Rome
Although the Hellenistic Age was coming to an end, as the Romans conquered much of the Mediterranean, the influence of the Greeks lived on in Roman culture.
Roman Republic: The Land
• Alps to the north• Adriatic Sea to the East• Mediterranean Sea to
the West and South• Ideal location to control
trade from the eastern and western halves of the Med.
• Long coastline made it open to attack
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Roman Republic: The beginning
• In mid 700’s BC the Latins moved into west-cetral Italy
• The settlers built villages along Tiber River that eventually became Rome
• Rome was under the control of the Etruscan Kings– From the Etruscans came a written
language
Rome: Strategic Location
• Built on 7 hills along the Tiber River
• 15 miles inland• Protected from sea
invasion• The center of trade
routes on the Italian Peninsula
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Roman Republic
• 509 BC wealthy landowners overthrow the Etruscans
• Republic is formed - form of gov’t in which voters elect officials to run the state
• Only adult males citizens were entitled to vote and to take office
• 3 Important offices in gov’t - Senate, Magistrates, popular assemblies
Senate
• Most influential governing body in Rome
• In time of trouble the Senate could name a dictator for a six month term– He had complete
control of army and courts
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Magistrates: Elected Officials
• Consuls - Two individuals elected for 1 yr terms (ran the gov’t)– Could veto - or refuse acts of other consul– Checks and Balances - This prevented any on part
of gov’t from getting to powerful
• Praetors - commanded armies and oversaw legal system
• Censors - helped oversea human behavior– Ensured that people acted morally
Assemblies
• Several assemblies existed in Rome
• Elected 10 Tribunes
• Tribunes - had power over the Senate– If tribune believed actions were not in
public interest, they could refuse to approve them.
Social Statuses
• Two classes in Roman Society• Patricians - powerful landowners who were
descendants of original Roman founders– Controlled the Gov’t Early on
• Plebians - made up of majority of the population & were usually farmers or workers– Had few rights early on but over time won same
rights as Patricians
• 12 Tables - engravement of Roman Laws that was placed in the Forum
Rome vs. Carthage
• Rome controlled Italian Peninsula by the 3rd Century BC
• Carthage controlled much of north africa, Sardinia, and Corsica
• Both had their eyes on Sicily
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1st Punic War
• Began in 264 BC• Rome w/ powerful army
vs. Carthage w/ powerful navy
• Romans eventually successful after building large navy
• Romans made Carthage give up Sicily and large sums of money.
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2nd Punic War
• Carthage wanted revenge on the Romans
• Led by Hannibal - one of the greatest generals of all time– Conquers Spain– Launches invasion of
Italy overland
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2nd Punic War cont’d
• Hannibal marches army across Alps
• Ravages Rome for almost 20 years
• Romans suffer humiliating defeat at the Battle of Cannae– Two roman armies are
annihilated
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2nd Punic War Cont’d
• Rome finally turns the tables on Carthage• Roman General Scipio invades Spain and
then Carthage• Hannibal called back to defend the Capital• Hannibal defeated by Scipio at Zama
– The only battle hannibal didn’t outnumber Romans in calvary
Peace Treaty and the end of Carthage
• Carthage forced forced to pay money again and give up its colonies in Spain
• Macedonia was also allied with Carthage and was crushed– The province came under Roman protection
• Third Punic War – 149 BC Rome declares war– 146 BC the city is destroyed
Roman Expansion and Problems
• Rome was now master of the Mediterranean• New territories called provinces
– Administered by greedy governors– Overtaxed the provinces
• Romans had problems at home– Many soldiers found their farms destroyed when they returned
home and did not have enough $ to start over– Many farmers lost land and moved to cities– Those who could not find money depended on gov’t for food– Equites - increased trade allowed new class of business
owner to flourish– Gap b/w rich and poor grows
Sec. III: Birth of the Empire
Bitter political power struggles w/in the Roman Republic led to
the creation of the Empire
Gracchus Brothers
• Brothers Tiberius and Gaius
• Attempted Social reform– Food for farmer-soldiers
returning home from war
• Both were tribunes • Tiberius murdered by
Senators in 133 BC• Gaius killed by riot in
122 BC
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Social Wars
• Rome’s relation with provincial allies was in a crisis
• They had fought for Rome against Carthage and Macedon
• Wanted to be able to hold office like Roman citizens
• Civil war breaks out – It is called the Social War , from the Latin word
socius, meaning “ally”
Outcome and Reforms
• Rome wins but grants allies citizenship
• Gaius Marius - Roman general reforms army makes it volunteers
• These “private” armies weaken the republic
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Republic in Chaos
• Armies now more loyal to General than to Senate or Country
• Lucius Cornelius Sulla uses his “private army” to make himself dictator
• He does restore power to Senate – But now an army
commander can make the Senate do his bidding
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Rise of Caesar
• Julius Caesar was a popular general during his time
• He was a nephew of Marius and a powerful public speaker
• Spent a great deal of money supporting the poor
• His ambition was to rule Rome
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1st Triumvirate
• Caesar, Gnaeus Pompey, and Licinius Crassus form political alliance = 1st Triumvirate
• Caesar becomes consul– Knew he needed a loyal army– Gets special command of Gaul and conquers the
region (modern France)– Crassus dies and Pompey (now consul) orders
Caesar back to Rome w/out his army
• Caesar crosses the Rubicon w/ his Army
Caesar Triumphant
• Pompey flees Rome to Greece to raise an army against Caesar
• Pompey defeated• Caesar marches on Egypt and put Cleopatra
on the throne– Egypt now a Roman ally
• Returns to Rome triumphant and popular• Senate with threat from Caesar’s army makes
Caesar Dictator for life