CLT3510 Ancient World in Film Comprehensive Study Guide I Roman History What have the Roman s done for us Great civilizers cultural advancements roads engineering water systems aquaducts education America has used Roman influence American Revolution looked to Roman Republic model mostly associated with government more than Greeks Association with Christianity rise of Christianity coincides with Roman empire s decline with negative connotation because of autocratic rule of government with a single ruler Roman Republic good Christian 509 BC 30 BC Roman Empire bad negative association 30 BC 476 BC Roman Republic Senate 2 Consuls Assemblies Roman people Roman expansion from Italy and Southern Europe to middle of Mediterranean Sea Sea and land routes created for commercial and military use Rome s success Simple virtuous people Agrarian values o Work hard avoid luxuries Mixed constitution o Separated powers to senate magistrates the people Social Stability o Checks and balances Patricians and Plebeians Crisis of the Roman Republic Overseas growing creates economic inequalities at home o This created monopolies to benefit the officials and money plagued Rome of famers goes down of slaves goes up o When the farmers go to war farms are sold the rich buy land and slaves Increasing competition among Roman aristocrats for office prestige military command o The autocrats wanted to gain more wealth The Gracchi Roman reformers try to push a land reform for ex farmers reforms to help free people Both are assassinated for going against the senate Crassus Pompey Caesar The Final Years of the Republic General Marius and aristocratic dictator Sulla conflict over dictatorship After Sulla dies Crassus Pompey and Caesar form 1st Triumvirate Civil war between Caesar and Pompey CLT3510 Ancient World in Film Comprehensive Study Guide Caesar is Dictator for 4 years names himself King pulls strings of government largely in his favor then murdered Octavion Mark Antony Lepidus The End of the Republic After Caesar dies Octavion Mark Antony and Lepidus form 2nd Triumvirate Roman Republic ends in 30 BC The Roman Empire Octavion becomes sole ruler at the end of the Republic Octavion lays down rules of the Republic Octavion is declared Augustus and given great powers of army and treasury senate loses powers and Rome is controlled by a single dictator for the next 500 years Empire falls in 476 Rise of Christianity Seen as a threat especially in 200 s Rome sees it as a threat and it ends with conversion of Constanti in 312 Rome in Film Centered in Italy Last Days of Pompeii Cabiria Topics aren t focused on mythical or literary More historical semi historical Two Periods stand out in Hollywood cinema o The Late Republic Themes Civil War among powerful generals Marius Sulla Caesar Pompey Octavion Augustus Marc Antony Fall of Roman Republic government Ex Spartacus Cleopatra o Rome and Early Christianity Themes Cold War background Rome as autocratic villians godless brutal Nazi s Soviets autocratic powers Early Christians Parallel to American values o Family Home God Freedom Civil Rights struggle with underdogs of movies Roman enemies II Ben Hur 1959 CLT3510 Ancient World in Film Comprehensive Study Guide Based on 1880 novel Ben Hur by General Lew Wallace Spartacus was also based on a novel Director William Wyler Synopsis Opening scene Map voiceover explanation of history Same as Spartacus then shows the birth of Jesus with the three kings going to the manger Film begins in XXVI Judah Ben Hur born at same time as Jesus in Jerusalem Good friends with the Roman ruler even though he is Jewish He is wrongly arrested because Messala is personally angered He is on a slave ship for more than three years then returns to Jerusalem to save his family that now has Lupus Film begins with birth ends with crucifixion Production Hollywood Rome Largest up to this time most money spent on a film brought actual horses on set visually spectacular Took more than 6 years to film cast had to train extensively for gladiator scenes undefeated for most Academy Awards Based on a fictional plot occurring in historical time All set in 1 AD 1 BC Same as Spartacus Rome is a mighty empire characterized by military power and vice Depraved and symbolic of Nazis Soviets o Totalitarian powers Negative traits are shown in empire with a moral decline Signaled by use of slaves luxuries persecutions and lurid sex Slaves Jews have traits similar to Americans o God loving humble simple virtuous Jewish struggle under Roman control and military o Nazi salute Roman salute Characters Judah Ben Hur Jewish prince hero Messala Old friend of Ben Hur and nemesis Embodiment of Rome Autocratic might makes right contempt for religion fanatic approach Rome is the center for all Control Jewish religion is considered useless rabble Emperor center of everything he is God on Earth Resistance is futile His words recall ideology of totalitarianism racial purity superiority associated with Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia Movie is more complex Ben Hur s refusal to turn informant on his people is an allusion to McCarthyism and the house of Communism CLT3510 Ancient World in Film Comprehensive Study Guide Quintus Arrius Gallant Roman on the slave ship when Ben Hur rescues him and in turn Quintus takes him under his wing like a son Intensely strict but paternal to Ben Hur Noble Roman like Ben Hur respectable Not all Romans are evil Miriam Mother of Ben Hur lives with him in Jerusalem Wealthy Tirzah Ben Hur s sister that receives necklace from Libya that Messala destroyed Becomes a leper Esther Slave that becomes love interest She compares Ben Hur to Messala after her returns because of his anger and need for revenge Simonides Esther s father and friend and loyal slave to Ben Hur Pontious Pilate Roman governor offers advice that imperial power is flawed deal with the hand you are dealt issued a pragmatic warning Politician not a soldier Not swept away with delusions of Rome but it s place is probably temporary represents a middle place for the Romans Shiek Ilderim Arabic man that lets Judah Ben Hur race in his chariot races at Antioch He meets with Ben Hur and his home is decadent he speaks of having multiple wives Gives Ben Hur star of David before fighting Non Romans mostly seen as Jewish Women Three main women Younger sister Tirzah Slave woman Esther Mother Miriam They aren t particularly powerful but they do influence the main actions of the man characters Esther isn t a strong