Western Civilization

Society and Culture in the

Roman World

Q FOCUSQUESTION: How did the acquisition of an

empire affect Roman social and economic institutions,

values and attitudes, and art and literature?

One of the most noticeable features of Roman culture

and society is the impact of the Greeks. The Romans

had experienced Greek influence early on through the

Greek cities in southern Italy. By the end of the third

centuryB.C.E., however, Greek civilization was playing

an ever-increasing role in Roman culture. Greek

ambassadors, merchants, and artists traveled to Rome

and spread Greek thought and practices. After their

conquest of the Hellenistic kingdoms, Roman military

commanders shipped Greek manuscripts and artworks

back to Rome. Multitudes of educated Greek slaves

were used in Roman households. Greek models

affected virtually every aspect of Roman life, from lit-

erature and philosophy to religion and education.

Wealthy Romans hired Greek tutors and sent their

sons to Athens to study. As the Roman poet Horace

said, “Captive Greece took captive her rude conquer-

or.” Greek thought captivated the less sophisticated

Roman minds, and the Romans became willing trans-

mitters of Greek culture—not, however, without some

resistance from Romans who had nothing but con-

tempt for Greek politics and who feared the end of

old Roman values. Even those who favored Greek

Roman Legionaries.Roman legionaries, famed for their courage and

tenacity, made possible Roman domination of the Mediterranean Sea. At the

time of the Punic Wars, a Roman legionary wore chain-mail armor and a

plumed helmet and carried an oval shield, as in the bronze statue from the

second or first centuryB.C.E. shown at the left. Heavy javelins and swords

were their major weapons. This equipment remained standard until the time

of Julius Caesar. The illustration on the right shows a Roman legion on the

march from Trajan’s column, erected in the second centuryC.E.(Left: Museo della

Civilta Romana, Rome/Gianni Dagli Orti/The Art Archive at Art Resource, NY; Right: Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris//

ªRoger-Viollet/The Image Works)

Society and Culture in the Roman World 105

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