Chapter 7: the romansThe Rise and Fall of Empire

(750 BC – 500 AD)

I. The Rise of Rome

A. The Land and Peoples of Italy: Geography* Med. Sea… Apennines… farmland* Early peoples: Romans, Greeks, Latins, Etruscans

B. The Roman Republic (509 BC – 264 BC)1. The Conquest of Italy

* 509: overthrew Etruscan king: est. republic* Officials were chosen by the people* Begin conquest of Italy… set up Roman

Confederation

I. The Rise of Rome

B. The Roman Republic2. Structuring the Republic

* Legislature: Senate, patricians, plebeians

* Executive: Consuls, dictator* Judicial: praetors

I. The Rise of Rome

B. The Roman Republic3. Why was Rome so successful?

* Good Diplomats* Good Military Strategists* Political Institutions: Republic

I. The Rise of Rome

C. The Punic Wars (264—146 BC)“Carthage must be destroyed!” -- Cato* First Punic War * Second Punic War: Hannibal * Third Punic War: New Wisdom * Significance: Med Sea control; begin policy of

expansion/imperialism which creates class conflict

I. The Rise of Rome

D. The Struggle of the Orders: Patrician v. Plebeian1. What was it? Why? Who plebeians?2. Reforms: Assembly & Tribunes

* Class conflicts continue…E. Roman Law

1. Law of the 12 Tables2. Law of Nations

II. From Republic to Empire A. Growing Inequality & Unrest

1. Farmers• Burdened by heavy taxes to

support wars• Use of slave labor hurt small

farmers• Latifundia: large estates • Turned into a landless , poor

class• Came to city for jobs: no

luck• “Bread & Circuses”

2. Aristocrats• Came to dominate Rome

and the Senate• Senate: corrupt• Threatened by any attempts

at reform• Greed and self-interest

replaced “Roman” virtues• Ex: Tiberius & Gaius

Gracchus

II. From Republic to Empire

A. Growing Inequality & Unrest

3. Army*Swore allegiance to their general, not the Senate

*Old legions (basic military unit) became less like citizen-soldiers

* More like professional soldiers who first loyalty was to their commander

*Gave generals enormous power

*Generals w/ political ambitions… would fight against each other

II. From Republic to Empire

B. The Collapse of the Republic

1. The First Triumvirate and Emergence of Caesar

* Formed “tri” to end civil war/ power struggle

* Crassus, Pompey, Julius Caesar

2. Caesar’s Appointment as Dictator

* 47 BC: “Cross the Rubicon”: took control

*44 BC: Made dictator for life

C. Julius Caesar•Gave public land to the poor and veterans•Increased the Senate (900)•Reformed tax system•Created public jobs•Paid govt debts •Created more accurate calendar (Julian calendar)•Allowed conquered to become citizens•Assassinated by Brutus and Cassius•“Et tu, Brutus?”

II. From Republic to Empire

D. The Age of Augustus

1. The Second Triumvirate* Octavian, Marc Antony, Lepidus

* Battle of Actium: defeats Antony & Cleopatra

* Senate: titles: “Augustus” & “Imperator”

* Begins the Roman Empire!

2. As Emperor

• Conquered new areas for Rome • Established the Praetorian Guard• Built granaries to supply wheat to the

city• Established a postal service and fire

department• Created new jobs through public

works • Build new roads and cities

(infrastructure!) [Pax Romana]• Restored the family order :

paterfamilias• Supported arts and literature: Virgil• “I found Rome a city of bricks and

left it a city of marble.” [GA!]

II. From Republic to Empire

D. The Age of Augustus

3. Pax Romana• Augustus: emperor for 56 years.• Reign began period known as “Pax Romana”, or “Roman

Peace.”• Army: maintained / guarded roads/ borders.• Stable government (most of the time) and a prosperous

economy

“Go on, my friend, and fear nothing; you carry Caesar and his fortune in your boat.”

II. From Republic to Empire

E. The Good Emperors1. Julio-Claudian Emperors: Successors of Augustus

* Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero

2. Characteristics of 5 “Good” Emperors

* Peace, prosperity; tolerant; public works*Trajan: extended Roman rule*Hadrian: law; Hadrian’s Wall*Marcus Aurelius: “Philosopher King”

F. The Extent of the Roman Empire•Height: Roman power extended throughout Italian peninsula, Med. Sea, S.Europe, BR, Asia Minor•People had to accept Roman leadership, pay taxes, and supply soldiers for the Roman army.•Rome let them keep own customs, local govt•Extended to some the option of Roman citizenship•Accept Emperor: god

II. From Republic to Empire

G. Economy & Trade

1. Took over trade routes throughout Med. Sea; “Mare Nostrum”

2. Roads: promoted trade/ brought in wealth

3. Silk Road: intercontinental trading system b/w China and the Med. Sea; 4000 miles

4. Silk , tea moved west; muslin, glass, food to China

5. Infrastructure: canals, bridges, drainage systems, aqueducts

6. Public works created jobs: temples, markets, bathes, theaters, govt buildings, amphitheaters

II. From Republic to EmpireH. Roman Society

1. Women• Roman women: larger role than Greek women• Could own property, run a business, divorce, education• Supported the arts or paid for public festivals• Most worked at home, raised their families, engaged in

spinning and weaving• Patrician women who went to public bathes, dined out, and

attended theater w/ their husbands.

II. From Republic to EmpireH. Roman Society

2. Education• Girls and boys from upper and lower classes all learned to

read and write• Wealthy Romans would hire private tutors, usually Greeks• Memorized major events in Roman history• Rhetoric: important if wanted to pursue political careers

II. From Republic to EmpireH. Roman Society

3. Religion• Adapted from Greek religion• Roman calendar: feasts/celebrations : honor the gods / goddess • Insure divine favor for the city• Gave Romans a sense of community… unifying force in

Roman society• Religion, combined w/ Roman values of loyalty, courage, and

respect, defined what it meant to be a Roman citizen

II. From Republic to EmpireI. Slavery “Every slave we own….”• Slaves common in ancient world, but used extensively here• Foreigners captured in war… used as cooks, farmers, builders

(roads, etc)• Greeks: tutors, artists, doctors• Lived under harsh conditions• Always a threat of rebellion (Spartacus)

III. Roman Achievements

A. Greco-Roman Civilization: Sheet

III. Roman Achievements: Literature

Epics• Virgil: wrote Aeneid.• Tried to show that Rome’s

past was as heroic as Greece.

• Wrote soon after Augustus came to power.

• Hoped it would arouse patriotism and help unit Rome after years of civil war.

Satire• Made fun of Roman

society.• Horace: playful wit to

attack human folly.• Juvenal and Martial:

more biting; had to use fictitious names to protect from retribution.

III. Roman Achievements: History & Philosophy

History• Livy: sought to arouse

patriotic feelings and restore traditional Roman virtues by telling of Rome’s past.

• Tacitus: wrote bitterly about Augustus’ successor who he believed destroyed Rome’s liberty.

Philosophy

Stoicism• Borrowed from Greeks.• Impressed Roman thinkers,

especially Aurelius.• Stressed the importance of

duty and accepting one’s fate.

• Concern for the well being of all people.

• Similar to Christianity.

III. Roman Achievements

C. Roman Art & Architecture*Based on Greek and Etruscan styles

*Sculptures expressed realism …

*Some Roman art was more idealistic than realistic (ex: Augustus).

* Art used to beautify homes: frescoes or mosaics.

* Greeks went for simple elegance, Romans went for grandeur.

*Monuments to Roman power and dignity.

*Known for their columns, arches, domes.

Pantheon Temple that honors the Roman Gods

Colosseum•Great example of Roman love of grandeur.•50,000 spectators.•Combined Greek decorative traditions w/ Roman engineering •Used concrete as a building material.•Note: arches

Science and Mathematics

• Romans excelled in engineering: application of science and math to develop useful structures and machines.

• Engineers built roads, bridges, harbors throughout empire

• Outlasted the empire and can still be seen today

• Generally left scientific research to the Greeks, but put science to practical use

Aqueducts•Bridge-like stone structures that carried water from hills to Roman cities•Need to improve water supply to cities increased as population increased•Developed a massive network of aqueducts that crossed uneven terrain•Wealthy people had water piped in•Almost every city had public bathes where people gathered together to wash & gossip!

III. Roman Achievements

E. Roman Law• Greatest Legacy of Rome was its commitment to the

rule of law and justice• Created unity and stability throughout Empire• Would become the basis for the legal systems

throughout the world, including the US• Included the Law of the Twelve Tables and the Law

of Nations

III. Roman Achievements

E. Roman Law: Roman Legal Principles

• Person presumed innocent until proved guilty• Accused was allowed to face the accuser and offer a defense

against the charge.• Guilt had to be established “clearer than daylight” using

solid evidence.• Judges were allowed to interpret the laws and were expected

to make fair decisions.• Penalties varied according to social class; lower class

defendants were treated harsher.** See Chart**