RomePart I

History of RomePre-Republic:

Immigration, Interaction & Monarchy

1. 1000 BCE – Nomadic Indo-European tribes

2. 800 BCE – Magna Grecia Interaction w/Greek colonists Ag, trade, religion, literature, other ideas

3. Etruscan Monarchy753-509 BCE

Migrated from Anatolia, settled in Tuscany

Mediterranean trade, built sophisticated cities

Fall: Roman Aristocrats took control, building a “Republic”

B. Republic: 509 BCE – 27 BCE

• Rome = City state – Political, Civic, Trade, Religious center

• Reaction vs. Monarchy: – Rule of WRITTEN LAW & ARISTOCRACY– Lasted 500 yrs!!

• Conquered Greek colonies in Italy…and kept on going…

This is Not Classical Rome

Rivers,Mountains, Sea

ROME

Magna Grecia

1. Innovations in Government

1. Written Law 2. Government 3. Social Classes4. Roman Citizenship5. Gender Roles, Family Relations, and the Law6. Slaves and the Law

1. Written LawA. Twelve Tables – c. 450 BC

Centerpiece of the Constitution of Rome

Foundation of all subsequent Western Civil and Criminal Law

Principle of Written Law

B. Court System

• Criminal Law

• Civil Law – System for injured persons to seek just compensation in civil disputes

C. CLASS PROTECTIONS– Plebeians protected from abuses by Patricians, especially in enforcement of debts:

• Innocent until proven guilty• Right to challenge accuser in a court of law

• Judges could set aside inequitable laws• Public prosecution of crimes

– Patricians Protected - Preservation of Property (of Aristocrats) paramount!

serious punishment for theft

D. PROTECTED SOCIAL STATUS • PATERFAMILIAS -

Male head of Family Enormous social & legal power:

“The father had complete power over his children, adopted children, and all those in his male line, whatever their age. He even had the right to inflict capital punishment, and the right to their property... “

Roman Social Hierarchy

• Senators – appointed by Consuls/Censors; Patricians– Elder Statesmen, Landowners… Togas w purple stripe

• Patricians– Educated Landowners, aristocrats (togas)– Could not engage in Commerce (that is for plebes); Could lead armies

• Equestrians– Cavalry in Army, Sons of Senators before qualified to enter Senate– Educated, Commercial Class– Later, Augustus would use them for his Civil Service

• Plebeians– Commoners: worked on farms, had own businesses, foot soldiers, eligible for

Plebeian assemblies, Tribunes… gained more political rights and power as time passed.

• Freedmen – Their children would be Citizens• Slaves

– Manumission– Could not serve in the Army

Segregation of Classes Ie: Marriage prohibited between plebeian/slave and patrician

RULE of the ARISTOCRACY, NOT the masses!

RULE by PATRIARCHS,NOT all men!

Complex Government Structure

Roman Republic

A. Two Consuls shared “Imperium” civil and military power chief magistrates

– Must first serve as Senator– Must first serve abroad, usually military – 42+ years old

–VETO – neither could act without agreement of the other

• Served only one year; could re-elect

– Must return to Senate AFTER serve as Consul

2. Government of the Republic

B. Assembly

• 1 year terms• Elect Consuls• Judged criminal trials

What body does this resemble in the US government?

C. SENATE• Aristocrats with extensive experience in Government (“senex” means “old man”)

• Controlled money, administration, and the details of foreign policy – Ratified all major decisions of government – Advised Consuls – Appointed officials to govern provinces, – Appropriated funds for building projects, etc. – Oversight of Roman Religion– Sent & received ambassadors, declared war & peace– Could name a Dictator in case of emergency- Prosecution and defense attorneys in Criminal Trials.

Roman Senate• Average: 600 at a time• Seated for LIFE– Right to speak, vote. – Patrician, Wealthy (some married

money) • Landowners, NOT merchants

– Served abroad already– At least 32 (later 25)

Reminds us of what body US Government? Which of their duties?

Republican Form of Government

“The Struggle of the ‘Orders’”• Tension, Riots… • Plebeians vs. Patricians• Plebes (people) wanted some social & political equality; Patricians tried to retain all power

• Patricians needed Plebeians:– Soldiers – Farm workers supplied food– Labor force kept economy going

“The Senate and People of ROME”D. Other Assemblies created at various levels of society / government …• Comitia

– Assembly of all Roman Citizens– Enact laws, try cases, elect

magistrates

• Concilium – assemblies of select groups of people, ie:– Plebeian Council – commoner’s

affairs– Tribal Assembly– Century Assembly– Neighborhood Assemblies

• Conventio– Unofficial forum for discussion

E. TribunesRepresented Plebeian interests in government• Originally 2 10• Sat against wall on floor of Senate• Sacrosanct• Could convene Senate & lay matters before it• Elected by Comitia Tributa (Tribal Assembly- all

the people of Rome)

• Had VETO of ALL political matters, except military – Senate proceedings, laws, court decisions, trade rulings….

• Patricians still dominated – Bribery, threats, etc.

3. Roman Citizenship

• Eligible: –Legitimate SONS of legal Roman marriages

• Privileges & Protections - Various classes of citizen existed – here some rights of most classes of Roman Citizen- Right to:– Vote, and Stand for office.– Make Contracts & Own Property.– Legal marriage, and be Paterfamilias. – Immunity from some taxes and responsibilities.– Sue in court of law, right to appeal. – Join Roman Legion - but could not marry while a soldier,

or children were illegitimate.

More Rights of Roman Citizens

• Could not be tortured, whipped, or receive death penalty (except for treason).

• Right to be tried in the City of Rome for any offense

• No Roman citizen could be sentenced to the Cross.

5. Gender Roles

• PATERFAMILIAS - Male head of Family Enormous social & legal power:– Exposure– Marriage / Divorce • Patria Potestas- “Power of the Father” • In Manus

Roman Women• Married Women Held in High Regard

– No voting or office holding – Could inherit & own property– Could go wherever they wanted, with higher class

women dressed more modestly.– Subject to Paterfamilias in all things.– Materfamilias duties.

• Oppian Law - 216 BCE– Many men died during 1st Punic War many rich

wards, widows, daughters.– Government confiscated most of their gold. – Women could not wear elegant clothing, including

purple trimmed robes (symbol of mourning) nor ride in carriages.

Female Fury in the Forum

• After 2nd Punic War: 201 BCE– Only women in city of Rome still restricted.– Women protested in the streets of Rome until the

ban on luxuries was lifted, and their money was restored to them.

6. Slavery in Rome 33 – 40 % of population• Rural slaves on Latifundia / Mines

– Subhuman treatment – chained in teams– Spartacus’ Uprising – 73 BCE

• Escaped slave led 70,000 slave revolt.• Put down by 40,000 well-equipped Roman soldiers.

• Urban Slaves – better lives & chance of MANUMISSION– Special talents, education comfortable.– Women – domestics.– Manumission after 30 years; not mandatory.– While slave could be sold, punished, married, executed.

Change to Government Over Time:Broadening of Power Base…300’s CE

• Plebeians could hold more offices, including one of the consulships!

• Consul system became PROCONSULS, with longer terms in office.

• DICTATOR – in times of crisis - 6 months +/-

Roman Military and Conquest

1. Conquest Mare Nostrum

2. Land and Wealth ProblemsLatifundia, Distribution, Barracks Cities…

3. Political problems, Military problems… 4. Civil War!

Punic Wars (3)

Significance of Punic Wars:

MARE NOSTRUM!!• Rome Expanded all over Mediterranean– Trade first– Shut out all other trading & military powers- Conquer if necessary!

• Roman cultural diffusion– Law, Technologies– Roads, Aqueducts…

Result of Roman military conquest: EMPIRE!

Iberian Peninsula

Mare Nostrum

Roman Military Expansion• Conquest in all directions, all the

time, bit by bit!– Pervasive Military society… participation, glorifying,

participation as pre-requisite… – “state of siege mentality.”

• Treatment of Conquered Peoples… – Ruled through local elites & institutions, IF POSSIBLE

– governed own internal affairs.– Not treated as vanquished subjects– Often initially exempted them from taxation– Could trade in Rome, marry Roman citizens– Over time, some gained citizenship & even political

office…

Centurion

Roman “Triumph”

The TortoiseRoman Legion:

Professional Standing Army: Heavy Infantry

Abroad: Military Expansion & Glory

But At Home: … Domestic Problems

Poor Getting Poorer…

1. Land Distribution –LATIFUNDIA – Conquered lands

Plantations for Elites– Slave Labor, Economies of Scale lower costs & higher

profits. – Smaller farmers forced to sell out as could not compete.– Small local farmers displaced & out of work city of Rome

–Gracchi Brothers – social reformers• Tried to limit amount of conquered land to any one

individual • Assassinated by elites

2. High Inflation!!

• Roman Currency devalued high rate of inflation!

• Rich could weather it, but inflation destroyed the poor – now they could not afford the things they could afford before

Military Expansion Abroad… Domestic Problems at Home

3. Political Problems– Weaker Senate - Political infighting did not

allow for necessary changes

– Policies reflected only urban Roman Patrician interests, not interests of the society as a whole

– Constitution outdated – Did not address the modern situation• Meant for a smaller city state, not a growing

empire • New and changing social structure • MUCH LARGER POPULATION

Domestic Problems… Military Expansion

4. Power of Generals / Military Increased– Backing of Generals with

personal armies necessary to get and maintain power

– Landless rural & urban poor owed allegiance to their GENERAL, not to the state!

A Crumbling Republic…Gave Rise to an EMPIREAs the Constitutional Power Structure Broke Down…

Political Crisis with a Military Answer

• First Triumvirate: –Power coalition to get the most response/trust

from the people… – 1 Senator & 2 Generals to rule Rome –

Crassus, Pompey, …Gaius Julius Caesar

Yes, Caesar!!

Gaius Julius Caesar

Gaius Julius Caesar• Nephew of Marius• Noble Family, but poor• Worked his way up - Cunning, sly, hard

working– Married Rich Woman– Senator– Pontifex Maximus

• Used the power of the masses!!!

• Expanded Empire WEST: Gaul– “I had rather be first in Gaul than second

in Rome”– History of the Gallic Wars– “I came, I saw, I conquered”

Time to Return to Rome in TRIUMPH!• “The Die is Cast”• “Crossing the Rubicon.”

Gaius Julius Caesar• “Dictator for Life”• Cleopatra – foreign queen• Military Imperial form of government• Great Entertainments for the poor• Building Projects to give work to

urban poor• Extended Roman Citizenship to people in Imperial Provinces enraged elite• Assassinated 45 BCE 13 years chaos & civil war

2nd Triumvirate • Octavian (Good PR)– "Divi filius" (Caesar's

deification as Divus Julius); – "Imperator Caesar" – Married to Antony’s

stepdaughter

• Antony (Bad PR)– Children with Cleopatra– Married to Octavia

• Lepidus – – Wishy-washy– expelled from Triumvirate by

Octavian

“Caesar Augustus”

• “Princeps” – “first among equals”

“A Monarchy Disguised as a Republic”

“Age of Augustus”

3. Roman Empire

Classical Rome

Order from Chaos

• RETURNED • STABILITY to Rome

“Traditional Roman Family Values:”

1. New Civil Laws

Lex Julia– Legislated strict traditionalism for Roman families

• His own daughter banished for breaking social laws

–Paterfamilias – supported immense authority over household & family: arranged marriages, determined work, punishment, sell into slavery, execute them…

–Women – wielded influence within family – esp in social matters & choosing mates for children; veiled if left house; supervised family business in absence of husband

Upper Classes liked this

2. Standardization• Civil Law• Coinage, • Calendar…

• But religiously tolerant – ie: Jews & Egyptians

Large Empire Needs This

3. Radically Reformed Government“Monarchy Disguised as a Republic:”– Allowed elections, but rigged the

outcome– Best candidates into office, not most

popular– Many plebeians entered office

• Civil Service – Bureaucracy– Intelligent, less ambitious virtuous

men in charge of provinces - EQUESTRIANS

• Augustus himself controlled Rome politically & militarilyHAD to do it to Bring Needed CHANGE!!!

4. Extension of Citizenship

• Extended Roman citizenship to ALL ITALIANS!

• Gave retiring soldiers land to farm (as Julius Caesar had done)

… where did he get the land?

Popular or UNPOPULAR?

5. Professional Army• Built ARMY loyal ONLY TO THE EMPEROR• Rome & provinces - police state?

Mare Nostrum Guaranteed secure SEA & LAND TRAVEL for:• Military• Merchants• Immigration encouraged• Communication• Religious pilgrimage & travel• Roman colonization• Military presence spread language, culture…

PAX ROMANA

PAX ROMANA

“Integrated Mediterranean Economy”Specialization of trade for Export by Latifundia owners- ie:• Gaul – Grain, copper,

began to produce wine• Spain- high quality

olive oil, wine, horses, precious metals

• Italy – pottery, glassware, bronze ware

• Greece – Olive oil• Syria/Palestine – Fruit,

nuts, wool

PAX ROMANA: Urbanization! • Rapid Urbanization

throughout Empire– Invigorated existing cities, building new

ones• Wherever Romans garrisoned soldiers:

Paris, Cologne, Mainz, Toledo, Segovia, London …

• City of Rome BEAUTIFIED• Statues, fountains, pools, arches,

temples, baths, gymnasia, circuses, stadiums, amphitheaters

• FOR the URBAN MASSES

CULTURE IN CLASSICAL ROMESee Part II.. .