The Roman Empire: Expansion, Society, and Culture

Location and Historical Context

The Imperial Era was the most splendid period of Roman civilization, when it reached its maximum territorial expansion around the Mediterranean, the Mare Nostrum. Roman society was based on a slave production system, mainly utilizing prisoners of war. The large number of Roman slaves enabled great agricultural production, crafts, trade, and the construction of monumental architectural and engineering works. Without this system, building such extensive structures would have been unthinkable. Those who benefited from this system were the Roman citizens, divided into two groups: the patricians, who formed the ruling class, and the plebeians, who did not possess all the rights and privileges. Trade, much like with the Greeks, was a primary economic activity, alongside the continuous conquest of territories, which provided not only land but also the necessary slaves. Furthermore, the Coliseum was a site of martyrdom for early Christians, whose religion would eventually become the official religion of the empire under Constantine. Emperors and nobles showed no hesitation in sacrificing the lives of slaves and prisoners, often under appalling conditions, to entertain the public.

Rome began as a city-state in the center of the Mediterranean and grew into a vast empire that was absorbing Greek culture: its aesthetics, thinking, logic, and reasoning. Founded by the Latins in 753 BC, the Romans were captivated by Greek refinement and beauty. Following the conquest of Greece in the second century BC, entire shipments of sculptures and Greek architectural elements were moved to Rome. Greek artists also relocated, soon finding a strong clientele. Thanks to the copies made by these artists, we have a better understanding of Greek sculpture. As observed, Roman art can be considered a continuation of Greek art, but with its own distinct personality, primarily characterized by its practical and utilitarian nature, especially evident in architecture.

Chronology of the Period

The work falls within the period known as classical antiquity, which encompasses the height of Greek and Roman civilization (5th century BC to 2nd century AD). In a broader sense, its timeframe extends from the 8th century BC to the 5th century AD.