemy than ever before in this face-off with Attila the Hun
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152 The Roman Empire’s last stand
Long after the Empire’s glory days, the loss of Constantinople was the final blow for Rome
Book of the Roman Empire
How the Romans lived
All walks of life filled the streets of ancient Rome, and for the poorer people of society the empire was very different to those at the top
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ork hard, play hard. That appears to be the mantra by which a lot of Romans lived their lives. There’s a general impression that the Romans were a wealthy, articulate bunch, who had splendid villas and clothes. However, that, in truth, is only half the story. As in any society, the normal men and women who lived and worked in Rome (Plebeians) led very different lives to those at the top of the tree (Patricians), residing in homes that were a world apart from the nobility and the elite and having differing levels of access to education and health provisions. Today, most of the physical evidence of the lower class’ existence has crumbled away. Their poorly built homes and unwritten stories have been lost to time. But historians have still been able to piece together the structure of Roman life: how they ate, what they wore, where they bathed and how they were schooled. We also know that wealth was the key towards a good life, even for slaves who found they could amass money and sometimes buy their freedom.
“The normal men and women who lived and
worked in Rome (Plebeians) led very different lives to those at the top of the tree (Patricians)” 22
How the Romans lived
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Blood, guts & gladiators
Female gladiators, each of them slaves, were common in Rome’s arenas by the 1st century CE.
A 4th century CE, mosaic from Terranova, Italy, depicting Roman gladiators fighting
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Book of the Roman Empire
Blood, guts & gladiators From enjoying beautiful poetry to cheering on a bloodthirsty gladiator going in for the kill, the Romans sure knew how to enjoy their free time
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ntertainment and sport were central to Roman living with lots of pursuits, both literate and spectacular, keeping Rome’s citizens busy during their free time. They were used by the emperor to control and occupy the poor, idle masses in a bid to head off any potential revolt, but the vast population would come to enjoy and embrace great and clear prose, elegant Latin poetry, and art inspired by their neighbours, the Etruscans. The ordinary Romans were literate, or at least semi-literate, visiting libraries and enjoying the work of satirists such as Juvenal, who proved so influential that, in 1738, poet Samuel Johnson would model his work, London, on Juvenal’s Satire III. But to concentrate on the arts is to tell half-astory: the Romans came to love large visual, mainly brutal events so much more. The rulers knew that and used huge games to paper over the cracks of the empire’s struggles. Their greatest innovation was truly turning sport from something that was played into something that would be watched for pleasure, celebrating the athleticism of man and gleaning great reflected glory from the achievements of the strong
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competitors to a greater degree than the Greeks. Huge amphitheatres and stadia dominated Roman towns and cities and they became proud and powerful focal points. Spectator sports also became hugely organised with large teams looking to get the best out of those competing. Individuals and groups of friends could find their own pursuits, though, away from the huge venues. They wanted to be fed, and entertained, it became known as panem et circenses; bread and circuses. Board games were very popular among citizens with the two-player strategy board game Ludus latrunculorum drawing on military tactics and being played across the empire. Tic-Tac-Toe – survives today (more familiar to some as Noughts and Crosses) and kept minds ticking over in ancient Roman times. The countryside would be home to hunters and recreational fishing. There was also boxing, wrestling, swimming, throwing and riding and, a version of football, known as Harpastum, which was played on a pitch. It was depicted in drawings as having two sides, with the aim appearing to be to keep the ball in their own half, the game was seen as a way to keep soldiers fit and healthy.
Book of the Roman Empire
Dining deities and spirits of the pantry Gods, temples and household spirits; just what did religion look like to the Romans on a daily basis?
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trange as it may seem to us today, to the successes of the ever-expanding Empire. Being a people of Ancient Rome religion was of polytheistic society from the start, there were a utmost importance, forming an integral lot of gods and goddesses to be kept happy, and and vital part of every day life. The a lot of hard work needed to maintain the status gods controlled everything that quo, the consequences of angering the gods happened to an individual and and losing favour was not something the nation as a whole, with the an individual or Rome could Evidence of actions of these often volatile contemplate. Just how then did the Roman religion deities used to explain events Romans go about keeping this still exists in Britain that occurred, both good and delicate balance? bad. It is hardly surprising With religion pervading every today: St Paul’s therefore to find that a great aspect of daily life in Ancient Cathedral was built on deal of time and energy was Rome, it makes sense that the site of a Temple spent on religious practice religious observance began at by the Romans: from slaves that vital centre of Roman culture to Diana. to the emperors and everyone and experience: the family. Private in between. Indeed, Rome itself as worship within the home therefore was a whole congratulated itself on high the foundation of all Roman religious life, the levels of collective piety, believing that this, coupled pietas or piety that contributed collectively to the with a talent for appeasing the gods and keeping well-being of the Empire having its roots in the them on their side, were to thank for the great private religious devotions of each family.
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Dining deities and spirits of the pantry
“Religious observance began at that vital centre of Roman culture and experience: the family�
The Temple of Saturn looms majestically over the forum in Rome, which some believe is the birthplace of western civilisation
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Book of the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire’s last stand
For 600 years, Islamists dreamed of seizing the wealthy city of Constantinople. In 1453, both sides prepared for a decisive showdown
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The Roman Empire’s last stand
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ultan Mehmed II took his position on a small mound in sight of the walls of the ancient city of Constantinople. Those tasked with defending the city – the stronghold of Orthodox Christianity – from the waves of invaders that threatened her could clearly see his location as they peered across from the city walls over an incredible number of tents situated barely 230 metres away. The tents were arranged in clusters. At the centre of each was the makeshift home of an officer, on top of each a defiant flag fluttering in the wind against the Sea of Marmara. The 21-year old sultan’s ceremonial red-and-gold tent lay further back, its grandeur befitting that of the Ottoman Empire’s leader. The sight of some 60,000 soldiers together with thousands more helping to keep them well tooled and fed was chilling for the city’s inhabitants. The severity of the threat to their city
taking the mutual decision, shall die out of free was clear. For the leader of Constantinople – the will without sparing our lives.” Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos On 6 April 1453, the first attack came, light – the purpose of the incredible gathering within artillery firing at Constantinople. Soldiers spitting distance of the city to which he pushed forward, trying to break had dedicated his life was clear. War through the city’s walls, but the was inevitable and his forces were Emperor defenders proved strong. They outnumbered ten to one. Constantine, after repelled the invading army, Mehmed was conscious of whom the city was causing many casualties. Even the need for a swift war on as cracks appeared in the walls, Constantinople, given the named, dubbed it and fortresses on Bosphorus logistics involved with keeping ‘New Rome’, were taken, Mehmed realised it such a large army well fed designating it as the wasn’t going to be easy to break and healthy. He had made the city. For that, even greater Constantine an offer; surrender new capital. force was needed, so he called the city and he could keep his upon something with huge life and rule in the smaller town of firepower; a weapon that Mystras. The Emperor had refused: “To was to shake Constantinople like surrender the city to you is beyond my authority an earthquake. or anyone else’s who lives in it, for all of us, after
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