Political and Cultural Significance of the Flavian Amphitheatre
Assess the political and cultural significance of the construction and initial use of the Colosseum.
Throughout the history of Ancient Rome, the construction of public buildings was used as a political tool, to manipulate the views of the people and to demonstrate the power of the State. The very first emperor of Rome, Augustus, initiated social reform through the construction of buildings from 27 BC onwards. Emperor Vespasian in 69 AD used a similar initiative, and throughout Rome’s history it can be seen that times of civil unrest are often followed by a flourish in architecture and the arts. An example of this can be seen in one of Vespasian’s major building projects, the Colosseum, officially the Flavian Amphitheatre, which had distinct political motivations for its construction and upon completion, was used as a political tool for centuries onwards; it also enhanced the distinctive culture of the Romans.
The start of the Flavian dynasty (69-96 AD) saw the beginnings of the construction of a number of ambitious buildings. Prior to the reign of Vespasian as emperor, in 69 AD, Rome had experienced civil war and unrest after the death of Nero in 68 AD, who was despised for tax rises to fund his own agenda. The following year saw four emperors, the last being Vespasian, who embarked on a series of efforts to stay in power and to clean up the mess left for him by the short and vicious civil war; leaving Rome broke and many unemployed. He needed to find a way to reunite the Roman people, to assert himself as a favourable emperor, and to create work for the unemployed.
Although the construction of his Flavian Amphitheatre offered Vespasian a possible solution, it also required an amount of money and manpower greater than anything ever required before, but this was money that Rome did not have, and Vespasian could not risk raising taxes for fear of losing support of the Roman people. However his son, Titus, at the time was involved in the sacking of Jerusalem and upon
Throughout the history of Ancient Rome, the construction of public buildings was used as a political tool, to manipulate the views of the people and to demonstrate the power of the State. The very first emperor of Rome, Augustus, initiated social reform through the construction of buildings from 27 BC onwards. Emperor Vespasian in 69 AD used a similar initiative, and throughout Rome’s history it can be seen that times of civil unrest are often followed by a flourish in architecture and the arts. An example of this can be seen in one of Vespasian’s major building projects, the Colosseum, officially the Flavian Amphitheatre, which had distinct political motivations for its construction and upon completion, was used as a political tool for centuries onwards; it also enhanced the distinctive culture of the Romans.
The start of the Flavian dynasty (69-96 AD) saw the beginnings of the construction of a number of ambitious buildings. Prior to the reign of Vespasian as emperor, in 69 AD, Rome had experienced civil war and unrest after the death of Nero in 68 AD, who was despised for tax rises to fund his own agenda. The following year saw four emperors, the last being Vespasian, who embarked on a series of efforts to stay in power and to clean up the mess left for him by the short and vicious civil war; leaving Rome broke and many unemployed. He needed to find a way to reunite the Roman people, to assert himself as a favourable emperor, and to create work for the unemployed.
Although the construction of his Flavian Amphitheatre offered Vespasian a possible solution, it also required an amount of money and manpower greater than anything ever required before, but this was money that Rome did not have, and Vespasian could not risk raising taxes for fear of losing support of the Roman people. However his son, Titus, at the time was involved in the sacking of Jerusalem and upon
Bibliography: * Connolly, P. 2003 Colosseum, London, BBC Books * Hopkins, K & Beard, M * Hopkins, K. 22/03/2011 BBC, The Colosseum: Emblem of Rome http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/colosseum_01.shtml (Accessed: 28/07/2012) * Lyes, C.J. 1999, Roman Architecture from Augustus to Hadrian http://www.anistor.gr/english/enback/CJLyes_Colosseum.pdf (Accessed: 25/07/2012) * Mueller, T. 2011 Smithsonian, Secrets of the Colosseum http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Secrets-of-the-Colosseum.html (Accessed: 28/07/2012) * National Geographic. 2011 Ancient Megastructures: The Colosseum, ABC, http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/program/24213 (Accessed: 25/07/2012) * Pearson, J * Westwell, I. 2006 Ancient Monuments Revealed, New Jersey, Chartwell Books, Inc. p 88 -109 * Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inaugural_games_of_the_Flavian_Amphitheatre (Accessed: 1/08/2012) --------------------------------------------