Panem et Circenses
Augustus once said, “I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble.” The establishment of the Roman Empire ushered in a 200-year golden age known as the Pax Romana, marked by relative peacefulness and stability, during which the empire reached its greatest territorial extents. Several Emperors prioritized the construction of significant works of public amenities as much as their own domūs and monuments. In fact, the phrase panem et circenses (bread and circuses) was originally a satirical jab at such artificial appeasement. Nonetheless, the Romans’ advancements in public infrastructure was unprecedented. The vast aqueduct system provided more than 300 million gallons of water on a daily basis. To put this into perspective, that’s more daily water per capita than modern New York City. It’s little wonder, then, how Rome became the first city in history to reach a population of more than one million. Such density, however, proved to be disastrous in July 64 CE when a devasting fire destroyed two-thirds of the city. The Great Fire of Rome lasted nine days and is regarded as one of the worst urban conflagrations in history. While the aftermath would provide a clean slate for reconstruction, the efforts were certainly not without their exploitations as Emperor Nero began persecuting Christians and numerous projects were funded and built on the wealth and backs of newly conquered peoples. Although the Pax Romana is said to have ended with the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 CE, the Halcyon days of Rome lasted until its eventual sack in 410 CE, but not before Emperor Constantine I brought about the Edict of Milan in 313, legalizing Christianity and paving the way for the eventual Edict of Thessalonica which made it the Empire’s official state church. Having left an indelible legacy on world history through such social decrees coupled with its pioneering achievements in public infrastructure, Rome is considered to be the greatest city of the Ancient world.
Panem et Circenses
Augustus once said, “I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble.” The establishment of the Roman Empire ushered in a 200-year golden age known as the Pax Romana, marked by relative peacefulness and stability, during which the empire reached its greatest territorial extents. Several Emperors prioritized the construction of significant works of public amenities as much as their own domūs and monuments. In fact, the phrase panem et circenses (bread and circuses) was originally a satirical jab at such artificial appeasement. Nonetheless, the Romans’ advancements in public infrastructure was unprecedented. The vast aqueduct system provided more than 300 million gallons of water on a daily basis. To put this into perspective, that’s more daily water per capita than modern New York City. It’s little wonder, then, how Rome became the first city in history to reach a population of more than one million. Such density, however, proved to be disastrous in July 64 CE when a devasting fire destroyed two-thirds of the city. The Great Fire of Rome lasted nine days and is regarded as one of the worst urban conflagrations in history. While the aftermath would provide a clean slate for reconstruction, the efforts were certainly not without their exploitations as Emperor Nero began persecuting Christians and numerous projects were funded and built on the wealth and backs of newly conquered peoples. Although the Pax Romana is said to have ended with the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 CE, the Halcyon days of Rome lasted until its eventual sack in 410 CE, but not before Emperor Constantine I brought about the Edict of Milan in 313, legalizing Christianity and paving the way for the eventual Edict of Thessalonica which made it the Empire’s official state church. Having left an indelible legacy on world history through such social decrees coupled with its pioneering achievements in public infrastructure, Rome is considered to be the greatest city of the Ancient world.