ANCIENT ROME

THE RISE OF ROME• The Land and the Sea

– A. Crossroads of the Mediterranean• 1. Italy has an almost subtropical climate• 2. the Appenine Mountains help protect the

Italians from invasion at the same time as they encouraged them to look west for expansion and trade

• 3. Latium and Campania are two of Italy’s most fertile areas.

• 4. The Romans built their city on seven hills, including the Palatine, along the Tiber River.

The Etruscans and Rome (750 – 509 BCE)

• A. The Etruscans– 1. The Etruscans played a

major role in Italian life.– 2. They engaged in active

trading relationships with the wider Mediterranean world.

– 3. Their society developed cities much like Greek city-states.

– 4. Ruled as kings– 5. Gave Rome city wall,

alphabet, 1st sewer system, Roman Forum

• B. The Romans– 1. According to legend, Romulus and Remus

founded Rome in 753 BCE and from then until the rape of Lucretia in 509 BCE the Romans lived under Etruscan control

– 2. Tarquin the Proud-Last Etruscan King– 3. The Romans embraced many Etruscan customs

509 BCE: Roman Forms a Republic

The Roman Conquest of Italy (509 – 290 BCE)A. Over the following two centuries the Romans carried out the conquest of Rome

• B. Between 390 and 290 BCE the Romans consolidated their gains and reorganized their army

• C. The Romans gave their Latin allies considerable local autonomy and, for some, the possibility of full Roman citizenship

The Roman State• A. Social Conflict in Rome

– 1. The Roman constitution was an ever changing mix of traditional beliefs, customs, and laws.

– 2. In the early republic, social divisions determined the shape of politics

• a. Political power was in the hands of wealthy landowners called patricians

• b. The common people were called the plebeians.

• 3. The most important political institution was called the Senate.

• 4. The republic also had several assemblies that elected magistrates and passed legislation.

• 5. In 471 BCE, the plebeians won the right to their own assembly, the concilium plebis

• 6. Contact with foreigners led to the development of a theory of “natural law”, law that

• applied to all societies.• 7. The Struggle of the Orders was the attempt

by the plebeians to win political representation and to protect their rights from patrician domination.

• 8. Rome’s need for plebeian soldiers led to early reforms

• 9. The lex Canuleia made it legal for patricians and plebeians to marry

• 10. The Law of the Twelve Tables (451 BCE) was codified as a result of plebeian agitation. Gave all free citizen the protection to law. Written down!

• 11. The struggle ended in 287 BCE with the passage of the lex Hortensia

• B. Roman Republic:– 1- Executive: 2 Consuls elected by assembly

for one year terms. They are the commander in chiefs of military and have the power to veto

– 2. Legislative: Senate of 300, chosen from aristocracy for life, controls foreign and financial policies, advises consuls

– 3. Judicial: 8 Judges chosen for one year by Centuriate Assembly, 2 oversee civil and criminal cases, 6 govern provinces

– 4. In time of crisis, the republic could appoint a DICTATOR: a leader who had absolute power to make laws and command army. Only for 6 months, chosen by consuls and elected by senate.

Roman Expansion• A. The Roman conquest of the Mediterranean

world was not the result of a long-term plan for world domination, but the result of Roman efforts to eliminate all perceived threats to their society.

• B. The struggle with Carthage for Sicily resulted in the First Punic War

• C. During the Second Punic War Carthage expanded its power into Spain.– 1. Carthage’s greatest general,

Hannibal, lead an army all the way to the gates of Rome.

– 2. He was ultimately defeated by the Roman general Scipio Africanus.

• D. The Third Punic War ended with the destruction of Carthage itself.

• E. At the same time as the Punic wars, Roman armies conquered much of the eastern Mediterranean.

Old Values and Greek Culture• A. Political disturbances in the last

centuries of the Republic stemmed from the acquisition of empire.

• B. Many people responded to the events of the second century BCE by reasserting traditional Roman values - example Cato the Elder, Roman Consul 195 BCE.

• C. The paterfamilias (highest ranking male) was the most powerful force in the Roman family in the traditional scheme of things.

• D. Religion played a significant role in Roman life.

• E. On the other hand, many people embraced Greek urban culture.

• F. Roman military victories brought the bounty of the East back to Rome.

• G. Hellenism had a great impact on Roman art, literature, and leisure activities.

The Late Republic (133-31 BCE)• A. Factional politics and civil wars resulted

from Rome’s acquisition of empire.• B. Rome’s Italian allies sought full citizenship.• C. A growing number of urban poor led to

further problems for the Roman state.• D. The Gracchi Brothers sought land reform for

the Roman poor and full citizenship for Rome’s Italian allies.

• E. The Social War resulted from the agitation of the Italian allies for full Roman citizenship

• F. The reforms of powerful leaders such as Marius and Sulla, the first general to march his army inside the walls of Rome, had dangerous implications for the republican constitution.

• G. Political leaders such as Marius, Sulla, Pompey, and Julius Caesar acquired enormous power.

• H. Powerful generals jeopardized republican government.

• i. Military turned disloyal as Rome expand. Soldiers began to fight for their generals more than Rome.

JULIUS CAESAR (60-44 BCE)• A. His team= Crassus

(wealthy) and Pompey (general)

• B. 59 BCE: Elected Consul: for next 10 years these 3 men DOMINATED Rome as a triumvirate. To remain in power after 1 year, he appointed himself governor of Gaul. A military genius, he conquered all of Gaul winning support of his men.

• C. Caesar gains popularity, Pompey gets jealous, becomes his rival! Pompey gets senate to orders Caesar to disband and come home in 50 BCE

• D. Jan. 10, 49 BCE: Caesar defies Senate and crosses Rubicon River into Italy and marches army towards Rome. Pompey flees! Caesar’s troops crushed Pompey’s troops in Greece, Asia, Spain & Egypt (while there, had a little affair with Cleopatra)!

• E. 46 BCE: Caesar returns to Rome with support of army and people.

• Senate appoints him DICTATOR! 44 BCE: named dictator for life

• F. CAESAR’S REFORMS• -absolute ruler• -granted citizenship to many in

provinces• -expanded Senate• -Created jobs for poor

(Construction)• -Created colonies for the landless• -increases soldier’s pay• -improved calendar• -pressed for “honest” government• -planned founding of public libraries• -gave free grain to extreme poor

• G. ASSASSINATION

• -Senators feared a loss of their influence, considered him a tyrant

• -group of Senators led by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius plotted assassination

• -IDES OF MARCH: March, 15, 44 BCE: stabbed to death in Senate Chamber

OCTAVIAN, MARC ANTONY and LEPIDUS

• A. The 2nd Triumvirate: Lepidus retires. Octavian and Antony becomes rivals, split empire West and East respectively.

• B. Rome was plagued by civil war in the last century of the republic.

• C. Order was restored by Caesar’s grandnephew Octavian (later Augustus) in 31 BCE.

• D. Octavian defeated his rival, Marc Antony, at the Battle of Actium, a naval battle, in 31 BCE

THE PAX ROMANA (27 BCE-180 CE)Augustus’ Settlement (31BCE – 14 CE)• A. The Principate and the Restored Republic

– 1. Octavian used the guise of restoring the Republic.– 2. In reality, Octavian created a constitutional

monarchy.– 3. He called himself princeps civitatis (“first citizen of

the state”).– 4. Octavian assumed most of the important civil and

religious offices of Rome.– 5. Much of his power resided in his role as

commander of the army.

– B. Augustus’s Administration of the Provinces• 1. Augustus encouraged local self-government

and respect for local customs.• 2. He also fostered the cult of Roma, goddess of

Rome, and of himself deified (in the East). This served as cultural “glue” for the Empire.

– C. Roman Expansion into Northern and Western Europe

• 1. Rome expanded into northwest Europe (Spain, Gaul, Britain, and western Germany).

• 2. Rome also expanded north from the Mediterranean to the Danube.

• 3. Roads and military settlements brought Roman culture to newly conquered provinces.

– 4. Local peoples adopted Roman culture because it was “flexible and convenient” and because it was necessary for upward mobility in the Empire.

– 5. The city of Lyon exemplified a Roman provincial city, with its amphitheater and other Roman buildings.

– D. Literary Flowering• 1. This period is generally referred to as the

Golden Age of Roman Literature.• 2. This age produced well-known writers such as

Horace, Virgil, Livy, and Ovid.• 3. Roman writers of the Empire celebrated the

dignity of humanity and the peace and stability of the Pax Romana

ARCHITECTURE• A. COLOSSEUM-The Name Colosseum

comes from the Latin word meaning: GIGANTIC!!– 1. BUILT: AD 72-82 – 2. Building began under Vespasian, opened by

Titus, and completed by Domitian.– 3. CAPACITY: 45,000-50,000 people– 4. MATERIALS: Stone and concrete– 5. SIZE: 157 Feet high, 620 feet long– 6. 80 entrances, central arena, elevators and

ramps from the cells and animal cages– 7. Held events: GLADIATOR FIGHTS!!!

• B. GLADIATORS– 1. Gladiators were slaves and freemen! Used

for entertainment!– 2. Emperors put of GAMES to appease their

citizens and to show their power!– 3. Men and women both were gladiators!– 4. Fought each other and wild animals: lions,

tigers, elephants, hippos– 5. Many animal populations were severely

hurt!

• C. PANTHEON– 1. Built: 118-126 AD by Hadrian– 2. Roman Temple built to honor gods– 3. Built as a Roman Temple and later used

as Catholic Church

LANGUAGE AND LATIN• About ½ of the words in present-day

English come from languages other than English!– A. Romance Languages: Languages that

developed from Latin!• Romans spoke something called Vulgar Latin• Each area had its owe dialect: version of Latin• These dialects became separate languages• -Such as: Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese,

and Romanian

– B. Germanic Languages:• 1. Languages that came from Germanic Tribes

– Germanic Languages: English, German, Polish, Russian, and Scandinavian dialects are just a few!

The Coming of Christianity.• A. Unrest in Judaea

– 1. The first century witnessed the rise and spread of Christianity.

– 2. Christianity originated in Judaea under Roman occupation. The background to Christ’s life was frequent and sometimes bloody clashes between Jews and the Roman occupiers.

– 3. There were two primary responses to Roman domination among the Jews.

• a) The Zealots (sect of Jews) aimed to expel the Romans from Judaea by violence and refused to pay taxes to the Romans.

• b) Other Jews awaited a Messiah who would destroy the Roman Empire and save the Jews.

• B. The Life and Teachings of Jesus– 1. Jesus of Nazareth was born in Galilee, a

stronghold of the Zealots.– 2. The principal evidence for the life and

deeds of Jesus is the four Gospels of the New Testament.

– 3. More gospels existed in antiquity than are now included in the New Testament.

– 4. Jesus’ teachings were essentially Jewish.

• C. The Spread of Christianity– 1. Paul of Tarsus, a

Hellenized Jew, asserted that Christianity was universal – for Gentiles (non-Jews) as well as Jews.

– 2. Early Christians were not as systematically persecuted as once believed.

– 3. Because Christianity reached Rome, capital of the known world, early, it spread rapidly throughout much of the Empire.

• D. The Appeal of Christianity.– 1. Christianity appealed to common people

and the poor with its sense of belonging (the Lord’s Supper), its offer of salvation in the afterlife, and its insistence on the importance of every human being in the divine plan.

• E. Death of Jesus– 1. Jesus’ popularity threaten Roman

and Jewish leaders. Roman governor, Pontius Pilate accused Jesus of defying the power of Rome. Jesus sentenced to death by crucifixion

– 2. After death, his body was placed in a tomb and according to the Gospels, 3 days later it was gone, and a living Jesus began appearing and finally ascended to heaven

– 3. Because of this….Jesus’ followers were more convinced he was the messiah (savior)…..They began to call him JESUS CHRIST. CHRIST comes from the Greek word Christos meaning savior, the word Christianity came from

The Julio-Claudians and the Flavians (27 BCE – 96 CE)

• A. Claudius created an efficient bureaucracy of professional administrators.

• B. The army and the Praetorian Guard assumed greater power in political affairs and set a negative precedent in the Roman state.

• C. Nero’s inept rule let to military rebellion and his death in 68 CE.

• D. Vespasian brutally suppressed rebellion in Judaea (68 – 70 BCE).

FIRE 64 CE

NERO

The Age of the “Five Good Emperors”

• A. The Antonine Monarchy– 1. Hadrian further bureaucratized the

government and separated civil from military service.

• B. Changes in the Army– 1. Under the Flavian emperors the frontiers

became firmly fixed.– 2. By Hadrian’s day the Roman army had

become a garrison force and many common soldiers were “barbarians,” not Romans.

– 3. Hadrian secured Rome’s frontiers- Hadrian’s Wall

Life in the “Golden AgeA. Imperial Rome

– 1. Rome had a population of between 500,000 and 750,000.

– 2. Supplying the city with cheap grain was a constant preoccupation of the imperial government.

– 3. The emperor provided entertainment to the city in the form of gladiatorial contests and chariot racing.

• B. Rome and the Provinces– 1. Latin was used throughout the empire for

legal and religious purposes.– 2. A new culture emerged out of the

interactions of the communities that made up the Roman Empire.

– 3. Cities were centers of interaction between Romans and the people they ruled.

THE COLLAPSE OF ROME• Economic Troubles• A. Hostile tribes outside boundaries and pirates

on Mediterranean Sea disrupted trade!• B. Reached limit of expansion, could not get

new resources (gold and silver)• C. Desperate for revenue, taxes are raised and

coins minted not worth their face value• D. INFLATION: drop of value of $ and increase

in prices• E. Agriculture: harvest suffer due to overworked

land and war• F. Food shortages and disease spread.

• Military and Political Turmoil– Soldiers less disciplined and loyal, fight for

general not Rome.– Mercenaries: foreign soldiers hired to fight,

had less loyalty to empire– Citizen loyalty drops, indifference emerges– Lack of motivated, worthy emperors

• Civil Wars and Invasions in the Third Century• A. Barbarians on the Frontiers

– 1. Civil war in Rome coincided with massive migrations of barbarian peoples on their frontiers.

– 2. Migrating peoples took advantage of weakened Roman defenses.

• B. Turmoil in Farm and village Life– 1. Imperial officials squeezed peasants hard for

taxes.

Reconstruction Under Diocletian and Constantine (284-337 CE)

• A. Diocletian reorganized the administration and fixed prices and wages.– 1. Splits Empire:

• -EAST: Greek Speaking (Greece, Anatolia, Syria, Egypt)

• - WEST- Latin Speaking (Italy, Gaul, Britain, Spain)

• B. Constantine made tax-collecting positions into a hereditary class.

• C. Small farms declined as wealthy landlords reclaimed abandoned land and created great estates farmed by dependent clients (serfs).

• D. Constantine recognized Christianity as a legitimate religion.

• E. Constantine also built a new capital, called Constantinople (on the site of the Greek city of Byzantium).

• F. Despite reforms, decline could not be checked.

• G. Last Emperor, Romulus Augustulus removed 476 CE

• H. Western part of empire falls into the dark/middle ages. Eastern half becomes Byzantine Empire.

Romulus Augustulus giving up his crown

From the Classical World to Late Antiquity (ca 200 – 700 CE).

• A. Late Antiquity was simultaneously a world of continuity and change.

• B. By 500 CE the Mediterranean had split between the Greek East and the Latin West.

• C. Barbarians and educated Romans in the West needed each other and created a shared culture.