WHI.06, Part 1: Roman Republic and Empire

p. 81-96

Objectivesp. 81

Objective: The student will demonstrate knowledge of ancient Rome from about 700 B.C. to 500 A.D. in terms of its impact on Western civilization by –

a) assessing the influence of geography on Roman development;b) describing Roman mythology and religion;c) explaining the social structure, significance of citizenship, and the development of democratic features in the government of the Roman Republic;d) sequencing events leading to Roman military domination of the Mediterranean basin and Western Europe and the spread of Roman culture in these areas;e) assessing the roles of Julius and Augustus Caesar in the collapse of the Republic and the rise of imperial monarchs;f) explaining the economic, social, and political impact of the Pax Romana;

Essential Understandings p. 82

1) The city of Rome, with its central location on the Italian peninsula, was able to extend its influence over the entire Mediterranean Basin.

2) The Italian peninsula was protected by the sea and an arc of mountains, the Alps. 3) Roman mythology, like Greek mythology, was based upon a polytheistic religion that was integral to

culture, politics, and art.4) Many of Western civilization’s symbols, metaphors, words, and idealized images come from ancient

Roman mythology.5) Although women, most aliens (non-Romans living in the Republic), and slaves were excluded from the

governing process, the Roman Republic made major strides in the development of representative democracy, which became a foundation of modern democracy.

6) After the victory over Carthage in the Punic Wars, Rome was able, over the next 100 years, to dominate the Mediterranean basin, leading to the diffusion of Roman culture.

7) The Roman Republic, in the face of changing social and economic conditions, succumbed to civil war and was replaced by an imperial regime, the Roman Empire. Augustus Caesar established the Roman Empire by instituting civil service, rule by law, a common coinage, and secure travel and trade throughout the Empire.

8) Following Augustus Caesar, the Roman Empire enjoyed 200 years of peace and prosperity known as the Pax Romana.

Essential Questions p. 82

1) How was geographic location important to economic, social, and political development of ancient Rome?

2) What was the source of Roman mythology?3) What impact did Roman mythology have on later civilizations?4) How did the government of the Roman Republic become more democratic in its decision making?5) Why was Rome able to conquer Carthage and then go on to extend its influence across the entire

Mediterranean basin and much of Western Europe?6) Why did the Roman Republic fail to survive challenges by Julius Caesar?7) How did military conquests alter economic and social life in Rome?8) How did an imperial monarchy come to rule Rome?9) What was the Pax Romana?10) What was the impact of the Pax Romana on the Roman Empire?

Why do I need to know this? p. 82

1) Some of the most fundamental values and institutions of Western civilization began in the Roman Republic.

2) The Roman Empire has served throughout history as a model of political organization and control.

Roman Republic

p. 83-85

Beginnings of Rome p. 89

Romulus and Remus1.according to legend, the city was founded by Romulus and Remus (twin sons of the god Mars and a Latin princess)

Beginnings of Rome p. 89

Geography

1.Rome developed because of its strategic location and its fertile soil – built on several rolling hills at a curve on the Tiber River, near the center of the Italian peninsula

2.ideally situated to the center of trade among three continents; Europe, Africa and Asia – centered in the Mediterranean Sea

3.The Alps – mountains in the north that helped protect Italy from invasion

Italian Peninsula

The Tiber River

The Alps

The Alps

Original Settlers of Rome p. 89

Outside Influences

1.Italy was settled by the Greeks, Etruscans and Latins

a. Etruscans to the North, Greeks to the South and the Latins near the Tiber River in the center of the Italian Peninsula – established many small towns

2.the Etruscans influenced Roman writing, alphabet and architecture

3.the Greeks influenced the Roman religion , and taught them how to grow grapes and olives

The Early Italian Peninsula

Original Settlers of Rome p. 89

Becoming a Republic

1.around 600 B.C. an Etruscan became king of Rome

a. united all the Latin towns into one city, Rome

b. Palatine Hill became the Forum, the heart of Roman political life

2.509 B.C. the last Etruscan king, Tarquin the Proud was driven from power

a. the Romans vowed to never be ruled by a king again

b. established a republic – a form of government in which power rests with citizens who

have the right to vote to select their leaders • only free-born males were allowed to be citizens

The Forum

Early Republic p. 89

1. patricians – aristocratic landowners who held most of the power

2. plebeians – common farmers, artisans and merchants who made up the majority of the population (had the right to vote)

3. tribunes – representatives that protected the rights of plebeians from unfair acts of patrician officials

Early Republic …continuedp. 91

4. The Twelve Tables – creation of written law code (important victory for the plebeians)

a. laws of Rome were engraved on 12 bronze tablets and set them in the Forum

5. consuls – two men that were elected for 1 year terms; commanded the army and directed the government; could overrule the actions of each other

6. dictators – leader who was appointed only in times of crisis; his word was law and could overrule consuls (only help power for 6 months)

7. Senate – group of 300 men who served for life (provided continuity)

a. proposed laws and advised the consuls

8. Centuriate Assembly – elected the consuls and made some laws

a. made up of all citizen-soldiers

9. Tribal Assembly – assembly of plebeians who elected the tribunes

a. eventually won the right to make laws for the republic

The Twelve Tables

ConsulConsul

Senate – 300 Members

Centuriate Assembly

Tribal AssemblyPeople of Rome

Dictator

The Roman Government

Roman Army p. 91

1. all citizens who owned land were required to serve in the army

a. to be eligible for public office, you had to serve at least ten years

2. legion – made up of 5000 heavily armed foot soldiers

a. legions were divided into groups of 80 soldiers called a century

b. centuries could act independently (made the army very flexible)

Roman Soldiers

Rome Conquers Italy p. 91

1. the Roman legions subdued one rival after another

2. by 265 B.C. Rome had conquered all of Italy except the Northern Po Valley area

3. different laws for conquered people

a. areas right next to Rome on the Tiber River became full citizens

b. areas a little further out became full citizens except for the right to vote

c. the other areas were considered allies – Rome did not interfere with their government as long as they did not make treaties with other peoples and sent troops to participate in the army

Rome, 320 BC

Rome, 320 BC

Punic Wars

p. 87

Punic Wars p. 93

1. series of three wars between Rome and Carthage2. Rome’s location gave it easy access to trade 3. many other city-states interfered with Rome’s business

a. most powerful was Carthage in North Africa

Rome v. Carthage

First Punic War (264 – 241 B.C.)p. 93

1. Rome and Carthage fought for Sicily – Rome won

Rome before the 1st Punic War Rome after the 1st Punic War

Second Punic War (218 – 202 B.C.) p. 93

1. Hannibal, a Carthaginian general decided he had to invade Italy

a. began with 50,000 men, 9,000 cavalry, and 60 elephants

b. lost half of his men and most of his elephants

2. traveled across Europe and marched into Italy

c. nearly defeated Rome

4. the Roman general, Scipio, attacked Carthage while Hannibal was in Italy

5. Hannibal was forced to return to Carthage to defend it

6. Scipio defeated Hannibal at Zama (just outside of Carthage)

War Elephants

Hannibal Barca v. Scipio Africanus

Second Punic War

The Alps

Third Punic War (149-146 B.C.) p. 93

1. the Roman senator Cato still viewed Carthage as a threat and called for its destruction; “Carthage must be destroyed”

2. Rome attacked Carthage and burned it to the ground

a. all 50,000 residents of Carthage were sold into slavery

Results of the Punic Wars p. 93

1. Rome controlled the western half of the Mediterranean

2. Rome gained territory in Spain, Greece, and North Africa

Rome before the Punic Wars

Rome after the Punic Wars

The Republic in Crisis

p. 104

The Republic in Crisisp. 95

Gap between Rich and Poor1.There was a huge gap between the rich and poor2.Wealthy Roman occupied land from small farmers who were off fighting wars

a. latifundia – large estates acquired by wealthy Romans for farming b. Small farmers could not compete and went to the city of Rome looking for jobs, but few

found them – began resenting the wealthy

Latifundia

The Republic in Crisisp. 95

Spartacus1.73 B.C. – 71 B.C. Spartacus led a revolt of 70,000-130,000 slaves2.Rebellion crushed

Reformers and Generalsp. 95

Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus 1.tribunes who said break up the latifundia and give to the poor2.assassinated by the Senate (Tiberius in 133 B.C. and Gauis in 121 B.C.)3.a period of civil wars broke out

Reformers and Generalsp. 95

Generals1.Generals began recruiting soldiers from the landless poor by promising them land and pay – soldiers became loyal to their commanders, not the republic2.two generals, Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla fought a bloody civil war3. Sulla will eventually be named dictator

Gaius Marius Lucius Sulla

Julius Caesar

p. 95-97

Background (Julius Caesar)p. 95

1. General who rose to power (strong leader and a military genius)2. Allied himself with the general Pompey and the politician Crassus

a. Caesar was elected consul in 59 B.C.b. Formed the first triumvirate – group of 3 people with equal power that ruled Rome for

10 years

Caesar’s Military Campaignsp. 97

Military Genius1.Conquered Gaul and invaded Britain2.Lower classes say him as a military hero, but the Senate did not like his growing popularity3.Crassus was killed in a battle in Asia and Pompey sided with the Senate

Roman Empire (end of Punic Wars)

Caesar’s Expansion of the Roman Empire

Caesar’s Military Campaignsp. 97

Crossing the Rubicon1.Caesar was ordered to return to disband his legions and return home2.He refused and on Jan. 10, 49 B.C. marched his troops across the Rubicon River into Italy3.Civil war broke out between Caesar and Pompey4.Caesar defeated Pompey in Greece in 48 B.C. (Pompey was later assassinated in Sept. 48 B.C. in Egypt)

Caesar’s Reformsp. 97

1. Caesar took over as dictator for life in 45 B.C. and governed as an absolute ruler – one who has total power

2. granted citizenship to territories outside of Italy loyal to him and allowed them to be represented in the Senate

3. Set up the Julian Calendar – 365 days a year and 1 extra day every 4 years

Helping the Poor1. Set up public works projects to provide jobs2. Set up colonies for land for the poor3. Distributed free grain , but reduced the number of people eligible for it

Caesar’s Deathp. 97

The Ides of March1.Senators, led by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius thought he was trying to be a king and stabbed him to death on March 15, 44 B.C. at the age of 562.Civil war broke out again

End of the Republic

p. 99

End of the Republicp. 99

The Second Triumvirate1.Caesar’s grandnephew, Octavian joined up with two of Caesar’s top advisors; an experienced general, Marc Antony, and a powerful politician, Marcus Lepidus2.Executed all the senators who were responsible for Caesar’s death3.Ruled Rome for 10 years as the second triumvirate4. jealousy and greed brought an end to the second triumvirate

End of the Republicp. 99

The Republic becomes and Empire1.Octavian forced Lepidus to retire2.Octavian then declared war on Marc Antony (who was living with Cleopatra in Egypt)3.Marc Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide4.Octavian changed his name to Augustus “the exalted one”5.Took the title imperator “supreme military commander”6.Rome was now an empire and Augustus became the first emperor

Death of Cleopatra

The Roman Empire – The Pax Romana

p. 99-101

Pax Romana (27BC – 180AD) p. 93

Pax Romana - two centuries of peace and prosperity under imperial rule

Economic Impactp. 99

1. economy based on agriculture (90% of the people were engaged in farming)2. established uniform system of money, which helped to expand trade

a. silver coin called a denarius 3. ships from the east traveled under the protection of the Roman navy4. roads linked the empire to places such as Persia and Russia; originally built by the military to

move the army quickly; Silk Road was built to establish trade with China; safe travel was guaranteed; promoted prosperity and stability

Roman Roads Compared to Modern Roads

The Governmentp. 99-101

1. Augustus was Rome’s ablest (best) emperor; stabilized the frontier, glorified Rome with

buildings, and set up a civil service system – paid workers to manage the affairs of the government

2. there was no system to choose the next emperor, so there was always a possibility of civil war when an

emperor died until the Five Good Emperors

3. began with Nerva in 96 A.D., who chose a respected leader with the support of the

army and people as his heir

4. the Pax Romana ended with the death of the last of the Five Good Emperors, Marcus Aurelius

Life in the Empire

p. 101

Family Lifep. 101

1. honored strength and usefulness instead of beauty and elegance2. the family was the heart of Roman society, controlled by the eldest man

a. could disown children, sell family members into slavery3. Roman women had more freedoms than those of Greece and most of the world

a. could own property and testify in court, but could not vote4. boys received a formal education and were favored over girls5. girls were educated at home and were usually married between 12 and 15 to a much older

man

Gods and Goddessesp. 101

Roman GreekJupiter Zeus (ruler of the Roman gods)Juno Hera (wife of Jupiter)Mars Ares (god of war)Neptune Poseidon (god of the sea)Pluto Hades (god of the underworld)Venus Aphrodite (goddess of love and beauty)

Slaves, Bread, and Circusesp. 101

1. some slaves became gladiators2. most of Rome barely had the necessities of life – most were unemployed and had to be

supported by the government with rations of grain3. to distract and control the people, the government provided free games, races, mock battles

and gladiator contests4. the Colosseum – a huge arena that could hold 50,000 people5. the Circus Maximus – held chariot races

The Colosseum

Colosseum

Gladiators

Colosseum

Gladiators

Circus Maximus

Expansion of the Roman Empire