Socio-cultural Research Of The Ancient Roman Costumes

The aim of this paper is to systematically expound the basic style and characteristics of ancient Roman clothing, the causes of its change as well as its influences on the following western clothing from the view of social culture. Early on, ancient Romans, who advocated simplicity in food and clothes, lived a thrifty life. With a large-scale conquering war and expansion, especially in about the mid-2nd century BC when Rome developed into a country which covered the areas of Europe, Africa and Asia, that situation changed a lot, though. From then on, Romans began to pursue luxury and enjoyment. And their clothing gradually became more dainty and costly. The change of ancient Roman clothing from simplicity to luxury, which to some extent also reflected Roman social reality of the time that the traditional moral notion gradually bankrupted, was influenced by many factors. As an important part of ancient Roman civilization, ancient Roman clothing was also subject to the styles of foreign clothing. However, instead of being a simple imitation of them, Roman clothing, combined geographic location of Rome with ethical, economic as well as political factors, gradually formed its unique characteristics. Ancient Roman clothing ever played a connecting link between the preceding and the following in the historical development of western clothing. Its proper charm developed a lasting influence on clothing of Europe, and even of the whole world. The research on ancient Roman clothing will be of great help to us for a deeper understanding of its social economy, politics, culture and their daily life.First of all, this paper covers the basic style of ancient Roman clothing, respectively introducing man's and woman's wear, their accouterments and hairstyles. In addition, the beginning of this paper also sees an analysis of its characteristics and causes. Second, we can also get the reasons for the change of the clothing from simplicity to luxury from the following aspects: the influence from other cultures, the development of economy, the influence from foreign wars, the loss of national spirit and traditional morality and the improvement of woman's status. By analyzing the clothing style in the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and modern times, the last part of this paper deals with the influences of ancient Roman clothing on the following western clothing .