ROME Part I: The Republic

Part II: The Empire

The Origins of Rome :The Myth

Romulus and Remus

Why was it not called Reme?

The Truth (as we know it)• Earliest prehistoric

settlements (1000 B.C.)

3 groups influenced Rome

• Latin's shepherds, plains of Latium

• Greek colonies in Southern Italy

• Etruscans settlements in Northern Italy

• Founded on “the seven hills” of Rome

• Hills over a swamp!!!

Geography was important to Roman Success

• Rome was midway between the Alps and Sicily

• Rome was on a river near the Sea but not too near

• Rome was midway between Spain and the Middle East

• Rome was in the Middle of the Mediterranean Sea

Religions• Polytheistic• Many early gods

had no names but charged with taking care of daily things

• Took signs from nature, augury (auspices)

• Later Greek influences would give Rome a Greek Pantheon with Latin Names.

What are some Greek Gods that have Roman equivalents?

• Zeus• Poseidon• Hera• Hades• Chronos• Ares• Hepheastus• Aphrodite• Hermes

Social Organization Family• Gravitas

(seriousness, weightiness)

• Role of fathers was important, Patriarch

• Role of women was less important

Classes• Patricians - upper

class• Plebeians- lower

class• Slaves- Spoils of

War

Arete vs. Gravitas

• Compare the excerpt of Hector and his decision to fight Achilles on page 126.

• What would a Roman Hector do?

• Think Gravitas:

• Strength, Discipline, Tenacity, Loyalty, Pragmatism

Rome achieved a balanced government.

• Monarchy-2 elected consuls

• Aristocracy-Senate from patrician class

• Democracy-Election of Senators, and an assembly

• Dictatorship-only in crisis times

Roman Government

• Rome’s Government was balanced

• How does our government compare to theirs?

Roman Legion

•Rome’s military might was focused upon its Legionary Forces

•Infantry was tough and adaptable

•Infantry was augmented with Cavalry and Artillery

The plebeians fight for equality.

• Refused to Fight in the Army. . . • Office of the Tribunes created for the “Plebs’

– 10 elected officials to represent the plebeians in the Senate

– Protected the rights of the plebs• Twelve Tables – written law code; granted free

citizens protection from the government • Citizens’ Assemblies

– All adult, Roman males could attend and vote on representatives

Rome 265 B.C.

• Dominates the Italian Peninsula

• Conquered people were citizens but could not vote

• Allies – supplied Rome with troops

Rome’s Trade Empire

• Location made it easy to trade by land and sea

• Traded wine and olive oil for food, wood, granite, leather, etc.

• Rome wanted control of the Mediterranean Sea trade network

• Went to war with Carthage

Punic Wars – Rome vs. Carthage• Three separate wars• 1st war (264 – 241 B.C.)

– Rome won Sicily from Carthage

• 2nd war (218 – 202 B.C.)– Hannibal attacked Rome– Scipio defeats Hannibal at

the Battle of Zama

• 3rd war (149 – 146 B.C.)– Rome destroys Carthage– Sold 50,000 people to

slavery

Consequences of Punic Wars

• Rome loses many citizens

• Farms destroyed by Hannibal

• Rich corrupted and take advantage of poor

• Small farmers had to sell land to rich

• 25% of population were in poverty

First Triumvirate - Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus

• They dominate Roman politics • Crassus died. . . Pompey

became Caesar’s rival• Senate ordered Caesar to

return to Rome• 49 B.C. – Caesar returns with

army (war with Pompey)• 44 B.C. – Caesar became

dictator of Rome by force

Caesar tried to reform the government.

• Granted citizenship to the provinces outside of Italy

• Senate enlarged to 900 men (more plebs)

• Public works program (jobs for poor)

• Gave land to poor in colonies (Spain, France, Africa, etc.)

• Designed a new,accurate calendar (month of Julius)

• Increased pay for soldiers

• Caesar is popular and Senate is upset…

Caesar’s Assassination• March 15, 44 B.C. Caesar assassinated

in the Senate chamber

Second Triumvirate – Octavian, Mark Anthony, and Lepidus• Hunted down Caesar's assassins

• Dominated Rome for ten years

• Octavian and Mark Anthony fight for leadership of Rome

• 31 B.C. – Octavian defeats Anthony and Cleopatra at Battle of Actium

• Octavian becomes first emperor of Rome – changes name to Augustus Caesar (exalted one)

• Battle of Actium

Rome is an Empire

• Augustus is the unchallenged ruler of Rome

• Octavian ruled as a dictator for 41 years

• Starts Pax Romana (27 B.C. – 180 A.D.)– Pax Romana = Roman Peace– Empire = 3 million square miles– 60 – 80 million people– Cultural Diffusion = many different societies

• Roman Coliseum

Succession never solved in Rome

• It was never determined how the next emperor would be decided in Rome when the current emperor died.

• After the death of the emperor, Rome generally went into a time of violence as different factions made their choices clear.

• Eventually a system of “adoption” was used.

• From

Many of the Christian teachings collided with the Roman ideas.

• Religious ceremonies - Christians did not attend pagan ceremonies.

• Fighting - Christians would not fight.

• Worshipping the emperor - Christians only worshipped God and Jesus.

Consequently the Romans persecuted the Christians.

• Hungry Lion

• Plus

• Unarmed Christians

• Equals

• Roman Entertainment

Time of Crisis “Crisis of the Third Century”

• Economic Problems - three sources of prosperity ended (trade, plunder, farms)

• Military Problems - Goths over ran legions, soldiers fought for money not patriotism

• Political Decay - officials were no longer loyal to Rome

Barbarians Invasions

• Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Angles, Saxons, Burgundians, Lombards, Vandals

• AND THE HUNS!!!

Many historians have theories explaining why Rome fell...

• Political

• Social

• Economic

• Military

Immediate cause of the fall of Rome was...

• Pressure from Huns and invasions from the German tribes

• The Hun threatened not only the Roman Empire, but all Germanic tribes as well– Attila sacked 70 cities in Rome– Attila met with Leo I (the pope) and stopped

short of destroying Rome completely

Fall of RomeConquest by

barbarians

led to the sack of Rome.

Roman Reveiw• Who were the mythological founders of Rome?

• What river was Rome located on?

• What was favorable about Rome’s Geography?

• Where did Rome get its religious beliefs?

• What characteristic is most important to a Roman?

• What were the two classes of Romans?

• How did Rome achieve a balanced government?

• Who did Rome fight in the Punic Wars?

• Who made up the first Triumvirate? Who succeeded?

Roman Review• Who was Rome’s first true Emperor and

probably its greatest?

• What new religion spread throughout Rome during its empire age?

• Did romans accept new religions easily?

• How did the Roman Emperors solve the problem of succession?

• What are some reasons that Rome fell?