The Roman Empire spanned from 753 BCE to 337 CE, beginning as a monarchy and developing into a republic and then empire. Key events included the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus in 753 BCE, the establishment of the Roman Republic in 509 BCE, Roman conquests of neighboring territories and Greece, and the rise of the Roman Empire under Augustus in 27 BCE. Art and architecture during this period was heavily influenced by Etruscan and Greek styles, including the widespread later use of concrete, and artistic styles evolved from realistic Republican portraits through various mural painting styles under the Empire. The Empire reached its greatest extent under emperors like Trajan, Hadrian, and the Antonines, before declining

1. The Roman Empire
753 BCE- 337 CE

3. Temple of Portunus

4. Historically Important Facts:
Monarchy and Republic 753-27 BCE
Romulus and Remus founded Rome in 753 BCE
During the sixth century Etruscan Kings ruled Rome
The Roman Republic was established in 509-27 BCE
Rome first conquered its neighbors then Greece in 80 BCE
Exposed to Greek art and architecture
Republican temples combined Etruscan plans with Greek
orders (peristyles with Greek columns)
Romans developed concrete
First style of mural painting was Greek
Illusion in the Second Style is Roman
Republican portraits were a advanced realistic images of
elderly patricians with celebrated Roman values

5. Early Empire 27 BCE - 96
CE
Augustus (r. 27 BCE-14 CE)
First Roman Emperor
Defeated Marc Antony and
Cleopatra at Actium in 31
BCE
Augustan art revived the
Classical style
References to Periclean
Athens
Lavish use of marble
Depicted as an
idealized youth.
Augustus as general, Primaporta, c. 20 BCE

6. Early Empire 27 BCE - 96 cont…
Julio-Claudians (r. 14-68 CE fully
utilized concrete as in
the Golden house of Nero.
The Flavian Emperors (r. 69-96 CE)
erected the Colosseum,
Rome's first and largest amphitheater
along with arches and
monuments celebrating their victory in
Judaea
Pompeii and Herculaneum were
buried in 79 CE by mount
Vesuvius’ eruption.
The last quarter century of the
towns’ existence the Third and
Fourth Styles were used to decorate
the walls of houses.

7. High Empire, 96-192 CE
Trajan (r. 98-117 CE) transformed Rome
with a new forum, markets, and civic
center.
The Column of Trajan commemorates
his two campaign in Dacia in a spiral
frieze with thousands of figures.
Hadrian (r. 117-138 CE) emulated Greek
statesmen and philosophers. He built the
Pantheon a triumph of concrete
technology.
The Antonines (r.138-192 CE)
dominance of Classical art eroded and
imperial artists introduced new
compositional schemes in relief sculpture
and added a psychological element in
portraiture

8. Late Empire, 193-337 CE
Severans (r. 193-235 CE) Art of the Late Antique style began.
Artists represented the emperor as a central frontal figure
disengaged from the action around him.
During the chaotic Soldier emperors (r. 235-284 CE) artists
depicted emperors with anxiety and insecurity in moving
portraits
Dicletian (r. 284-2305 CE) reestablished order by sharing
power. Statues portray the tetrarchs as
identical and equal rulers, not
individually
 Constatine (r. 306-337 CE) restored one
man rule, ended persecution of Christians,
transferred the capital to Constantinople in
330. Abstract art of Constantine led the
way to iconic art of the Middle Ages.