Hedonism, Blood & Gods
The growth of the Roman Republic and Empire depended on their army's Legions. Political leaders often depended on the support of individual Legions to achieve and maintain their power and wealth. While this dependence created an unstable political climate, it also allowed Roman patricians to enjoy a life of extreme self indulgence, very different from that of the common people. Lavish public entertainment, called 'Games', involving animal and human bloodshed, was part of this lifestyle. Roman rulers did allow some of this indulgence to 'trickle down', with extravagant displays of cruelty used to distract the public as Rome's political structure became increasingly unwieldly.
Following a brief review of History Channel and PBS background material, scenes from selected movies will be used to provide insight to life in Ancient Rome. With this background, the rest of the program will use movie selections to track the evolution of Rome's power, including the gradual rise of Christianity in place of over 60 gods.