The "Principate" Period of the Roman Empire (~30 B.C. to 180 A. D.)

• "Golden Age":
  
• Why did Gibbon so name this period of the Roman Empire?
  
• What areas did the Roman Empire encompass then?

• Augustus:
• He was the great-nephew and heir of?
  
• Main Roman leaders he had to fight on the way to becoming the undisputed head of the Roman state in 30 B.C.?
• Structure of the Roman government before Augustus took over?
  
• Structure of the Roman government after Augustus took over?
  
• What were the keys to his power?
  
• Title did he prefer to be called by?
• Lost by many when he took control of the state?
  
• Gained by many when he took control of the state?
  
• After Augustus:
• How was the army important but dangerous?
  
• Why were the provinces important?
  
• How and why was "Rome's unique attitude toward citizenship" a key to its success (Casson, p. 6)?
  
• What role did economic realities play in keeping the empire together?

Basics about Roman Society

• The nature of the evidence
• Types of evidence?
• Strengths and weaknesses of each type?
• The Ideal Roman
• Key Roman Virtues?
• Place of tradition?
• Class Structure
• Three main factors
• Three main 'classes' and their distinctions
• Position of slaves, freedpersons
• Patron/Client
• Definition
• Benefit for each

A Typical Day:

• The Calendar, etc. (hint: web-site [instructions & archaeology] & Casson)
  
• What are the Kalends, Nones, Ides, & Nundinae?
  
• Regional variations to calendars?
  
• Days off?
  
• Hours: how divided, significance?
  
• The Roman Male
• the beginning of the day: bedroom & bed like? sleeps in? time gets up? puts on? washing? Differences between the wealthy, the "middle class", and the poor? Ethnic origin (typically) for the wealthy and the "middle class"
  
• basic tasks of the day/week for rich; for businessmen and workers
  
• The Roman Female
• the beginning of the day: bedroom & bed like? sleeps in? time gets up? puts on? washing? Differences between the wealthy, the "middle class", and the poor?
  
• basic tasks of the day for the wealthy, the "middle class", and the poor
  
• hair styles, care, and make-up
• The Barber
• services provided
• instruments used
• Life in the Rome
• types of housing; advantages/disadvantages? who could afford what?
  
• basic city services: sanitation, fire departments, police departments
• public recreation: baths (see below), "museums", social clubs
  
• The Baths
• what were they like (physical environment)
• who attended and when
• what one did at the baths (key rooms, etc.)
• implications of all of the above

Food and Drink

• Basics:
• food preservation, methods
• food cooking, methods
• Some common vegetables? Fruits? Meats? Seafood? Spices?
• Common drinks?
• Roman champagne? How made? Stored?
  
• Meals
• Number, times, seating, utensils, typical foods/drink for each meal for an "ordinary Roman"
  
• Roman Dinner for the wealthy
• length, seating, who "sat" with whom
  
• courses & some of their typical foods
  
• offerings to household deities
• entertainment (high-brow, low-brow)
  

Possible Essay Questions:

• Clothing is often a reflection of who one is and what one's society is like. Using your clothing and/or hair (styles, etc.) and that of a typical ancient Roman (from a social class of your choice, but of the same gender as you are) from the time of the Principate, discuss in what ways and why these have undergone a transformation. Make sure you give specific examples to back up your theses.

• Reflect on your typical afternoon routine here at Westminster and the typical afternoon routine of a Roman (from a social class of your choice, but of the opposite sex). Based on that reflection, determine if you have it easier or harder than that Roman in the afternoon. Make sure you have specific examples to back up your theses.