Geography

• Few natural resources• Although coastline extensive, few

natural harbors – limited seafaring skills• Predominantly agricultural – Plains of

Latium• Land open to invasion / farmer-soldiers

The Etruscans

• Dominated central and northern Italian Peninsula

• Confederation of city-states

• Flourishing trade with the East

• Alphabet based on Greek- not totally decipherable

• Great respect for women

The Etruscans

• Influences on RomeThe ArchThe VaultGladiator combat

(funeral rite)Studying animal

entrails

Early Greek Influences

• Greek colonies on peninsula / Sicily

• Influences include:ReligionAlphabetCrops- grapes and

olives

The Origins of Rome

• Indo-Europeans 2,000-1,000 BCE

• City-state of Rome founded 753 BCE

• Tiber River / Seven Hills of Rome

• Strategic importance

The Origins of Rome

• Romulus and Remus

• Rape of the Sabine Women

Origins 3:54

The History of Rome

• Roman history in three major political phases:The Kingdom (753-507)- Traditionally, rule

by seven kings from Romulus to Tarquinius Superbus

The Republic (507-31)- Rule by Senate, Consuls, Assemblies, and dictators

The Empire (31 BCE – 476 CE)- Rule by emperors

The Kingdom

• Senate (Senex- “old man”)- Council of elders (clan chiefs)

• Possible veto power over king

• Tarquinius Superbus (Etruscan)

• Etruscan construction

The Kingdom

• The Rape of Lucretia

• Patriotic Myths• Suspicion of

monarchy• Etruscans absorbed

by growing Roman state

The Rape of Lucretia

The Republic

• Territorial expansion and warfare (Sabines, Samnites, etc)

• Use of diplomacy and citizenship

• Cincinnatus• The ideal of the

Virtuous Citizen

Rome’s Military 8:29

The Republic

• Class structure Patrician- wealthy,

landowning families from origins of Rome

Plebeians- farmers, soldiers, merchants; could vote

Intermarriage forbidden until fourth century BCE

Slaves• Power struggle / civil war

between Patricians and Plebeians throughout Republic period

The Republic

• Roman Republican BureaucracySenate- “old” prestigious families; Patricians;

oligarchyConsuls (x2)- executive; leaders in battlePraetors- administered lawsQuaestors- administered treasuryTribune (x10)- protected rights of Plebeians

• Until fourth century BCE, officials drawn from Patrician class only

The Republic

• Roman Legislative Bodies The Senate - composed

of 300 Patricians; served for life; advised the government

The Centuriate Assembly - based on classes; elected officials; passed laws

The Council of the Plebs - formed in 471 BCE; In 287 BCE its laws were binding on all citizens

The Punic Wars

• Series of three wars with Carthage (264-146 BCE)

• Dominance in Mediterranean• First Punic War

Conflict over Greek and Carthaginian colonies in southern Italy / Sicily

Sicily absorbed by RomeThe Corvus

The Punic Wars

• Second Punic WarRoman

interference in Carthaginian Spain

HannibalCrossing of AlpsBattle of Lake

TrasimeneBattle of CannaeBattle of Zama

Second Punic War

The Punic Wars

• Cato – “Carthage must be destroyed”

• New Roman province of North Africa

• Breadbasket of Rome• Roman conquest of

Macedonia and Greece

• Gift of Pergamum

The Punic Wars 14:20

Social Unrest and Revolt

• Decline of small farms and rise of large landowners

• Migration of landless poor to Rome

• Rise of commercial farming – latifunda

• Labor market versus slavery

• Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus

Rise of the Roman Republic 8:22

Social Unrest and Revolt

• Marius – oath / landless poor

• Sulla Seized Rome with

military (82 BCE) Civil War Abolished all assemblies

except Senate Set precedent of violent

political action

Marius

Sulla

Social Unrest and Revolt

• Emergence of the First Triumvirate Julius Caesar, Crassus,

Pompey Crassus killed by Parthians

53 BCE

Senate support of Pompey versus Caesar

Crossing the Rubicon – civil war

Defeat of Pompey Caesar made dictator 47 BCE

Julius Caesar

Social Unrest and Revolt

• Caesar initiates reforms

• Adopts Egyptian solar calendar – Julian Calendar with 365 days

• Senate fears monarchy

• Caesar assassinated 44 BCE

The assassination of Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar and Rhine Bridge 10:11

The End of the Republic

• The Second Triumvirate Octavian, Marc Antony, Lepidus

• Civil war - conspirators defeated

• Rome divided / ruled by Octavian and Antony

• Antony and Cleopatra• Battle of Actium• Deaths of Antony and

Cleopatra

The death of Cleopatra

Empire

• Octavian “restores” power to the Senate

• Awarded titles of Augustus and imperator

• Expands into Balkans, Germany

• Establishes Praetorian Guard

Caesar Augustus (Octavian)

Empire

• Julio-Claudian DynastyAugustusTiberiusCaligulaClaudiusNero

NeroNero 12:32

The Five Good Emperors

• (96 – 180 CE)NervaTrajan HadrianAntoninus PiusMarcus Aurelius

Nerva Trajan

Hadrian

Antoninus Pius

Marcus Aurelius

Trajan 8:29

Roman Engineering

A lasting legacy

Roman baths were used as meeting places where one could not only bathe but eat, conduct business, and be entertained

Roman aqueducts provided as much fresh water to Roman citizens as is provided today

Water was taken from mountain sources and moved along underground and aboveground channels using the force of gravity

A fountain could be found at the terminus of each aqueduct to release its pressure

Water 6:57

Roman Roads 3:10

Hadrian’s Wall - Hadrian put the empire into a defensive mode

To facilitate the transport of trade goods, the Romans constructed a port at Portus bypassing the inadequate Ostia

Python Roman Adv 1:59

Empire

• Romans promoted cultural unity through the Latin language, Roman law, and citizenship

• 212 CE - Emperor Caracalla made all free people within the empire citizens

Forum & Latin 1:44 Python Latin 1:46

Roman Law

• Roman law was based on the Twelve Tables set in 450 BCE

• Law dealt with both citizen and non-citizen – evolved into Law of Nations

• Standards included Innocent until proven guiltyRight to a defense before a judgeResponsibility of judge to weigh evidence before

rendering verdict

Roman Life

• Wealth gap• Wealth stimulated

long-distance trade (India, China)

• Rise of land estates - commercial farming – work done by slaves

Roman Feast 13:09

• City of Rome – landless poor

• “Insulae”

• Unemployment versus slavery

• Paterfamilias

• Rights of Father – early versus late Rome

• Rights of women – early versus late Rome

Access to public buildings

Greek Influences on Late Rome

• Post-Conquest: removal of Greek art and literature

• Popularity of Greek slaves• Popularity of Greek philosophy / religion

(Stoicism)• Transmission of Greek culture• “Captive Greece took captive her rude

conqueror” Horace

Bread and Circuses

• Free bread and entertainment• Political advantages

Colosseum

10:46

Slavery

• Slavery in nearly all areas of Roman life• Some measure of freedom• Cost benefits of slavery• Slave revolts – Spartacus (73 BCE)

70,000 slaves • Impact of slavery on technological

development

Slavery

• “War is business” – Generals as slavers

• Julius Caesar – 58,000 slaves from one battle

1 / 13:13

2 / 18:37

3 / 12:26

Roman Religion

• Based on Greek gods• Paterfamilias – daily

offerings to Vesta (goddess of the home)

• Emperors often proclaimed gods to gain support from masses

• Romans usually tolerant of other religions

Vestal Virgin

Rome and the Jews

• Judea - Roman province in 6 CE

• Sadducees favored Roman rule

• Zealots – nationalists – advocated violent overthrow of Roman rule

• 66 CE – Zealots begin revolt

Judean Uprising 4:32 Python Stoning 2:31

Rome and the Jews

• Masada• Sack of Jerusalem

(Ark)• Judea under total

Roman control• The Jewish

Diaspora (80 CE)

Rome and Christianity

• Political climate when Jesus preached

• Roman Procurator Pontius Pilate

• Peter and Paul of Tarsus – Christianity a Jewish sect?

• Use of Roman roads• New Testament- writings

between 40-100 CE

• Importance of JerusalemPilate “washing” his hands

Rise of Christianity 2:02

Rome and Christianity

• Persecution sporadic – based on perceived threat to state

• Nero - first persecution • Church developed

organizational structure with salaried priests and bishops

• Christianity widespread by 300’s CE

• Fulfilled need to belong, personal salvation

Feeding Christians to the animals

Rome and Christianity

• Last great persecution under Diocletian in fourth century CE

• Constantine – first Christian emperor

• Edict of Milan• Christianity made state

religion under Theodosius the Great (378 – 395 CE)

ConstantineConstantine 3:05

Rome’s Decline and Fall

• Barracks Emperors• Loss in population due to plague, famine,

decrease in agricultural production• Shrinking revenues – debasement of coins,

hereditary occupations• Military defeats – inroads by Germanic tribes• Population soft, corrupt, decadent• Sharing of power – Tetrarchy for short period

beginning with Diocletian

West East

The empire was split between two emperors each assisted by two “Caesars”

Constantinople

Rome’s Decline and Fall

• East eclipsed West in wealth – shift in political power

• Huns and Germanic tribes

• Emperor Romulus Augustulus deposed 476 CE

• West disintegrates – East survives as Byzantine Empire

The sack of Rome

Decline 1 / 12:23 Decline 2 / 18:06