Imperial Culture (Essay Sample)

IMPERIAL CULTURE
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Introduction
Romanitas has been used by the modern scholars in reference to the identity and the culture of the Roman people. The Roman culture dates back when Rome was still a kingdom, then a republic and later a great empire. Although Greek-Roman culture was conservative, because of the advent of the new empire it was subjected to change and influence attributed by emergence of new social groups, regions and religion. Though the new cultures did not fully adopt or absorbed the Greek-Roman culture and traditions, but it manipulated and fix into the process.
The culture of the empire had became more than the culture of the Romans only. Within these varieties of traditions cities, individuals and institutions had developed their own ways of identity. These identities were based on the recognizable values of Greek-Roman Traditions. Romanitas is evident in this context because of the many recognizable aspects of the Roman aristocratic culture in the empire. Some of the aspects of romanitas include the interest in the commemoration of spectacle, values placed on the experience and actions and finally the art of learning and literature obtained from the Greek-Roman culture.[Naphtali Lewis, M. R, Roman civilization (Washington: Columbia University Press, 1967), 115.]
At the early second century distinctive Greek-Roman aspects on the diverse culture of the Roman Empire cease to exist. There was emergence of another cultural quality which signified the romanitas of the empire. Because of the inclusiveness and flexibility of this culture, many people were able to identify themselves with the Roman Empire hence boosting the unity and cohesiveness of the empire.
Romanitas was able to give an avenue in which people were able to link their traditions to that of the Romans without being imposed. Through this Roman imperial empire was able to manage its large and expanding empire. It became also possible for the people to find a particular identity within the larger Roman imperial culture. The culture and the concept of romaniticas provided the guidelines and overarching context to all process.
Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
The value of the teachings of Marcus Aurelius on in his meditations has continued to go against all the odds of classical antiquity. This implies that its relevance has continued to prevail in all the ages and cultures. Marcus Aurelius wrote these meditations when he was the emperor of Roman Empire; it was during his last life campaigns on expansion of the empire in Germany. In his meditations Marcus articulates his morals, values and beliefs in short and powerful reflections on human life and behavior. He mainly drew his meditations on the philosophy of stoic and passed on his own way.[Aurelius, M, Meditations (London: Penguin, 2006), 155.]
In the experiences of his life, he points out the three key resources that enabled him to overcome challenges as an emperor. The challenges he had a deep understanding about them and that they were universal, he summarizes the resources to be: one should understand the social roles and projects he or she is objected to, one should face approaching challenge or death with courage and confidence and finally is getting the significance of moral in the natural world.
Born in Rome into a family of Spanish origin already having a political distinction, Marcus got his education from a numbered of famous teachers and philosophers. He developed a lot of interest in philosophy after he was introduced to stoicism at an early age; these philosophies and teachings became an important influence on his meditations. His rule as an emperor was marked with good relations with the senate. Not until his empire faced with threat of instability from the Germans. Based on the serious invasions from The Germans, Marcus was forced to carry out campaigns in securing the borders of his empire. It was during these campaigns that he faced a lot of challenges and wrote on these meditations.
On his teachings Marcus examines his inner thoughts and gives advice on how someone can be able to live well. In a more precise way he encapsulates the main key ethical tenets and the principles to support the direction of life. He teaches the values of practical ethics basing on the various philosophies and theories particularly Epicureanism and stoicism. His meditations touching the aspect of practical ethics were later influenced by other thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle. He gives a general guidance on the direction of one’s ethical life on good virtues and qualities when undertaking roles and obligations in life.
Marcus on his meditations illustrates that virtues is what is needed to ensure that one have a good life. He implied that all the things that are regarded as good are irrelevant to the happiness and that they are just matters of indifference though they are naturally preferable. The second value is that desires and emotions are dependent of on the loyalty and belief of what is valuable and desirable, describing this he says that the desires and the emotions that people form or wish are as a result of mistaken ethical beliefs.
The third one is about that human beings naturally are inbuilt to benefit others. This has been expressed by the human engagements to the family and the roles one has in the community and finally the acceptance of all humans as part of brotherhood and objects of ethical concern in the imperial civilized world it has enhanced sustain peace and stability. Marcus also noted that ethics and study of nature are mutually interconnected.[Aurelius, M, Meditations (London: Penguin, 2006), 166.]
The values as described by Marcus in his meditations has greatly influence the civilized powers. The teachings as described by the meditations have survived many generations and ages. It has influenced many great leaders of different periods and errors and served as the guidelines to their success. His values in his meditations has have a special appeal on politicians like Fredrick the great of Prussia and in the modern times Bill Clinton former US president. The success of Marcus and his intense reflection on the various aspects of life has made his teachings and values popular to humans.
Women in ancient Rome
The role of women in the Roman Empire in the early years of its establishment has not been documented that much, this may have been attributed by the fact that women were not allowed to participate in any active political activities. Roles of women are largely glorified in the art and the literature of the ancient Roman culture. As all people in the world have various roles to play in a lifetime, the ancient Roman culture had similar complexity levels regarding the role of women.
Motherhood was one of the primary roles of women in the ancient Rome. Mothers are the root of biological existence. In Roman culture virtues of women was correlated and linked to her skills of reproduction and her responsibility as a mother. To ensure the paternity of the children women activities were closely monitored. These attitudes towards women were evident especially in the mortuary monuments. Qualities were commemorated in funeral inscriptions where mothers were described as ideal mothers.[Naphtali Lewis, M. R, Roman civilization (Washington: Columbia University Press, 1967), 135.]
Women had roles of that as a wife, in the ancient Roman funeral eulogies; there was the tendency of describing the positive qualities of a person. The highly regarded virtue that a woman would possess was the devotion to her husband. With the exception of vestal virgins, all the Roman women were expected to have husbands. Women without husbands were seen as prostitutes and outcast in the society
It was also the role of women to participate in the day to day religious activities. Among the powerful cult officials in Rome were the Vestal Virgins. Wives of the religious officials also played important roles in religious ceremonies. There were ceremonies and festivals that were exclusively for women; one of it was the pax deorum. This festival was for only married women and was held twice per year.[Pliny T. Y, The Letters of the Younger Pliny (London: Penguin Books Limited, 2003), 55.]
On the male views and perception of the women in Roman, a woman was required to be under the guardianship of a male in most of her life. Fathers were the sole guardians of a woman and it is transferred to the husband upon marriage. From this ideal biography it is evident that a woman is in the care of a man for the rest of her life.
In the context of the myths surrounding the foundation of Rome, the roles of women is compelling. In the case of the Rape of Sabines, in this myth Roman male in one of their invasions in a city they raped some women. The emphasis of the rape did not cast the Roman male but it was emphasized on the on the virtue of sexual purity among the female ancestors of the Roman people.
Women in the ancient Roman were not allowed to vote nor run for a political position. They were allowed to participate in public gatherings but their influence on the government was insignificant. During the imperial period the women status on public politics did not change. Women influence on public politics was notable especially for those women who were very close to the Emperor. In the Roman Literature, women who attempted to act on the public sphere or control the male politicians’ were described as liars.[Naphtali Lewis, M. R, Roman civilization (Washington: Columbia University Press, 1967), 144.]
In the Roman society the level of women civil liberty was higher as compared to that of Greek women. Greek women were never allowed to get out of the house. Presence of public women was common, they were not restric...