PRACTICAL MATTERS
SCIENCE, GOVERNMENT, RELIGION

The Romans were practical in all matters. Science, government and religion were no exception. The Romans, unlike the Greeks, were not inclined to wonder about the nature of things. Traditionally, Romans dealt with things simply and straightforwardly. Ideas flowed easily into Rome from the many different cultures that the Ancient Romans conquered and traded with. Romans were quick to accept new ideas if they found them to be useful and efficiently adapt borrowed knowledge to fit their own unique needs.

A FEW GOOD MEN

Rome saw many rulers come and go under several kinds of government. In the beginning, Rome was ruled by Kings who would often abuse their power and act cruelly to their subjects. Eventually, the people of Rome came together and overthrew the last King. They formed a government known as a Republic. Men who were elected by the people ran this type of government. Each year citizens would choose a few government officials from a group called the Senate to run their Republic. The main idea was to limit any one man from having too much power.

During the Republic, Roman Senators played a key role in the government. Their task was similar to that of the United States Congress. They discussed, debated and decided on matters of government policy such as money, laws, war and peace. Discussions and debates could become quite serious. If a Roman Senator disagreed with a speaker he would cover his head with the sleeve of his toga.

Later in Rome's history a successful military general named Julius Caesar marched into Rome with his army. He started a civil war and seized power. The senators worried that once again Rome would be under the control of one man. They murdered Caesar and caused a new civil war and the collapse of the Republic. Caesar's son, Octavian, finally gained control and brought peace to Rome. He became the first of Rome's emperors and was renamed Augustus, a name usually reserved for the gods.

Under the Empire, the Senate began to lose power. The Emperor had the last word and the Senate had little choice or say in most government matters. The Emperor picked senators from Rome's wealthiest citizens. To be a Senator was still an honor but these men enjoyed only an impressive title and little or no real power.

BUILD A BETTER BUILDING

With a combined knowledge of architecture, engineering and stone masonry the Ancient Romans were able to make amazing buildings that have stood the test of time. The Romans were excellent and tireless builders. They built things to last. Some of their work is still standing in Rome today. In present day England it is not uncommon to see parts of brick walls that were built by the Romans.

The Romans invented their own kind of concrete. This helped them to make incredible structures that were impossible to build before. Concrete is a mixture of small stones, sand, water and cement. Cement is a mixture that holds the concrete mixture together and helps it to harden. Various kinds of concrete were used to create the Roman Parthenon. The Parthenon is one of Rome's grandest and most impressive buildings. It is made mostly of concrete. A heavier gravel based concrete was used at the base and a lighter pumice based concrete was used for upper walls.

Local stone and materials were used for most projects, but limestone from Africa was imported for some buildings. Enormous cranes equipped with pulleys, hoists and ropes were used to help position large stone blocks for larger buildings such as temples, the Colosseum and aqueducts.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

The Romans constructed a complex system of aqueducts to bring water into their city and a system of sewers to remove waste from public baths and toilets. An aqueduct is a man-made structure for sending a water flow over a hollow or valley. Over time, 11 aqueducts were built to bring water into Rome, sometimes from as far away as 57 miles. Only about 30 miles of these aqueducts are the gracefully arched structures that stretch over valleys. Most of the aqueduct system was underground.

Water flowed into the city by the force of gravity. Once the water made its way into the city it flowed into distribution tanks. As a rule water was not generally stored. The Romans were seriously concerned about the quality of their water supply and there were officials assigned to oversee the purity of the water and its distribution. Roman aqueducts were built throughout the empire. Many of these aqueducts are still in existence and can be seen in Greece, Italy, France, Spain, North Africa and Asia Minor.

IT'S A SMALL WORLD

Rome's mighty army of 300,000 Legionaries felt that no place was too far to travel for a new conquest. The Romans were excellent road builders. Soldiers would build roads to and from the countries they conquered. They built their roads as straight as they could to give themselves the shortest routes possible. Roman roads were built in five layers. Trenches were dug for new roads and a layer of stone was placed on the bottom. Next, a cement mixture of broken stones, pebbles and sand was put into the trench. A second cement mixture using broken tiles created the third layer. Paving stones made the fourth layer. These stones were cut so they would fit together tightly. Lastly, curbstones were placed at the outer edge of the roadway. These stones were set in at an angle to make a channel for the water to run off and away from the road.

QUESTIONABLE MEDICINE

Many of the medical practices used by the Romans were adopted from the Greeks. The social standing of most Roman doctors was quite low since many of them were freed Greek slaves or just plain quacks.

Some doctors in Ancient Rome did have surgical instruments and the skill to perform simple operations, but for the most part medicine practiced in Rome was based more on ritual and religious beliefs than on solid medical techniques and knowledge. Roman doctors did not try to understand the reason behind illness. They believed that sickness was due to the disfavor of the gods. Since most disease went away sooner or later, doctors often believed that a cure had been found due to the right combination of religious acts.

Many times there was little that could be done to cure a person because so little was understood about disease. Ancient Roman doctors often charged too much for worthless ointments, medicines and drugs.

PLEASING THE GODS

In Ancient Rome, gods and goddesses were thought to control everything in life. Romans believed in a group of gods and goddesses called the Parthenon. Juno was the most important goddess. Rome's most important god was Jupiter. Jupiter was considered to be a strong and easily angered god. Priests constantly watched the sky looking for signs that would indicate the mood of the gods. The position of the stars, lightning and the way birds migrated were all interpreted to determine the mood and the will of the gods. Romans accepted the will of the gods and believed that their lives could change for good or worse depending on whether the gods were pleased or displeased. It was a lot of work to keep all the gods and goddesses pleased.

All Roman families had a small religious shrine and altar in their home. A shrine is a sacred place set aside for religious activities. The altar is a table at the shrine where important religious items are placed. Daily offerings, such as fruit, were placed on the altar as a gift to the gods. Each day the father, who was considered the head of the household, would lead the family in prayers at the shrine and altar.

Priests were responsible for worship at the temples. The temples were the place where the gods and goddesses were supposed to live. Animal sacrifices were often part of the ceremonies and rites led by the priests at the temples. After being fed, cleaned and pampered, animals such as cows, sheep or pigs would be killed by the priest to please the gods, ask the gods for help or to apologize if the gods were angry. In Ancient Rome, it was important to try and keep the gods happy at all times.