Ancient history homework help!

Question

what was the function of the roman forum?

please help

Answer 1

Supposedly it was the ancient equivalent of a soap box derby, but instead of a soap box, there was a huge, well sculpted stone platform placed in the center of a plaza surrounded  by pillars, usually engineered for the best accoustics.  Also, supposedly, any citizen could stand there and make a speech, problem was people would only gather around and listen if you were someone important.  If you weren't anyone important they just didn't give a c**p.

The function was to allow any member of the citizen class to express grievances about the government, without fear of the government retaliating.  In fact, it was from the Roman forum where the founding fathers of the U.S. got the idea of "freedom of speech."  The forum was supposed to act as a symbol of a republic, where any citizen could speak freely, without fear that the government would retaliate by, oh, confiscating everything he owned like they did in the Persian empire.  Ultimately though, only the wealthy elite from the well known families could deliver speeches of significance on that thing.

Another function of the forum, was also supposed to be symbolic of how ruler, and citizen "were equals," the logic behind it being, that both an emperor, and a common citizen, had to deliver a speech from the same platform, both subject to the platform's rules.  In logic, and in theory, it was an awesome idea, in practice though, ultimately guido dumb@ssery and egotism, not to mention corruption, won the day.

As a matter of fact, the very nature of the forum ("rulers and citizens are equal before the forum...."), was used by the more devious emperors, to garner support to help bolster their power, here's an example.  Julius Caesar, used to deliberately speak at the forum only after the poorest citizens.  The purpose?  To portray himself as a "man of the people" see, most high class Romans were too snobish to speak directly after "plebeian scum."  Observing this, Caesar made it a point to speak only after poor people, to create a good impression with the crowd.  He was a sneaky S.O.B.; historians unanimously agree on that.

Caesar was smart enough to play on the sympathies of the poor, for a very good reason; while the great majority of people in Rome proper, citizens, residents of Rome, were all upper middle, or upper class on the economic scale, most people living outside the city limits were not.  See though, they formed the bulk of the population.  Whereas most rich citizens spoke with concern only to Roman citizens, and not everyone else, Caesar addressed the majority of the populuation, those living outside.  Combine this with his military victories, and he secured for himself, power.

It took them a while to catch on to his game, but when they eventually did, as we all know he was turned into a pin cushion.  "Beware of the ides of March...."

His assassins grossly miscalculated, because Caesar set out to win the hearts, not of Romans, but the villages and towns scatered throughout the Italian peninsula see part of the reason Caesar is remembered, even by modern Italians, is because he was the first Roman emperor to think of the idea of "Italy," instead of just "Rome."  Caesar say the peninsula as home to the Romans, not just Rome itself.  His political rivals on the other hand were too narrow minded and self interested to see it, and Caesar's dream of everyone Italy thinking of Italy as, well, Italy, did not become realized until the 20th century.

I overanswered, although, it is a difficult question.  I reccomend you use your school's library, get on EBSCO host or whatever peer reviewed journal service it has, and type on the search engine "Roman Forum."  I am not an ancient history professor, so I can not guarantee accuracy, nor does Yahoo check for accuracy.

At least not yet.

good luck.

Answer 2

try checking wikipedia.org at the sources

Answer 3

The Roman Forum, (Latin: Forum Romanum) sometimes known by its original Latin title, is located between the Palatine hill and the Capitoline hill of the city of Rome. It is the central area around which the ancient Roman civilization developed. Citizens refered to the location as the "Forum Magnum" or just the "Forum".

The oldest and most important structures of the ancient city are located in the forum, including its ancient former royal residency the Regia and the surrounding complex of the Vestal virgins. The Old Republic had its formal Comitium there where the senate, as well as Republican government began. The forum served as a city square and central hub where the people of Rome gathered for justice, and faith. The forum was also the economic hub of the city and considered to be the center of the Republic and Empire.

this is very briefly:)

Answer 4

The forum was thecenter of political and social activity. It was the marketplace of Rome and also the business district and civic center.

All matters of area and religion were discussed here by members of the community.

Answer 5

Think of the Roman Forum as Wall Street.  It was a giant marketplace, like a super walmart meant for the wealthy. Emperors and Senators also used this place for state (and sometimes personal) matters.