Rome and Early ChristianityCity of Rome = seat of one of the greatest powers of the ancient world 1,200 year history changed greatly due in part to the beginning and spreading of Christianity.

The Foundations

Of Rome From a small town on the banks of an Italian river Rome grew to control the entire Mediterranean region.

ORIGIN: Legend = Twin brothers Romulus + Remus decedents of Trojan hero named Aeneas.

Placed in basket on Tiber River found + raise by wolf eventually discovered by shepherd who adopted them.

Boys grew up they decided to build city on Tiber where they were saved argument = Romulus killed Remus.

Romulus built city they planned + named it after himself = made himself king of Rome for nearly 40 years.

Roman Civilization

Develops “Rome was not built in a day” + “When in Rome do as the Romans do” = popular culture today how did it come to be???

Italy’s Geography:

Boot shaped peninsula = juts south from Europe into Mediterranean Sea.

Peninsula lies almost halfway between eastern + western boundaries of Mediterranean Sea.

To North = Protected but not isolated by Alps (mountains)

To South + East + West = the Mediterranean Sea provided protection and rapid transportation.

Much of Peninsula = rich soil + mild climate = able to support large population.

The Founding of Rome:

City of Rome = West Coast + middle of peninsula.

Romulus + Remus = founded Rome in 753 B.C.

People who built Rome = members of Indo European tribe = Latins reached Italy 1000s B.C.

Rome grew = Location on Tiber trade routes btwn Northern + Southern Italy and easy access to sea.

The Etruscans:

Rome first ruled by Latin Kings 753-616 B.C.

616 B.C. = came under rule of Etruscans of Northern Italy.

Etruscans = great metalworkers + jewelers culture heavily influenced by Greece.

Etruscans had great influence on Roman Society =

Built Rome’s 1st city walls + sewer; introduced building techniques such as arch; introduced alphabet + number system; helped shape system of government; introduced gladiator games + chariot races; influenced styles sculpture + painting.

Rome Becomes

A Republic Etruscans ruled Rome until 509 B.C. = Romans revolted region wide + threw out last king a tyrant.

Romans established a new form of government in place of the monarchy a Republic.

Republic type of government in which elected officials govern the state.

Patricians + Plebeians:

Early days of republic = Patricians elected officials from among themselves.

Patricians the heads of a few aristocratic families

Patrician families were organized in clans controlled every aspect of society = politics, religion, economics and the military.

Maintained power through patronage system = wealthy Romans provided financial, social, or legal support for lower ranking families in return for political backing + loyalty.

Plebeians Common people lower class in Rome; included farmers, merchants, artisans, and traders.

Almost from the beginning of the Republic Plebeians challenged the Patricians for power.

494 B.C. = Invaders threatened Rome = Plebeians left Rome + refused to fight until changes were made.

Patricians realized they would not have army w/o Plebeians expanded Plebeian Rights.

Once Received = Plebeians returned + defended city.

Formed their own assembly = The Plebeian Council.

Plebeian Council = responsibility of overseeing + protecting plebeian affairs.

Plebeian’s also gained the right to elect officials known as tribunes.

Tribunes = job to protect plebeians against unjust treatment by Patrician officials.

Eventually Tribunes gained right to veto or ban laws that seemed harmful or unjust to Plebeians.

450 B.C. = Plebeians forced Patricians to have all laws written down.

Laws were displayed in Roman Forum or Central Square on 12 large bronze tablets.

Code became known as Law of the Twelve Tables.

Since laws posted judges could no longer make decisions based on their own opinions or on secret laws.

One of new laws = forbade marriage between patricians and Plebeians = attempt to preserve special status.

Republican Government:

Plebeians + Patricians worked together = created unwritten constitution or political structure.

Romans created new offices + institutions of government:

1. Senate = a body of 300 members who advised elected officials + controlled public finances + handled foreign relations.

2. Various popular assemblies = in which all citizens voted on laws + elected officials.

3. Magistrates (officials) = who put laws into practice governed in name of Senate & people = acted as Priests.

All state offices originally dominated by Patricians later open to Plebeians too.

Last King of Rome was replaced by two magistrates called consuls

Consuls elected for one year = both chief executives + commanders of Army.

Censors = other important magistrates recorded city’s population + how much property each person owned + appointed new Senators which gave them influence in society.

Praetors = magistrates; judges primarily = can act for consuls when consuls away at war.

As Rome expanded both Censors + Praetors = given military commands + appointed as governors.

System of Checks and Balances each part of government had constraints upon the others = Magistrates, Senate, and Assembly.

Life in the Republic:

Rome = thriving + vibrant city.

Forum = Heart of the city public square + site of the most important government buildings + temples.

Nestled between two hills = Palatine where many of Rome’s wealthiest citizens lived.

City leaders often found in Forum speaking with citizens + Senate met in Forum + key public addresses delivered there.

More than just political center = popular place for shopping + gossip.

Public celebrations commonly held at Forum.

Forum = busiest place in busy city.

Romans = Farming + Land ownership = noblest ways to make money.

Senators = forbidden to participate in any career not involving land.

Dictator office gave its holder nearly unlimited power to be held for six months

Romans could give a general (Cincinnatus) etc. power of dictator = gave holder unlimited power to help resolve crises.

The Republic Ends

Rome’s Government changed Roman Population grew need for more land increased = Rome began conquering its neighbors + settling land.

Military Might:

Rome’s Powerful Army = made expansion possible.

All Roman men age 17 to 46 w/ property required to serve in army during times of war.

Property anyone with property to protect would fight bravely.

Roman Army = divided into units Legions.

Legion = Basic unit of the Roman army = 5,000 soldiers (valued loyalty + courage)

Centurion = commissioned officer = usually commanded a century or group of 80 - 100 men. Other historians believe usually 83; at full strength 100.

Usually 30 years old, spent a couple of years in Army.

Centurions made up backbone of Roman Army

Weapons:

Gladius The Roman short sword. It was a double-edged weapon about 18 inches long and two inches wide, often with a corrugated bone grip formed to the Legionaries hand.

Pilum The Roman javelin

Pugio The Roman dagger was anywhere from 7 to 11 inches long in similar width to the gladius.

Armor = Helmet + Shield + Gladius Gladius = Latin for sword

Roman Army highly disciplined + well trained force capable of fighting all types terrain.

Conquest of Italy:

By 265 B.C. = Romans defeated Etruscans + Greek cities in Southern Italy.

As Romans conquered Italy = imposed few conditions on peoples subject peoples must provide troops to Roman Army + pay

taxes but Rome rarely interfered with domestic affairs.

Once Rome controlled Italy attention to Sicily = Large Island south of Peninsula.

Roman allies in Sicily = conflict with Carthage.

Carthage = powerful trading city in North Africa.

Romans coming to allies aid = direct conflict with Carthaginians grew into series of 3 wars over 80 years = Punic Wars.

The Punic Wars:

Violence broke out in 264

1 st Punic War mostly fought at Sea = Carthage’s powerful navy dominated fighting early.

Romans built navy of their own defeat Carthage.

Rome’s victory Carthage surrendered

Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia

Peace = short lived 23 years

   Roman territories   Siracusan holdings   Punic territories

Battles:

1. Naval battle at Tindaris. Punic victory in 260, 258 & 257 BC. 2. Romans attack Panormus. Withdraw 258 BC. 3. Romans capture Mytistraton (258 BC) 4. Romans retake Enna & Camarina (258 BC) 5. Roman naval victory front of Cape Ecnomus (256 BC) 6. Marcus Atilius Regulus invades Africa (256 BC)

2 nd Punic War:

Conditions strained after 1st Punic war peace short lived = violence broke out again in 218 B.C. (23 years of Peace)

Hannibal took oath at age 9 = dedicated his

life to destruction of Rome (legend)

Hannibal succeeded his father as leader of Carthaginian army

Carthaginian general = Hannibal led well trained army w/force of elephants across Pyrenees + Alps invading Italy.

Hannibal dominated Italian Countryside for many years (15) never could take Rome itself = defeated one Roman army after another 50,000 Romans wounded = worst defeat ever suffered by Rome.

With Hannibal ravaging Italy = Scipio Roman General = sailed to Africa with Roman force besieged Carthage.

Scipio’s idea to attack Carthage + his leadership that defeated Hannibal at Zama.

Scipio Africanus = conqueror of Africa

Attack on Carthage forced Hannibal to withdraw from Italy + return to Carthage.

202 B.C = Scipio defeated Hannibal’s forces on plain of Zama + took control of city Carthage = ended 2nd Punic War.

Result = Rome became leading power of western Mediterranean stripped Carthage of its Navy + land held in Spain.

Rome did not destroy city (Carthage).

Hannibal = considered one of greatest military commanders in all of history.

Master of strategy Romans adopted elements of his strategy themselves.

Carthage rapidly recovered under Hannibal’s leadership.

Exiled by Carthaginians after 2nd Punic War taken prisoner by Romans but committed suicide rather than live as captive.

Huge losses at hands of Hannibal during war = many Romans demanded Carthage be destroyed.

149 B.C. Rome decided to destroy old enemy once for all = 3 rd Punic War

3 year siege Carthage fell = Romans enslaved entire population + completely

destroyed city + banned any people from living in area.

The Conquest of Greece:

During Punic Wars Rome also involved in politics in Eastern Mediterranean = Hellenistic kingdoms of Macedonia, Persia and Egypt constantly fighting.

Greek city states fearing being conquered sought alliance with Rome.

Romans + Greeks fought together and defeated Macedonia + Persia.

Romans eventually annexed not only Macedonia + Persia but also Greece as well = Roman Provinces.

Romans adopted many elements of Greek culture = Roman art + architecture began reflecting Greek Ideals.

Most of famous Roman art works = copies of Greek pieces.

Romans also borrowed Greek ideas on Religion.

Adopted stories of Olympian gods of Greece + their own = gave Greek Gods Roman Names.