5P Project

1. Western Roman Empire
A Tour Through History
To Solve Your Greatest Roman Mysteries
Michael Lemons

2. Thesis
I will be discussing the Western Roman Empire taking place from 300
CE-500 CE. The Western Roman Empire was a prosperous empire that
was one of the two new states created during the roman split.
As Christianity became wild spread, the empire became known as the
Holy Roman Empire. In my paper, I will cover the important events that
took place during this time, as well as how people lived their every day
lives in 300 CE.

3. Topic
• In my paper, I will compare and contrast the daily life's of the people
that lived in the Western Roman Empire with todays people
• Talk about any important events that occurred during this time
• What dissolved the empire
• Discuss why they were one of the greatest civilizations in history

4. Why The Western Roman Empire Was One Of
The Greats
• Sheer size
• The Western Roman Empire was massive through-out most of its time, only
slowing down in growth around 500 CE.
• Military
• The empire had a rather large army with highly skilled troops.
• Economy
• In the end, the economy came back to bite them, but in its prime, it could
rival with those of today.

5. The Mighty Roman Empire

6. Military
• One of the largest at the time
• Feared
• Highly skilled
• Had no problem taking what they wanted

7. Facts About Roman Civilization
• In 285 CE the Western Roman Empire was created by the Emperor Diocletian, Gaius Aurelius, as a way to
better control the large empire
• The Western Roman Empire rose as a better way to control Rome's vast land, too large to be governed by
one chair in Rome
• The decline was accompanied by the Roman emperors in the west being overthrown by the Germanic leader
Odoacer
• The Western Roman empire being created itself is pretty remarkable, Rome had so much land that in order
to govern it better they split it up.
• Creation in 285 CE, January 9 festival to Janus, February 13-21 The Romans would remember their dead,
Ouinctilis 6-13 games in honor of Apollo
• They had a constant rivalry with Persian cities, always butting heads, one side takes a little land, the other
side takes it back
• The relationship between Rome and Persian was not the best, taking each others land was very common

8. Major Rulers
• Although Western Rome was its own province it was still under rule by the Roman Emperor. They had
“emperor’s” but they were not in full control
• Honorius Romulus Augustulus
• Majorian
Known for having a
chaotic reign towards
the end of the empire
Prominent general, one of
the last that make effort
to restore western Rome
Known as the master
of soldiers, made Julius
Nepos leave Italy

9. Language, Writing, and Culture
• The Western Romans, like the Eastern Romans, spoke Latin primarily, but some also spoke Greek
• Not much writing came out of Rome, most people were not educated, and never learned how to
read or write
• Culture of Western Rome was much like culture everywhere else in Rome
• They would watch events in the colosseums, go to plays, visit taverns, and go to bath houses
• An average day in the city of Mediolanum was hectic, and full of busy people.
• Mediolanum was a booming city full of jobs, and with these jobs came many people
• People would rush around town, trading this, and selling that, doing all sorts of various jobs
• Mediolanum was known as the center of Christianity in the roman empire, so people that lived it
the city were very religious
• Western Rome was the same as the rest of Rome when it came to birthdays, ect. They would
celebrate things that involved their loved ones

10. Social Structure, Science, Agriculture
• The Western Roman Empire had slaves, which comprised of people that were captured in battle,
and up to forty percent of the population was slaves
• Many classes would own slaves, it was not just the upper classes
• People in the middle class would own one or two slaves to help around the house and do little
things here and there
• The upper classes and royalty would have many slave which would do everything for them, even
fanning them while they ate
• The lower class, or peasants were in some cases seen as nobodies, who had no importance
• There were no real scientific advances, other than the creation of irrigation systems that would
bring water to the towns people
• They would grow things like grapes, apples, barley, but they were most known for growing olives

11. Economy and Military Accomplishments
• The economy was mostly based off of a trading and bartering system
• The farmers would grow something and take it to the market to sell or trade for something
• Not much can grow in Western Rome so people would have to travel a lot to trade for things they
want
• Some would transport goods all over the Roman Empire to trade and sell
• If you were in a bigger city than you might have shipments of things coming into you
• The Western Roman Military, other wise known as the Late Roman Army did not have the best
reputation, even being called the half trained army
• They focused of speed and cavalry, trying to overwhelm their opponents

12. Religion, Education and Major cities
• Some of their religious customs were reading of scripture, if they could, and participation in rites such
as baptisms
• They believed in one god and refused to worship the Roman Gods
• At first the empire felt threatened my religion but then later accepted it
• People would practice religion everyday through prayer
• People in the Western Roman Empire took religion seriously, seeing that their capital city was also the
center of Christianity
• The only people that got educated were people that came from money, you would not get an
education if you were a farmers son or daughter
• The capital of the Western Roman Empire was Mediolanum, which is the ancient city of Milan, was
best known as being this massive hub for jobs and religion, it was the capital up to 401 CE
• Another major city was Ravenna, which was around the northern boarder, and is best known for being
the place where the Western Roman Empire collapsed, as it was the capital at the time the empire fell
• Lastly, the most known city in the western empire Rome, Which was known for its art and extreme
architecture

13. Art and Architecture
• Roman art is well known around the world for being some of the most beautiful art ever created
• Well known Roman art can be anything from paintings, metal-works, gem engravings, ect…, and it
looks like they have mastered them all
• The art that came out of Rome told a story of peoples lives or things going on around them
• Here are a few examples

14. Architecture
• Roman are is renewed and can be recognized anywhere
• Roman architecture is big in using materials like marble and granite
• Everything with Roman architecture is grand and over the top, with arches that
look they are defying gravity

16. Housing and Transportation
• For the every day person, the housing was very basic
• Most homes later in the empire had a primitive sewage system
• It was not uncommon for a home to have a couple of bed rooms,
along with a kitchen and a place for the slaves to stay if they lived in
the house
• People in the upper middle class and upper class would often have a
garden, kind of the center peace of their home

17. Housing
• Poor people would live in homes or apartments made from wood and
brick
• Their housing can almost be compared to an early project
• People in the middle class would most likely have their own home
made out of a little bit better quality material
• While the rich would have their homes decorated with granite and
other expensive materials to show off their wealth

18. Transportation
• If the everyday Roman needed to get around the town he or she would walk
• If they wanted to travel a greater distance they might own a horse or mule, but
that was a cost that many could not afford
• For the farmers that lived outside of the towns, they might load all their goods
onto a cart and have a large farm animal pull it into town for them
• The rich would travel in grand chariots
• If someone need to travel a great distance, they could hop on a ship and do their
traveling that way

19. Leisure and Entertainment
• For fun people would go down to the colosseum and watch what ever
was being put on that day, which could be a variety of things

20. Leisure and Entertainment
• The Romans also loved to go to the theater, here a group of people
would put on plays, sometimes for thousands of people at a time

21. Leisure and Entertainment
• The Romans loved violence, and this would show in their plays and in
sport

22. Government and Politics
• The Government was ran by a king and elected officials
• The king would turn to his council of nobles, also known as a senate,
if he needed help in making a decision
• People in the senate had a life long tenure
• People in the senate were known as the Patrician class

23. Government and Politics
• There was a structured government, but the king was allowed to do
whatever he wanted
• They had things like a senate, but the king did not have to follow
anything that they said
• If the king did not end up having the ability to change every decision
that he wanted, then Ancient Rome would have had a very will
structured government

24. Government and Politics
• There was little done in the time from the creation of the western and
eastern parts of the empire and then their downfall, every thing
stayed the same for the most part
• The only thing the happened was that the eastern part of Rome had a
little sub government that had some control over their part of the
empire, but everything ended up getting checked my the king in the
western part of Rome to get the okay

25. Government and Politics
• The structure of the government is not majorly different now then it
was back in the ancient days
• Rome no longer has a king that rules the land
• Italy now has a president, as well as a prime minister
• There is still a senate in place, but that is pretty much the only
similarity

26. A Tour Through History
To Solve Your Greatest Roman Mysteries
Monuments so nice you will try to pronounce them twice
• 1: Piazza del Campidoglio
• 2: Fori Imperiali
• 3: Colosseum
• 4: Arch of Constantine
• 5: Forum Romano & Palatino
• 6: The Partheon
• 7: Scala di Spagna
• 8: Piazza Navona
• 9: Fontana dei Trevi
• A TOUR LIKE THIS, YOU
WONT WANT TO MISS

27. Citations
• History.com Staff. "Colosseum." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 15 Dec.
2016.
• Mark, Joshuancyclopedia J. "Western Roman Empire." Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d.
Web. 15 Dec. 2016.
• "Mediolanum." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.
• "Ancient Rome." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.
• Whye, John. "The Roman Coliseum." Johnwhye. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.
• "Ancient Roman Theaters - Crystalinks." Ancient Roman Theaters - Crystalinks. N.p., n.d. Web.
15 Dec. 2016.
• "Khan Academy." Khan Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.