rome although the hellenistic age was coming to an end, as the romans conquered much of the...

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



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



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

Sec II: Rome Expands

Through warfare and alliances, the Romans greatly expanded

their control.

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



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.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Rome under Caesar



Fall of Caesar

• Caesar reduces power of Senate

• Senate fears Caesar’s power and ambition

• On Ides of March - March 15 - Caesar’s friends Brutus and Cassius murder Caesar on the Senate floor



rome although the hellenistic age was coming to an end, as the romans conquered much of the...

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