Roman Imperialism

Roman Imperialism Roman Imperialism “changed the world” through many different ways. History has proved this time and again. To name a few, the Roman period influenced philosophy, government, civics and the arts. This pivotal time in history helped shape the way western culture and civilization is today. One important philosophy of this time period was Stoicism which first appeared in the Greek Hellenistic period. This popular, optimistic school of thought continued into the Roman Era. The main points of Stoicism were “acceptance of fate and duty, and the kinship of all people.” (p.17) “Kinship of all people” influenced Roman Law providing the goal of justice for everyone, which still holds true today, especially in western cultures. According to the text, by the early first century B.C.E. became more cultured and universal and was a huge part of the Roman spirit. The reason Stoicism was so popular in Rome was because it appealed to so both lower and upper social/economic classes. According to the text, another reason Roman Imperialism changed the world was due to a great leader, although he was never “emperor “of Rome, Agustus (Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus) ruled for forty-five years (31 B.C.E – 14 C. E.) Under Agustus’s rule, he rebuilt temples, (which had been previously destroyed in battle) built roads which linked the entire Roman Empire, bridges, and aqueducts. He is accredited with creating the first full-time police force and fire fighters. He is also accredited for maintaining peace in Rome which last almost two hundred years, known today as the Pax Romana. Rome had taken over so much territory in its Imperialism. The Roman Empire in and of itself, covered more than three million square miles (pp.115-116), reaching to the Rivers Rhine and Danube in present day Germany. With that much control, strong influence and change not only seemed unavoidable but inevitable. Where ever Romans went, they took their culture with them. Jurisprudence was the most influential concept developed by the Roman Imperialism, deciding how general laws could be applied to specific cases. Justice for all is represented again, and it appealed to different social classes again. The Romans applied philosophy to legal cases, therefore, general principles were brought about and laws were thought to be applied consistently, in turn making laws the same for everyone, disregarding social status. Not only did the Roman people influence philosophy, civics and government, but the arts also played a small role on their influence on the rest of the world. Roman art was actually influenced by Greek Classical and Hellenistic styles. Fresco’s dominated the Roman period because of its Greek influences. Trompe L’oeil, the fake impression of three-dimensionality on two-dimensional art was an artistic concept that was started by Roman artists and according to the text, was later used by artists of different time periods including some works of Michelangelo of the Renaissance period. It is said in the book that Roman sculpture relies on symbolism and convention (p.125). It is also known that Romans practiced ancestor worship and therefore made death masks as a type of funerary art. Another form of this type of art was sarcophagi decoration which expressed the Romans private lives in their varied relief sculptures. At this time much of Roman sculpture portrayed the emperor. “Emperors had been raised to the status of gods; Roman people revere their leaders as superhuman.”(p.125) Romans were also known for their contribution to technology and for their invention of cement. The Roman people discovered that is could be used in the making of concrete, which, when combined with a brick facing, allowed them to construct solid arches, thus eliminating the need for buttressing. This type of arch was seen most frequently in the construction of aqueducts. (p.131) There are many other examples of how Roman Imperialism influenced and changed the world. Focusing on their influences on the topics of philosophy, government, civics, and the arts covers many other subtopics as well. At one point Rome had taken over much of the world as it was then, with their strong military and leadership, so it is hard to deny the fact their culture and beliefs would affect other cultures as well. Western cultures were affected the most by Roman Imperialism. As was stated in the text, “Where ever Romans went, they took their culture with them.”