9. Roman Glass

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From the course by University of Arizona

Roman Art and Archaeology

282 ratings

University of Arizona

Roman Art and Archaeology

282 ratings

The objective of this course is to provide an overview of the culture of ancient Rome beginning about 1000 BCE and ending with the so-called "Fall of Rome". We will look at some of the key people who played a role in Rome, from the time of the kings through the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. We will also focus on the city of Rome itself, as well as Rome's expansion through Italy, the Mediterranean, and beyond.

From the lesson

The Roman Republic's Rise and Fall (509 - 31 BCE)

Having thrown off the Etruscans in 509 BCE., Rome emerged as independent Latin community that quickly became known for its disciplined army and militaristic intentions. As the Romans expanded throughout the Mediterranean, it came into contact with various cultures, all who had an influence on the young power, especially Greek culture, art, and architecture. By the end of this period Rome may have grown to a million people. The first century BCE. was a time of amazing development in many fields of artistic endeavor, but it was also a time of civil unrest as soldiers became more loyal to their commanders than to the state. Leaders such as Sulla, Marius, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and others took advantage of this turmoil, which culminated with the powerful influence of the decadent Egyptian charmer Cleopatra and the emergence of Octavian.

1. Rome's Revolutionary Century8:46

2. The Temple of Fortuna at Praeneste4:32

3. The Roman Domus and Theatre6:24

4. The Theater of Pompey Today0:44

5. Roman Portraiture2:20

6. Greek Art in Rome2:17

7. Roman Lamps I0:47

8. Roman Lamps II1:06

9. Roman Glass3:13

Meet the Instructors

David Soren
Regents Professor of Classics and Anthropology
Classics and Anthropology

In the first century BCE, glass making also came into

its own as the Romans made innovations in traditional glass production.

To find out about this, we ask an expert glass blower to tell us what the Romans

did to change the way glass was produced and appreciated.

Watch.

In the late Republic, the Romans also made strides in the area of glass making.

To find out about this,

we tracked down one of America's master glass makers and historians.

The way that we work with glass is very similar to the way the Italians

worked in the Renaissance.

When they started back 2000 years ago, they had a very limited palette of color.

Lots of turquoise cuz it was readily available.

Because of our modern technology, we have available to us over 300 different colors.

Both in transparents and opaque colors.

The main difference between then and

now is the sophistication in terms of the types of materials and tools we have.

They had to bundle reeds and different types of wood

in order to get certain temperatures.

There's a guy in all the glass houses who was known as the bundler or the fireman.

And they would know where to go in the forest to get the right kind of wood.

Some green, some old, and they would bundle it together and

then that's how they kept their temperature.

Because that guy knew just the right amount of wood and

the right type of wood to put in there.

Along with our furnace that holds the glass right in the middle there,

we have these blast furnaces we call glory holes.

They didn't have that capability back then.

They had to do everything in and out of the furnace.

And they probably had somebody hitting bellows.

You know, it was a real team effort.

[SOUND] Forty or

fifty years BC is when they figured out how to make clay pipes that they could

actually gather glass on the end and then inflate.

So that was huge development.

And then with the spread of the Roman Empire, in Roman times,

the Romans were not allowed to work in the trades.

They were special, so they farmed out all the glass blowing to Palestine, Lebanon,

Israel, Cypress, like that.

All the glass blowing was done in Mesopotamia or in Palestine.

And around 50 years AD is when they figured out how to blow into bowls.

Then they were able to pick up the pace,

then glass became like a utilitarian object in most people's homes.

[MUSIC]

So the first century BCE was a time of dynamic

developments in art and politics in Rome.

It ended with Octavian, now Augustus, firmly in control.

And to look at the Rome that he made, you'll have to join us for

the next lecture.

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