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Chapter 5 and 6Chapter 5 and 6

Roman Republic

and

Roman Empire

I. Emergence of Romea) Geography

i. Mountainsii. Plainsiii. Rivers

b) Inhabitantsc) Neighbors and Influences

II. Origin of Rome – Stories and MythsIII. EtruscansIV. Early Rome: 753 – 509 BC

a) Two Groups Living on Peninsulai. Greeksii. Etruscans

V. Roman Republic: 509 – 31 BCa) Politicalb) Economicc) Religiousd) Military and Conqueste) Family and Gender

i. Husbandsii. Wivesiii. Adoption

f) Slavery

g) Culturei. Laws

ii. Culture / Attitudes

iii. Struggle of Orders – Social Divisions

h) Decline and Fall of the Roman Republici. Growing Unrest

ii. New Role for Roman Army

iii. Collapse of the Roman Republic

VI. Roman Empire: 31 BC – 4th century ADa) Age of Augustus 31 BC – 14 AD

i. Militaryii. Politicaliii. Social Structure

b) Early Empire 14 AD – 180 ADi. Politicalii. Military iii. Economiciv. Socialv. Culturevi. Family and Gendervii. Legalviii. Religion

c) Late Empire / Decline and Fall of the Roman Empirei. Civil Warsii. Invasionsiii. Christianityiv. Reforms

Diocletian Constantine

v. Causes of the Decline and Fall of the Empire

VII. Selected Emperors and their StoriesVIII. Conclusion

Roman history can be divided into three periods or episodes:

Rome’s Origins: 753-509 B.C.

Roman Republic: 509 B.C. and 31 B.C.

Roman Empire: 31 B.C. to A.D. 476

I. Emergence of Rome

a) Geography

i. Mountains Apennine

ii. Plains Latium

iii. Rivers Tiber River Po Arno Rubicon

b) Inhabitants

a) Neighbors and Influences• Aequi, Greeks

• Sabines, Volscians

• Etruscans

II. Origin of Rome – Stories and Myths Latin Speakers – Indo European

Aeneas• Virgil, TheAeneid

– Written 30 BC

– Lavinium

– Aeneas, Lavinia, Silvius.

– Silvius, Ascanius.

– Alba Longa

– Thirteen kings ruled after Ascanius … and the 13th was Amulius. Romulus and Remus, 753 B.C.

• Rome – hilltop on plain of Latium

• Horatius

• Shepherds

III. Etruscana) Etruscans

a) North

b) Greatest impact on early development

IV. Early Rome, 753-509 B.C. DO NOT WRITE – JUST READ Livy admitted that: "Events before Rome was

born have come down to us in old tales with more of the charm of poetry than of sound historical record, and such traditions I propose neither to affirm nor refute."

a) Two Main Groups living on the Italian Peninsula

Greeks Greatest impact overall. Alphabet, Olives, Art, Cultural models, architecture,

literature

Etruscans Control 100-125 years

adopted many Etruscan customs - alphabet, toga, vaulted arch, gladiatorial contests.

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Creation of executive office – Consul – to be given to two men, who would eventually be called consuls.To prevent tyrannyThey could only serve for one year at a time.

V. Roman Republic 509 – 31 BC

a) Political In 509 B.C., and after having expelled the Etruscans,

the Romans constructed a form of political organization we call a republic.

Citizenship?

Four Major Components – Checks and Balances 1) Two magistrates or consuls 2) Senate 3)Assembly of Centuries 4)Assembly of Tribes

b) Economici. Farming

Figs Corn Grains Fruit trees Olives Vegetables Grape vines

ii. Trade Textiles Metals Pottery Olives Wine Wool

c) Roman Religion Polytheistic

Every aspect of life was responsibility of individual powers (numen)

Morphed Greek gods into Roman

Piety toward others gods Entrails, burnt offerings, feed the gods gods – authority – state Less personal – more civic duty Cults

Dionysus

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d) Military and Conquest Need to consolidate power

South – Aequi, GreeksEast – Sabines, VolsciansNorth – Etruscans

Gauls on the march – 4th centurysacked Rome

493 B.C. established the Latin League

Roman form of conquest - made them partners. Confederacy – all conquered and assimilated

Roman Conquest of the Mediterranean (264-133 B.C.E.) Punic Wars – (Carthage and Rome)

First Punic War, 264-241 B.C.E.

Second Punic War, 218-201 B.C.E.• began in Spain.

Third Punic War, 149-146 B.C.E.

By 44 B.C., the Romans controlled all of Spain, Gaul (France), Italy, Greece, Asia Minor, and most of North Africa (80% of the coastal lands of the Mediterranean).

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e) Roman Family and Gender

Paterfamilias Husbands / fathers

Power Absolute

Women / wives More opportunity than in Greece

Divorce Arranged marriages Dowry

Roles changed as empire expanded and by 2nd century AD divorce more common Women more control Father did not transfer control to husband When father died, daughter had more control of her life – dowry.

Adoption Children

Not all members born into family became members of family legal rights as natural born

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Domus Etruscan architecture

Wealthy – domus – estates, compounds\

Poor – insula – apartments

f) Slavery Slavery common in ancient world Before 3rd century – 1-2 slaves per farmer

During Republic period, most were from conquest Prestigious to have many slaves

Greeks – had greatest influence on Rome overall. Irony

Revolts First Slave Revolt 135-132 B.C. Second Slave Revolt 104-100 B.C Third Slave Revolt 73 BC Sicily, Spartacus - revolted in 73 B.C.E.

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g) Culture

i. Law: Laws of the Twelve Tables.i. Commission, statutes  to fill ten bronze tablets, plebeians were

dissatisfied, two additional tablets were added.

ii. Culture and Attitudes:Romans - practicality and efficiency

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iii. The Struggle of the Orders: Social Divisions in the Roman Republic

– The "Struggle of the Orders" – a struggle between patrician and plebeian – developed over the issue of legality.

– In 494 B.C., the plebeians threatened to leave Rome and set up their own independent state..

• Plebians – poverty during 1st half of Republic– Withdrawal from city (1st half of 5th century BC)

– Demands

• Assembly of Plebeians created in 471 B.C.E.– 4th century B.C.E. plebeians permitted to become consuls

– Theoretically, by 287 B.C.E. all Roman citizens equal under the law

• Outside enemies

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h) Decline / Fall of Roman Republic (133-31 B.C.)i. Growing Unrest

i. Latifundias contribute to the decline of small farmsi. Farm landowners were the backbone of the

Roman army ii. Small farmers drifting to the cites forming a

large class of landless poor

By the middle of the 2nd century, there was a threefold problem brewing in the Roman Republic. • 1) the senatorial class, growing in number and more wealthy than ever before

• 2) the urban masses were divorced from the land

• 3) the army disgusted by the senatorial class

133 B.C. Roman politics, polarized around two factions in Senate:

"Optimates" "Populares“

Reforms Gracchi brothers

land reform

ii. New role for the Roman army Social War and the arrival of Marius and Sulla

Marius Loyalty Oath

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iii. Collapse of the Republic Crassus, Pompey, and Julius Caesar (1st Triumvirate)

Rome and its Emperors Rome and its Emperors (select few)(select few)

Roman Republic 509 BC – 31 BC Age of Augustus 31 BC – 14 AD Roman Empire 14 AD – 455 AD (approximate)

VI. Roman Empire: 31 BC – 4th Century ADi. Age of Augustus (31 [could also be 29] B.C. -14 AD)

a) Military To maintain order foreign and domestic –

• Army– 28 legions; 150,000 men – Auxiliaries– Praetorian Guard

• Stabilization of the frontiers

b) Political Emperor Augustus given title of imperator (commander-in-chief) by the senate Inherited the Republican system Governing the provinces

c) Social Structure Roman belief – governance of world

A divine rule believed by all Romans Augustus encouraged upper class birthrate Adultery was made criminal Revised tax laws Social Stratification: Limited Mobility

Senatorial – economic based Equestrian – anyone who owned property valued at 400,000 sesterces Lower Classes – lost power when assemblies dismantled

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ii. The Early Empire (14-180)a) Political

• Five Good Emperors (96-180)– Augustus’ stepson and subsequent four emperors = Five Good Emperors– Pax Romana– Public work projects– Equal treatment– Tolerance / Diplomacy– Peace and prosperity for nearly 100 years.

b) Military Frontiers and Provinces

• Consolidation of the frontier• Strengthening the provinces 

Cities and towns spread culture, law, and Latin language

c) Economic Prosperity Extensive trade -- food and luxury goods Agriculture the primary occupation Industrial development: bronze work, pottery, brickmaking

d) Social ConditionsIncreased wealth – better conditions in RomeWealthy and poor treated well212 – Roman citizenship for all

e) Culture and Society in the Roman World Roman Literature

Subsidized by wealthy patrons and by state• Catullus (c. 87-54 B.C.E.)

• Virgil (70-19 B.C.E.), Aeneid– Virtues of duty, piety, and faithfulness

• Horace

• Ovid

• Livy

Roman Art Copy Greek statues Architecture

• Arch, vault, and dome

f) Family Upper Class

Patrician / Equestrian• Living conditions - good

• Weakened paterfamilias

• Women – more independence

Lower Classes• Living conditions – poor

• Drudgery of life

• Free grain

• Entertainment

g) Roman Law Twelve Tables, 450 B.C.E.

• Codified

• Civil law

Law of nations – Natural Rights• Justice, Equality, Innocence

• All men equal before law (more theory than practiced)

Standards of justice established• Innocent until proven guilty

• Right to defend themselves before a judge

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h) Religion

Augustus attempted to revive Roman religion of worship many gods• Polytheistic• Toleration

Mystery religions / cults• Hellenistic cults

– Sacrificial, emotional, bonding– Mithras: agent for chief god of light (Sun)

The Jews By 6 AD Judea was made a Roman province Unrest among the Jews

• Sadducees• Pharisees• Essenes• Zealots

Revolt of Jews in 66 was crushed by Romans four years later29

Growth of Christianity• Jesus of Nazareth (c. 6 B.C.E.-29 C.E.), Messiah

• Paul of Tarsus (c. 5-c. 67)– Preach the message to all, not just Jews

– Key figure in spreading Christianity outside Jewish community

iii. Late Empire / Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Imperial Rome Largest population of any city in empire – 1.5 million Polyglot Overcrowded / noisy Police force Chasm between rich / poor

free grain Entertainment!!

Gladiatorial contests – amphitheater or Coliseum• Public spectacles• Coliseum could seat 50,000

Condemned men and gladiators – sometimes free men – trained in gladiator schools

Decline and Fall of the Roman EmpireMilitary Monarch 193 - 235

Civil war, 235 - 284Invasions

• Persians• Germanic Tribes

Plagues

Population declined, trade and industry declined, labor shortage, soldiers looted from farmers, debased coinage (inflationary), armies unpaid and yet needed, agricultural collapse, economic collapse, invasions, plagues – and the Romans looked to mercenaries to help – hired Germans.

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The Reforms of Diocletian and Constantine

Diocletian (284-305)• Four administrative units• Economic policies

Constantine (306-337)• Expanded on Diocletian’s reforms• Edit of Milan• New capital• Political reforms• Military reforms

Theodosius the Great – 378 AD – Christianity became official state religion throughout empire

Fall of the Western Roman Empire Invasions

• Huns, Visogoths (germanic)

– Adrianople 378– 451 – Aetius and Theodoric v. Huns under Attila

• Rome sacked by Visogoths

• Rome sacked by Vandals in 455

Other Causes for fall 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

In the East, the Eastern Roman Empire continued for another 1000 years. Byzantia

Constantinople

VII. Selected Emperors and their stories:

Julius Caesar - Antony – Cleopatra / Octavian and Octavius

Tiberius

Gaius

Claudius:

Nero:

VIII. Conclusion