Ancient Rome & The Empire
I. The Roman Republic
A. Romulus and Remus
B. Rome to be the capital of the world!
C. 27 BC- Rome controlled Mediterranean Sea, collected taxes in Asia, Africa and Europe.
D. Outstanding government and system of laws.
II. The Romans Built a great City
A. Geography
1. Peninsula in Mid-Mediterranean Sea
2. Rome midway between Alps and Italian tip.
3. Central Point
4. Ideal for sending out armies.
5. At Tiber River- key trade routes from North and South
6. Mountains not as rugged as Greece
7. Alps separate Italy from Europe (passes for travel)
8. Apennines runs length of Italy (East side)
9. Ancient times: rolling, wooded, fertile: Now: more industrial but vineyard still around!
B. Latins
1. Came across the Alps and settled Latium at the Tiber River
2. Rome was Latin shepherds on hills.
3. Myth-wall of Romulus about 753 BC
4. Shepherds and huts- poor/coarse life
5. Greeks and Etruscans develop the city
C. Greeks
1. 750-600 BC established 50 colonies on southern tip of Italy.
2. Latins
called this "Magna Graecia" or
"Greater Greece" (Greater ATL)
3. Prosperous and commmercial cities brought Rome and Greece together.
D. Etruscans
1. 1200-800 BC maybe from Asia Minor???
2. Civilized-writing system-we cannot decipher yet. Developed from Etruscans-Greeks- Phoenicians
3. Latins adopted Etruscan alphabet
4. Architecture influential
5. Helped trade
6. Several Roman Kings were Etruscans
E. Romans borrowed religious ideals
1. Polytheistic
2. Early gods-no names/personalities
3. Adopted Etruscan gods- "looking at birds!"
4. Adopted Greek gods and goddesses. Gave own names. (Zeus=Jupiter; Hera=Juno)
F. Romans
overthrew kings and established a
Republic
1. Between 600-509 BC Rome became a city.
2. Kings ordered temples and public buildings
3. Swampy village drained and Forum was made and it became the heart of Roman life.
4. Legend: son of King attacked Lucretia. Romans revolted. King plotting put to death with no trial.
5. 509 BC- made Republic
a. res publica- "public affairs"
b. Not a democracy because not everyone was a citizen!
G. Social Organization
1. Family Ties Valued
a. Gravitas- weightiness or seriousness
b. Left mark in Art, Architecture and Government
c. Strength>Beauty; Power>Grace; Usefulness>Elegance; Steadiness>Quickness of Mind
2. Pater familias- eldest male rules and can sell into slavery or kill children with no penalty.
a. Protector
b. Speaker for family at Assemblies
c. Chief Priest
3. Women
a. Ruled daily house
b. Citizen
c. Could own property
d. Testify in Court
e. Ate meals with husband
f. Advised husband on political issues and business
g. NO RIGHT TO VOTE!!!!
h. Officially remain in background of husband's life.
4. Class System- rigid lines with NO intermarriage!!
a. Patres/Patrician
b. Plebeians-less power
5. Mighty Army
a. All males required to serve
b. 10 years as soldier then public office
c. Legion
i. 4000-6000 total foot soldiers (infantry)
ii. cavalry (horsemen)
iii. Century=100 men
d. Worked better than a phalanx because more flexible.
e. Spread Rome's power around the Mediterranean.
III. The Roman Republic Spread its Power
A. 500 years Rome is a Republic
1. 509-265 BC- Mastery of Italy and Patrician/Plebeian struggle.
2. 265-44 BC- civil war, army leaders, Julius Caesar
B. Plebeians slowly won more power
1. Senatus Populesque Romanus
2. Patricians- Senate
3. Plebeians- most of population
4. Plebeians refused to serve in army until reforms are made.
5. Gained access to office, better laws, no debtor enslavement, marriages.
6. Demanded laws be published
a. Twelve Tables-settled differences
b. All free citizens had protection of law.
C. Rome achieved a balanced government
1. Mixture of monarchy, aristocracy and democracy
2. Office of Consul (Monarchy)
a. 1 term every 10 years- 2 Consuls
b. Controlled army and government
c. 1 could veto another
3. Senate (Aristocracy)
a. Position for life
b. Patricians then Patricians and Plebeians (continuity)
4. People
a. Assembly
b. Had little power then eventually force of law.
5. Dictator
a. 6 month term in time of crisis
b. chosen by Consul- elected by the Senate
c. Cincinnatus-458 BC- plow, 15 days
D. Rome won control of Italy
1. Gauls sack Rome
a. 390 BC- ransacked Rome
b. Bribed Gauls to leave
c. Built
bigger wall- larger city
800 years
before they were sacked again!
2. War with Greece
a. The
Colonies were afraid of Rome.
Pyrrhus and 20,000 soldier fought Rome. 282 BC
b. 275 BC- Rome finished Greece!
E. Rome governed Italy skillfully
1. Different areas treated differently
a. Latins-full citizens
b. Territories-citi zens (No vote)
c. Allies- armies; Rome only ally, govern without Roman interference
2. Encouraged outsiders to join- unlike Athens. Strengthened Empire!
F. Carthage
1. Alexandria & Carthage (Phoenician) great trading cities.
2. Punic Wars- over Sicily and West Mediterranean Sea
a. Carthage was 3X the size of Rome; huge navy; wealthy; mercenaries
b. Rome- no navy but advantage:
i. 500,000 troops
ii. Citizens were the troops! (more loyal)
iii. War was Rome's Specialty!
3. Battles (#1) ended in 242 BC
a. Ship washed up onto shore.
b. Roman Gangsplank. Won 1st and 2nd Naval Battle
c. 23 year war- 1st Battle!
d. Carthage no more sea power.
G. Hannibal
1. 241-218 BC different battles with others
2. 218 BC- led march to Rome from Spain
a. 50,000 infantry
b. 9000 cavalry
c. 60 elephants
d. Lost more than ½ of army because of terrain!
3. Defeated Romans
a. Trap killed 40,000-70,000 Romans.
b. Lived off land and subdued the Romans.
4. Battle of Zama- 202 BC
a. Scipio attacked Carthage
b. Hannibal rushed home and was beaten
c. Hannibal governed Carthage 7 years until he committed suicide.
d. Changed history.
e. Scipio called Africanus!
H. Rome made conquests to the East
1. Greece at war with each other.
2. Rome
moved into Macedon as "protectors"
then took over!
3. Used Corinth as an example.
I. Carthage destroyed
1. 3rd Punic War- 149-146 BC
a. Senator Cato= "Carthage must be destroyed!"
b. Carthage warred with Numidia without permission.
2. 3 years withstood Rome
a. General happy.
b. Said it would happen to Rome.
3. Roman kingdom spread from Asia Minor to Spain!!
IV. Republican Government Collapsed in Rome
A. Wars devastated the area around Rome.
B. Proletariat Class- landless urban poor
C. Loot from war- Patrician lifestyle, extravagant foods and entertainment
D. Slavery
1. 1/3 of the population
2. "Every slave we own is an enemy we
harbor!"
3. Spartacus- gladiator- 73-71 BCE, 70,000
slaves revolted- 6000 crucified
E. Attempted Reform
1. Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus
2. Tribune (especially for the Plebeians)
3. Tiberius wanted to give land to poor, attempted to be re-elected- clubbed to death-Body thrown in Tiber.
4. Gaius- elected and pushed laws that weakened the Senate. Declared an enemy of the State.
5. Raid on hill hideout-
a. senators & mercenaries attacked
b. 3000 of Gaius' followers executed by the Senate
F. Army leaders Take Power
1. Marius- German subduer who was elected Consul 5 times.
2. Sulla- senate strong-arm.
3. Marius made professional soldiers (16 year service)
4. Political/Military leaders used for his own advances.
5. Marius and Sulla competed for power with armies.
6. Sulla abolished the 6 month dictator rule
7. Both died peacefully.
G. Julius Caesar
1. Bribed Sulla's men not to kill him.
2. Played Senate for 20 years
3. Crassus the Rich funded him.
4. Appointed governor of Spain.
5. Made himself, soldiers and Crassus rich!
H. The 1st Triumvirate
1. 60 BC- Caesar, Crassus and Pompey
2. Pompey married Julia.
3. 59 BC Caesar elected Consul.
4. Ruled Rome for 10 years.
5. Caesar served as Consul for 1 year then became Governor of Gaul.
I. Gaul Conquest
1. Wars in Gaul, Brittania over the Rhine River
2. 60 lb. Packs- 50 miles a day
3. Trench, food meager.
4. Caesar like them- won loyalty.
J. Julius Caesar is Ruler of Rome
1. Poor loved him- Senators scared of him.
2. Pompey and Caesar Rivals.
3. Caesar went across the Rubicon River.
4. Created Civil War in 49 BC.
5. Today- "making a decision from which there is no return". (Song)
6. Caesar took Rome- Pompey's head delivered as a gift.
7. 44 BC- elected dictator for 10 years!
K. Caesar made changes
1. Citizens outside Rome.
2. Senate- 900 men
3. More representative of Empire
4. Public works for more jobs.
5. Colonies for landless poor.
6. Calendar used until 1582.
7. Brutus and Cassius "Et tu Brute".
L. Civil War
1. 2nd Triumvirate= Octavian, Marc Anthony, Lepidus (Octavian sister's husband)
2. 10 year rule- List of Death
3. Cicero- orator- (Brutus/Cassius-suicide)
4. Cleopatra (Marc Anthony suicide)
5. Octavian made Egypt a province
M. Octavian
1. First citizen
2. 27- Augustus- (Exalted One)
3. Senate played along.
4. One man rule.
5. Republic dead.
6. Ruled for 41 years.
7. Longest period of peace! PAX ROMANA!!!
CHAPTER 7
I. Augustus' Rule Began the Pax Romana. (27 BC- 180 AD)
A. Pax means "peace".
B. The Empire covered 3 million square miles and stretched 10,000 miles long!
C. It included 70-90 million people!
D. Augustus set up a Sound Government
1. Trade and transportation was important to the Empire.
a. Denarius (coinage) was set as a standard to regulate trade.
b. He eliminated trade taxes within the empire to increase trade.
c. Highway construction connected his empire as had never been done before. His road system is a legacy left by the Roman Empire.
d. Aqueducts were built that brought water to areas of population!
2. Public Building Programs
a. Concrete was used for the first time and then was covered by marble to make very sturdy structures.
b. Rome began to look like a world capital under Augustus' rule.
3. Civil Service
a. Salaried workers were employed by the government to regulate the grain trade, make road repairs, run the postal system and all of the other work to run the empire.
b. Slaves and plebeians were given many of these jobs. They served Augustus well because they were able to improve their social status!
E. Peace continued after Augustus died.
1. He died at age 76 in 14 AD.
2. The Senate gave Tiberius, his son, the throne. He and his three successors are called Julian Emperors because they were descendants of Julius Caesar.
3. Augustus' system of government withstood the test of time. Good rulers, corrupt rulers and even insane rulers came and went but the government stood firm. (Caligula-appointed horse as Chief Advisor!)
4. Problem of succession
a. Succession- transfer of authority from one ruler to the next.
b. Rome had no real system for this problem.
c. The Senate selected someone, the dying Emperor selected someone to rule in his place or the Praetorian Guard chose someone.
d. Potential crises threatened the Empire every time an emperor died.
e. When Nero committed suicide Rome had 4 emperors in 18 months because the Guard selected someone then murdered him when he did not "work out"! (68-69 AD)
f. The Good Emperors
1. A pattern of adoption from one emperor to the next secured the succession issue from 96-180 AD.
2. Nerva adopted Trajan, Trajan adopted Hadrian, Hadrian adopted Antoninus Pius and Antoninus Pius adopted Marcus Aurelius.
3. Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius are considered to be "Great Emperors" because of the strain the Pax Romana help up under during their rules!
II. Romans Extended Greek Culture
A. The cities of the Roman Empire looked very similar because they were modeled after Rome. A strong type of government was needed to maintain peace and govern so many different peoples under one ruler!
B. The Greco-Roman culture was spread all over the world. The government of Rome and the Culture of Greece made an impact all over the world.
C. New schools of philosophy arose.
1. Epicureanism
a. Epicurus of Athens lived from 342-270 BC.
b. He believed that the only way to gain happiness was to free the body from pain and free the mind from fear.
c. People should avoid excesses and accept death as part of life.
d. By the time this reached Rome the part about excesses was forgotten! Wealthy Romans actually used the part about gaining happiness to justify pursuing pleasure.
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