ANCIENT ROME

María Jesús Camposlearningfromhistory.wikispaces.com

THE ORIGINS OF ROME Roman civilization

started with the city of Rome.

It was located in the Italian Peninsula.

Rome was founded in the 8th century B.C. The Italian Peninsula was populated by Etruscans (in the north), Latins (in the centre) and Greeks (in the south).

Latins founded the city of Rome on the seven hills of the banks of the Tiber River.

The foundation of Rome according to mithology According to mithology, Romulus

and Remus, twin brothers founded the city of Rome.

Romulus and Remus were twin brothers born from princess Rhea Silvia and Mars, the god of war. Rhea Silvias’ father, the king was scared to be overthrown by the boys someday so he had the boys left in a basket on the River Tiver where they would probably die.

The twins were found by a she-wolf, who cared protected them and fed them. Eventually a sheperd found the twins and raised them as his own children.

When they grew they decided to found a city and eventually came to the place where Rome is located today. Romulus and Remus liked the spot but each wanted to place the city on a different hill. Romulus wanted the city to be on top of Palatine Hill while Remus preferred Aventine Hill. They fought and Romulus killed Remus.

With Remus dead, Romulus finished the city oficially founded on April 21, 753 BC. Making himself king and naming it Rome after himself.

POLITICAL EVOLUTION Political stages:

Monarchy: 753 BC. to 509 B.C. Republic: 509 B.C. to 27 B.C. Empire: 27 B.C. to 476 A.D.

MONARCHY 753 to 509 B.C. Rome was governed by

a king chosen among the most important families, the patricians.

A senate helped the king (assembly of the heads of the leading families)

In the 6th century, Rome was conquered by the Etruscans.

THE REPUBLIC 509 to 27 B.C. In 509 B.C. a revolt

deposed the Etruscan king and established a Republic.

Institutions: The Senate Comitias Magistratus

The Senate: formed by the patricians. Ratified laws, governed, decided foreign policy and finance.

Comitias: assemblies of Roman citizens who voted laws and elected magistrates.

Magistratus: held political, military and sometimes religious power. Elected for a year. The consuls (2) controlled political life and the army.

Society was divided into: Patricians: minority

formed by the richest and most powerful families that claimed to be descendants of the founders of Rome

Plebeians: the rest of the citizens.

At first, only patricians had political rights but after a revolt they obtained the right to participate in politics and be elected.

Territorial Expansion: Between 500 and 250 B.C. Rome

conquered the Italian Peninsula. Between 264 and 146 B.C., Rome

fought against Carthage (civilization north of Africa) for the control of the Mediterranean. Rome defeated them and won the Punic Wars.

Between the 2nd century BC and the 2nd century AD, the rromans conquered Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. They also completed the occupation of Hispania, Galia and Britannia and some provinces in central Europe.

At the end of the 1st century BC the Republic suffered a crisis because of: Corruption and

internal conflicts among politicians.

An extensive empire difficult to defend.

Social inequality between the rich and the poor citizens.

The crisis caused unrest among the population.

To prevent desorder the Senate and the magistrates gave a lot of power to the military commanders.

The military took the power away from the Senate and named themselves Dictators.

The first triumvirate of dictators was formed by Julius Caesar, Crassus and Pompey. Soon they fought each other.

Finally, Julius Caesar killed the other two and named himsel perpetual dictator. However, he was assassinated by supporters of the Republic in 44 BC.

After a second triunvirate formed by Mark Antony, Lepidus and Octavian.

Octavian, adopted son of Julius Caesar, overcame his rivals and conviced the Senate to give him maximum powers. This marked the end of the Republic and the foundation of the Empire.

The Empire 27 BC to 476 AD In 27 BC, Octavian

received the title of “Augustus” (chosen by the gods) from the Senate. With it, Octavian was obtaining maximum powers.

The emperor concentrated all the powers: Controled the

Senate Head of the

army Religious

leader: Imperial cult (god)

Executive, legislative and judidial power

During the 1st and the 2nd centuries A.D. the Roman Empire would be the most powerful, rich and prosperous civilization of the world.

Trade and economy increased.

Population grew. The Pax Romana

expanded.

During the Pax Romana few wars broke out. Rome controlled from the Iberian Peninsula to Persia, incluiding the coasts of the Mediterranean sea, the northern part of Africa, central Europe and England.

The extensive empire was organized in provinces, each one ruled by a governor who depended on the emperor.

The boundaries (limes) were protected by the Roman army.

Romanization expanded as all the territories controlled by Rome were considered part of the empire and its citizens Roman citizens (212 A.D.). Latin spread and Roman customs, laws, etc. spread throughout the territory.

At the beginning of the 3rd century, the Roman Empire suffered a crisis because of: A huge empire which was

expensive to defend Weak emperors who were

overcome by military leaders

The arrival of Germanic tribes, first peacefully and later in violent waves.

An economic crisis because of the lack of slaves that affected agriculture, the interruption of trade because of the attacks and the costs of the defense.

In 395, Emperor Theodosious dividided the empire among his two sons to better defend and control it: The Western

Roman Empire The Eastern

Roman Empire

The capital city of the Western Roman Empire was Rome.

The capital city of the Eastern Roman Empire was Constantinople.

Each part was governed by Emperor Theodousius’ sons, who depended on his orders.

Nevertheless, in the year 476 A.D. the last Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the ostrogoths, a Germanic Tribe.

The Eastern Roman Empire survived but it changed its name into the Byzantine Empire.

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