Humanities Study Guide

Humanities Study Guide

Rome abandoned polytheistic worship or the worshipping of multiple gods and moved towards Christianity. With this movement, they changed their style of architecture. Christian churches in Rome featured long, columned aisles, elevated roofs, and cross-shaped floor plans. They were typically decorated with sacred images, sometimes as mosaics and sometimes painted. Theater There was a significant decline in early Roman theater due to the highly sought after gladiator shows, battleships, and violent displays of power in the arenas. Most of the poetic theater we saw in previous years was forgotten and dismissed. Early Christians intensely rejected the often sexual and sinful nature of Roman theater. This pressure from Christianity caused the public theater to essentially disappear in western societies for centuries. Philosophy Roman philosophy was shaped by Hellenistic Greek teachings and centered on Stoicism and Epicureanism. Philosophers considered stoicism to be an endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and complaints. Epicureanism is the idea that the external world is a series of fortuitous combinations of atoms, and the highest good is pleasure or freedom from pain. Sculp ure Romans used architecture and sculpture for political purposes and as artistic propaganda. Most of the statues were full-round sculptures of emperors or rulers of the time. These sculptures were later idolized and imitated in later centuries for their timeless nature. Pottery was the other form of sculpture that was popular in Rome. People used pottery for both decorative and practical uses. Painting Painting, sculpture, and mosaics were highly regarded in the Roman and Byzantine worlds. Roman artists used many styles and were influenced by Greek and Egyptian works of art. Roman and Asian cultures influenced many other societies, such as those of the Byzantine Empire. Roman art was typically decorative and indicative of status and wealth, while Byzantine art was often more symbolic. Literature The Romans have been known for centuries for their poetry, dramas, comedies, and histories. These were often copies of the ancient Greek style, some even going as far as to rewrite Greek works in Latin. Writers such as Virgil, Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius, and Horace are some of the most well- known. Ovid is one of the most distinguished poets who wrote romantic poems. He is known for his lyrical and elegant writing.

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