ANCIENT ROME:

THE GREATEST EMPIRE

s
Idea
That
Matter
Written by Robert E. Slavin, Alli Hoge, and Kimberly Sargeant
 ANCIENT ROME:
THE GREATEST EMPIRE

Written by Robert E. Slavin, Alli Hoge, and Kimberly Sargeant

Ancient Rome: The Greatest Empire
© 2014 Success for All Foundation. All rights reserved.
ISBN: 9780976785071

Developers: Robert E. Slavin, Alli Hoge, Kate Conway, Wendy Fitchett

Editors: Dana Knighten, Jodie Littleton
Designers: Barbra Colquitt, Susan Perkins

Image Credits:
© BarbraColquitt
Creative Commons Attribution—Share Alike: Amadscientist/Lasha Tskhondia–L. VII. C. (Roman forum Sketch
Up model screen capture, pg. 10), Bernard Gagnon (Ancient Roman road, pg. 16), Boksi (Roman villa model,
pg. 11), Carla Tavares (Roman forum photo, pg. 10), Dave and Margie Hill-Kleerup (Roman sarcophagus
panel, pg. 23), Jani Niemenmaa (Roman empire map, pg. 15), Jean-Pol Grandmont (Mars statue, pg. 27),
JoJan (Second century Roman stone column showing teacher and pupil, pg. 21), Renata3 (Seven Hills of
Rome map, pg.9)
© Kayli Grace Burton
Shutterstock.com: Anibal Trejo, Anna Kucherova, AridOcean, Collpicto, Darla Hallmark, Dimmitrius, Dunescg,
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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction.................................................2
Land and People..........................................8
Government...............................................12
Roads and Buildings.................................16
Aqueducts and Baths................................18
Learning....................................................20
A Day in Rome..........................................22
Entertainment...........................................24
Roman Religion.........................................26
Rome Today...............................................29
Glossary......................................................32
Index...........................................................34

1
 INTRODUCTION
Salve and welcome to Rome! “Salve” is Latin. It’s pronounced
sal-way. Many languages grew out of Latin, such as Spanish,
French, and Italian. Much of English came from Latin too.

Fact: Many words in the English language have Latin roots.

Latin Root Meaning English Words

aqua water aquarium

astro star astronaut, astronomy
cent one hundred century, centimeter
multi many multiple, multiply
oct eight octagon, octopus

2
 Fact: Romans used numerals to represent numbers.
Roman numerals are still used today. Here are some
Roman numerals that you may know:

Roman Modern Roman Modern Roman Modern Roman Modern

I 1 V 5 IX 9 L 50

II 2 VI 6 X 10 C 100

III 3 VII 7 XV 15 D 500

IV 4 VIII 8 XX 20 M 1,000

3
 The Romans were great thinkers. Many ideas You can see Roman influences all around you. For
that began in Rome are still important today. Our example, you can see Roman architecture in
government is based on Roman ideas. Rome was many public buildings.
the first republic. The Romans had a voice in
how their city was led. Citizens could vote for Many libraries and courthouses are modeled after
senators to represent them, just as we do in the buildings in Rome.
U.S. today.

University of
Virginia Rotu
nda
Court
U.S. Supreme

4
The Jefferson Memorial is in Washington, D.C.
It looks similar to the Pantheon in Rome. Both
buildings have columns and rounded tops.

emorial
Jefferson M

Pantheon

5
 Fact: The first newspaper was called Acta Diurna. It means “daily acts.”

The Romans were The Romans also

the first to publish made books by
daily newspapers. stacking pages and
Newspapers were binding them together.
written on stone or Before books, people
metal. They were read from scrolls
posted in public or tablets.
for all to see.

Many books were kept the first public libraries.

in special rooms and People enjoyed visiting
buildings. These were these places to read
and share books.

6
We can say gratias to the The Romans created the first Let’s learn more about
Romans for many things. true fire department. They this historical city
The Romans invented indoor invented elevators. They even that has influenced our lives.
heating and plumbing. They invented socks.
built the first shopping mall
and the first highway system.

7
 LAND AND PEOPLE
Rome began as a small village in the
country we now call Italy.

The village was on the banks of the Tiber

River. Over time, the village grew into a
city. The city covered seven hills.

ITALY

e
✪ Rom

8
Fact: Rome’s government was on a hill called Capitoline. Many American
government buildings are in an area of Washington, D.C., called Capitol Hill.

The center of the city was

called the forum. The
forum was a marketplace.
Townspeople went there
to barter, or trade, for
different goods. It was
also a place to meet
friends and talk. Major
events such as elections
and speeches happened
at the forum. Temples
and other buildings were
built around the forum.

9
 Much of the forum has been destroyed, but visitors
today can see some of the columns and arches.

10
 Fact: Pater familias means “father of the family.”
Some Romans lived in and balconies faced the the oldest male. He was important decisions
apartments. Apartments courtyard instead of the called the pater familias. even when his children
were very small. The street. This was to keep In most houses, this was were adults. He was
entire family lived in one burglars away. the father or grandfather. responsible for his
room. Wealthier Romans family. He could be
lived in houses. Houses Many generations of The pater familias punished if his wife or
were built around open family lived together. The owned all the property. child broke the law.
courtyards. Windows ruler of the family was He also made all the

11
 GOVERNMENT
The Romans believed a man named Romulus
founded the city and named it for himself.

They thought Romulus was the In 509 BCE, Rome became the
son of a god. He was the first first republic. The Romans elected
king of Rome. The city was people to represent them in the
ruled by kings for about two government. All male citizens could
hundred years. Every time a vote, but women and slaves could
king died, the Romans elected not. Representatives formed the
a new king. Roman Senate. Our government is
based on the Republic of Rome.

Augustus
is the first
Romulus Julius Emperor
builds Caesar of Rome.
Rome. is killed. 27 BCE
753 BCE 44 BCE

The Kingdom of Rome The Republic of Rome The Roman Empire

753 BCE 509 BCE 27 BCE 0 476 CE

12
Fact: Rome had a powerful Each legion had All male citizens had
army. The army was thousands of soldiers. to serve in the army
It was very important split into groups The army was important for 25 years.
to be a Roman called legions. to the Romans.
citizen. A citizen had
many more rights
than a non-citizen.
These included:
• The right to vote
• The right to a
fair trial
• The right to run
for office
• The right to
own property

Fact: Roman soldiers wore armor to protect their bodies,

but they wore sandals on their feet!

13
 Rome wanted to become a great power. Fact:
Its army attacked many nations. The
Julius Caesar
Romans took control of huge amounts introduced a
of land. By 281 BCE, Rome controlled new calendar. It
all of Italy. Soon after, Rome ruled most had twelve months,
Worth your salt and each month
of the land that is now England, France, had about thirty
Salt was very and Germany, along with parts of North days. The months
valuable to the Africa and the Middle East. had Latin names.
Romans. Many March was named
parts of the empire for Mars, the Roman
did not have their Julius Caesar was the last leader of god of war. June
own sources of salt. the republic. He was a great leader, was named for Juno,
Soldiers were often the queen of the
paid in salt rather but some people
Roman gods. Caesar
than money. They thought he had too named July for
would then trade much power. He himself. Later, the
their salt for what emperor Augustus
was killed in
they needed. The named a month for
word salary, which 44 BCE. This himself too.
means money paid angered many
to an employee,
people,
comes from the
Latin word for salt. and a war
broke out.

Julius Caesar
14
After the war, Rome became an empire. Some Rome had great power for more than 1,200 years.
emperors, such as Augustus and Trajan, did Eventually, the empire got too big for the emperors
good things for the people of Rome. But other to rule. It grew weak, so other nations attacked
emperors, such as Nero and Caligula, were Roman cities. By 476 CE, Rome was destroyed by
cruel tyrants. They hurt the Roman Empire invaders, and the empire ended.
and its people.

15
 ROADS AND BUILDINGS
Have you ever heard the saying, “All roads lead to Rome”?
In the Roman Empire, many roads did.

Each time they conquered a new city, the Romans built roads in straight lines because
Romans built a road to connect the city to Rome. they knew it was faster to travel on a straight
Roads were important because they let soldiers path than a curved path. They wanted the
travel quickly between cities. They also helped roads to last for a long time, so they built
cities trade with one another. the roads with strong material. Some of the
roads were so strong that they were used
for thousands of years.

Wall
Hadrian’s

16 Roman road
Romans also wanted to protect their
cities, so they built big walls around
Romans used arches to support
bridges because arches can hold a
Fact:
The Pantheon is
them. They built giant theaters, lot of weight. They could build tall
made of concrete
temples, and other buildings. We walls by building layers of arches and is one of the
know a lot about Roman roads, walls, on top of one another. largest domes in
and buildings because they still exist the world. It was
built to honor the
today. They can be seen in Rome Columns could hold a lot of weight Roman gods.
and in all of the countries that were too. Romans used columns to
once part of the Roman Empire. support many buildings.

Have you ever seen a dome or an

arch? Roman builders used domes
and arches frequently in their
architecture.

, interior
Pantheon

Aqueduct of
Segovia, Spa
in

Pantheon, exterior
17
 AQUEDUCTS AND BATHS
As Rome got bigger, its people needed more water. The Tiber River’s water
could not be used for drinking. It was badly polluted because the public toilets
in Rome dumped waste into the river. The water in the ground below Rome
was not fit for drinking either. This created a problem for the Romans.

They built aqueducts, Fresh drinking Most Romans did not Many also had heated
or channels, to carry water was important have water in their rooms, exercise rooms,
fresh water from nearby to the Romans. If homes, so they visited and libraries. There were
mountains into the city. you were very rich, public bath houses, or separate baths for men
Water from springs water from an aqueduct baths. The bath houses and women. The baths
traveled down the might flow right into had pools for people were a place to talk
channels. The channels your house. If you were to wash themselves. with friends.
were built on a slope, not rich, you would
which let water flow get drinking water
downhill. Some of the from a fountain.
channels were fifty miles Rome had hundreds
long or longer. Stone of public fountains.
archways held up
the aqueducts.
Romans visited public bath
houses, such as these.

18
 Fact:
Most Roman
cities had at least
one center of
public bathing
and socialization.
Bathers would stay
for several hours
each day. Wealthy
citizens would
reet bring a slave with
r flowe d out of st them to give them
Fresh wate ne.
like this o drinks and hold
fountains
their towels.

19
 LEARNING
In the early days of Rome, there were no schools. Parents taught their children at home.
Children learned how to be good citizens. They learned about Roman history and laws.

The first schools opened when Rome became Only boys from rich families went to
an empire. All boys went to primary school secondary school. They studied Latin and
from ages 7 to 12. They learned to read, write, Greek and read important literature until they
and do math. Paper was very expensive, were 16. The boys from the richest families then
so students used wax-covered boards instead. went to another school, where they would learn
They could write by scratching words and to give great speeches. These young men
numbers with a stick called a stylus. Then became leaders in Rome.
they could rub the wax smooth to erase
what they wrote. Mothers taught girls how to cook, clean,
and sew at home.

Fact: The word orator is a Latin word. It means public speaker.

20
Salve! My name is Lucius. I’m 10 years old, and I live in
Rome. Most days, I go to school. Our teacher shows us
how to write numbers and letters in Latin.

I have three sisters named Lucilia, Livia, and Lucretia.

They don’t go to school. They stay at home and learn
from our mother how to take care of the family. While I am
at school, they cook, take care of the garden, clean, and
wash our clothing. Where we live is warm most of the time,
so we usually wear sandals and tunics. Our tunics are
white, loose, and wrap over one shoulder. When my sisters
get older, they will marry. Then they will be like our mother
and will have a home and children of their own.

My father is a farmer, and he is teaching me. I will be

a farmer just like my father, and I will teach my son
how to grow grain, olives, and grapes.

I also hope to be in the Roman Imperial

Army. My father says that I am very fast
and strong, and that I could be a great
military leader like Julius Caesar.

Thank you for visiting me in Rome!

21
 A DAY IN ROME
The Romans woke very early each day. They began each day with breakfast, usually
bread and water or milk. Wealthy Romans might have cheese and fruit as well.

Work and school began before sunrise. During the They had a small lunch of bread, salad, olives,
morning, adults would go to the baths or the forum. cheese, fruit, nuts, and any cold meat left over
They would also visit the temple. Around midday, from the night before. Then they rested for
everyone went home for lunch. a couple of hours.

22
After lunch, kids returned to school. The adults Romans ate vegetables, fish, bread, olives, and
went to the forum or the baths if they had not wine for dinner. Those who could afford it had
gone during the morning. a bigger meal with meat. Rich men would lie on
couches during dinner while slaves fed them.

After dinner, Romans attended plays, shows,

and other events.

23
 ENTERTAINMENT
Romans loved to be entertained! They gathered in huge
numbers to watch live events. Rich families often paid
for these events. Much of the entertainment in Rome
was free for people to enjoy.

Stages were set up in the forum a full circle or oval. The most
for actors to put on plays. All famous Roman amphitheater
the actors were men. Men even is the Coliseum. It was made The Coliseum is the largest Roman
played the female characters. out of stone and concrete. amphitheater. Some of it has fallen,
but much of it still stands today.
It could hold 50,000 people.
Plays were so popular that
the Romans built theaters. Gladiator tournaments
The outdoor theaters were big were popular events at the
semi-circles with an open space Coliseum. Gladiators were
in the middle. Stone benches trained fighters who fought
faced the theater’s stage. with shields, swords, or
knives. They were often
The Romans built huge former slaves. Gladiators wore
amphitheaters, which are special armor and helmets.
like theaters but shaped as Sometimes they were killed
during fights.

24
Romans also enjoyed watching sporting
events. They built a huge stadium called the
Circus Maximus. Races of all types were
held there. Thousands of people could sit in the
stands around the track.

Chariot races were a favorite event. Chariots

were small carts with two wheels. A man stood
on the deck of the cart to steer it. Galloping
horses pulled the cart around the large oval
track of  the Circus Maximus. Chariot races
were very dangerous. Horses would sometimes
fall during the seven laps of the race, and
drivers could be hurt or killed.

25
 ROMAN RELIGION
Fact:
The Romans thought that there were many gods. The Romans had
great respect for
Greek culture.
They thought each god Jupiter was very similar
Romans studied
controlled something in to the Greek god Zeus. Greek language,
the world. Jupiter, god Many of the Roman art, writing, and
of the sky, was their most gods and goddesses science. Roman
buildings were
important god. People were similar to the greatly influenced
believed that Jupiter Greek deities. by Greek styles.
threw thunderbolts
Jupiter
when he was angry.

Fact: The planets are named after

the gods and goddesses of ancient Rome.

26
 Each of the gods controlled something in the world.

Romans believed that gods lived everywhere. Each home had its own god that protected it.
People prayed to their home’s god before they ate.

Neptune Mars Venus

Neptune was the god of the Mars was the god of war. Venus was the goddess
sea. He controlled the oceans. Soldiers would pray to Mars for of love. She was the
victory and safety in a battle. most beautiful of all
the goddesses.

27
 Romans built temples to honor their gods and In 313 CE, the Emperor Constantine became a
goddesses. These temples were made of stone or Christian and decided that all Romans had to be
concrete, and they had marble fronts. Romans also Christian too. He made new rules about worship.
built statues of the gods and goddesses, and they Christians believed in one god, so he
placed them outside temples told people to stop worshiping the gods
or public buildings. and goddesses.

Christianity quickly spread throughout

Europe. It also spread into parts of Asia
and North Africa. Many of the statues and
temples dedicated to the Roman
gods were destroyed.

28
 ROME TODAY
Rome is no longer an empire. It is the capital of Italy
and one of the biggest cities in Europe.

Religion is still important in Rome. Most people in Rome today

are Roman Catholics. The leader of the Roman Catholic
Church lives in a place called the Vatican. The Vatican is a
small city inside Rome. It has a huge church and a famous
museum. Paintings by important artists such as Michelangelo
and Raphael are inside the museum. People come from all over
the world to visit the Vatican each year.

29
 Many ruins of ancient Rome Water still flows out of many The Trevi Fountain is one
still exist. Some of the original of the public water fountains. of the largest. It has statues
roads are used today. A number Bigger fountains have also been of several Roman gods and
of aqueducts and bridges built. These fountains celebrate goddesses. It also has columns
still stand. People can take ancient Rome. and the famous Roman arch.
tours of the Coliseum and
other amphitheaters.

Fact:
A legend says that
if you throw a
coin into the Trevi
Fountain, you are
sure to return to
Rome one day.
Tourists throw
nearly one million
dollars’ worth
of coins into the
fountain each year.

30
 Fact:
Millions of people open spaces called Rome and Italy
visit Rome each year. piazzas to talk, eat, are famous for
foods such as
Tourists explore and marvel at the pizza, pasta, and
the ruins of the buildings. There is a soft ice cream
ancient forums and always something to called gelato. The
Latin word gelatus
theaters. They also do and see in Rome! means “frozen.”
visit the Spanish
Steps, a big outdoor
staircase leading
to a church built in
1495. They gather in

31
 G L O S S A RY

amphitheater: Outdoor stadium.

aqueducts: Bridges and pipes that carry water over a long distance.
architecture: Style of building.
barter: Trade.
baths: Public buildings where Romans went to bathe and meet with friends.
chariot: A cart with two wheels and pulled by horses.
Circus Maximus: Large stadium where races were held.
citizens: People with full rights in a country; not a slave.
Coliseum: The largest Roman amphitheater.
conquered: Defeated in war.
deities: Gods and goddesses.
empire: Group of territories ruled by one country that conquered the others.
fountain: Structure that water flows from.
forum: Central place in Roman cities.
generations: Groups of people born around the same time period. For example,
grandparents, parents, and children are three different generations.

32
gladiator: Roman who fought with others to entertain spectators.
Latin: Language of ancient Rome.
legions: Groups of Roman soldiers.
Pantheon: A temple for all the Roman gods.
representatives: People who speak for a group.
republic: A government in which people have representatives, such as senators.
Senate: People elected by citizens to make laws.
temples: Places where gods or goddesses are worshipped.
theaters: Places where plays are performed.
tourists: People who visit a city or country for fun.
Trevi Fountain: Large fountain in Rome.
tunics: Articles of clothing similar to a large T-shirt that hang to the knees or ground.
tyrants: Harsh rulers.
Vatican: City in Rome where the leader of the Catholic Church lives.

33
 INDEX

Acta Diurna 6 Michelangelo 29

Augustus 12, 14, 15 Middle East 14
Caesar, Julius 12, 14, 21 Neptune 27
Caligula 15 North Africa 14, 28
Capitoline 9 Pantheon 5, 17
Circus Maximus 25 Raphael 29
Coliseum 24, 30 Rome 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12–22, 24, 26, 29–31
Constantine 28 Romulus 12
England 14 Spanish Steps 31
France 14 Tiber River 8, 18
Germany 14 Trajan 15
Italy 8, 14, 29, 31 Trevi Fountain 30
Jefferson Memorial 5 Vatican 29
Juno 14 Venus 27
Jupiter 26 Washington, D.C. 5, 9
Mars 14, 27 Zeus 26

34
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