Roman Civilization (753 B.C.E. to 284 A.D.

)
Three historical periods: The Roman Monarchy (753 BCE to 509 BCE) The Roman Republic (509 BCE to 31 BCE) The Roman Empire (31 BCE to 248 AD)

Settlement Location
Modern scholars believe that in the 8th century B.C., the inhabitants of some small Latin settlements on hills in the TIBER VALLEY united and established a common meeting place, the FORUM, around which the city of Rome grew.

Architecture
In designing their bridges and aqueducts, the Romans placed a series of STONE ARCHES next to one another to provide mutual support. Fourteen AQUEDUCTS, stretching a total of 265 miles, supplied some 50 gallons of water daily for each inhabitant of Rome. The practical nature of the Romans and their skill and initiative in engineering were demonstrated in the many DAMS, RESERVOIRS, and HARBORS they built. The BARREL VAULT, basically a series of adjoining arches forming a structure resembling a tunnel, was a new method of enclosing space. In the barrel vault the supports of the arches became heavy masonry walls to bear the weight of the vaulted roof. The Romans next developed the CROSS VALUT by intersection two barrel vaults at right angles. Another important advance in architecture was the Roman's success in constructing CONCRETE DOMES on a large scale. The weight of the dome was transferred directly to the walls and no other support was necessary. The largest of the dome structures was the PANTHEON (temple of all the gods).

The standard type of Roman public building was the BASCILICA, a colonnaded structure that became a model for early Christian churches. Rows of columns divided the interior into a central nave and side aisles, with the roof over the nave raised to admit light, creating a CLERESTORY (an upper portion of a wall containing windows for supplying natural light to a building.

Three Social Classes

During Roman Republic and Empire, there were three distinct social classes: The patrician (aristocracy) The equestrian (army) The plebian (common people)
The Romans were syncretists, blending different religions. From Egypt came the worship of Isis (a religion that promised immortality), from Persia they borrowed the cult of Mithra. They celebrated December 25th as Mithras birthday.

Roman Religion

Economy
An economic balance was maintained between the wealthy and productive East and the relatively poor and backward West. The East was taxed heavily, and the money transferred to the West, which was used to purchase goods from the East.

Religion
Established a strict policy of religious toleration Freely adopted and adapted gods and goddesses of the people they conquered, and process called syncretism (essentially an inculcation of the Greeks and other worldly deities). Promoted a certain degree of commonality by establishing and promoting emperor worship. Saluting the flag, formulatic pledge of allegiance, standing when singing the national anthem, reverence for the cloth of the flag.

Decline of the Roman Empire

Politics many bloody disputes over succession. Civil war common, military control, corruption. Economics running the vast empire was too expensive. Overtaxed the middle classes and devalues currency. Defense as power decreases, concern over invasion increases; Huns, Visigoths, Alemanni, Vandals.