Ancient RomeEarly Western Civilization

Etruscan Civilization

The Etruscans

The Etruscans were a group of people who were from northern Italy.

Italy had been ruled by 7 kings and it is thought that the last 3 were Etruscans.

The Etruscans greatly influenced the city of Rome. They built temples, shops, roads, and homes and influenced other aspects of Roman culture as well.

Etruscan Tomb Painting

The Apian Way

The Founding of Rome

The city of Rome was founded by twin brothers Romulus and Remus in 753 B.C.E.

According to legend they were from a wealthy family and were abandoned by their uncle.

A She-wolf took them in and raised them.

Romulus killed his brother Remus and took control as leader of Rome.

The She-Wolf

Ancient Rome

Social and Political Order

C la im ed to b e th ed escen d en ts o f th e

orig in a l sen a to rsap p o in ted b y th e K in g s

A ris toc ra tic G overn in gC lass

O n ly th ey cou ld b eC on su ls , o th er M ag is tra tes

an d S en ato rs

P atric ian s(In c lu d ed )

Social and Political Order

n on -P a tric ianla rg e lan d ow n ers

less w ea lth ylan d ow n ers

A rtisan s , M erch an tsan d sm all fa rm ers

P leb ian s(In c lu d ed )

Social and Political Order

Although both groups were Roman citizens, their rights were different.

Both Patricians and Plebians could vote.

Both had the right to make legal contracts, and marry, but intermarriage between the classes was not allowed.

Patricians were the only ones allowed to hold office.

The Republic

In the later years of the Republic the Plebians became more powerful.

They created a new assembly (Council of Plebs) in 471. New leaders called Tribunes protected the Plebians. A new law allowed intermarriage.

In 278 B.C.E. the Council received the right to pass laws for all Romans.

The Punic Wars

Punic is the Latin word for Phoencian. The Phoencians controlled Carthage in earlier times.

The Romans sent an army to Sicily in order to intervene in a local dispute. The Carthaginians considered this an invasion of their territory.

The Punic Wars 241 Carthage gave up all rights to Sicily due to Roman dominance in naval strength.

Hanibal (a Carthaginian) began the second Punic War when he retaliated against Roman attempts to get Spain to invade Carthage.

Hanibal led an army of 30,000- 40,000 men, 6,000 horses and elephants across the Alps and defeated the Romans.

The Punic Wars

The Carthaginians, under Hannibal were not successful in maintaining control over Roman cities.

Rome invade Carthage and beat Hannibal and his men. A peace treaty was signed in 201 B.C.E. Carthage lost Spain.

50 years later Rome went to war again and this time Rome destroyed Carthage in 146 B.C.E. and claimed it as a Roman province called Africa.

Carthage

From Republic to Empire

Tiberius Gracchus represented interests of Rome’s lower class. He served as Tribune.

He wanted to limit the amount of land controlled by the Patricians.

He was assassinated in 132 B.C.E.

His brother Gaius Gracchus continued his brother’s reforms.

Julius Caesar Conquers Gaul

Roman Fort

Roman Empire 117 A.D.

Julius CaesarIn 47 B.C.E. he seized power in Rome and was made dictator. A short time later, in 44 B.C.E. he was given the title dictator for life.

He made land reforms and gave land to the poor.

He increased the Senate to 900 members and then packed it with supporters of his reforms.

He was assassinated by a group of senators in 44 B.C.E.

Octavian a.k.a. Augustus Caesar

Octavian became the first Roman Emperor in 27 B.C.E.

The Senate gave him the title of Augustus which meant revered one.

Augustus (31 B.C.E.-14 C.E.)

He created a standing army of 150,000 men split into legions of around 5,000 men each.

Only Roman citizens could be legionaries. Subject peoples in the provinces and else where could serve under the legionaries.

Augustus also created the Praetorian guard which were his own personal guards. They numbered about 9,000 men.

The Pax Romana

This is a period of peace and prosperity which begins with Augustus and continues for 200 years.

• Augustus begins the Julio-Claudian line which ends with Nero.

• After Nero there is a civil war and Vespasian becomes emperor.

Vespasian (69-79 C.E. or A.D.)

• He begins the Flavian line. He orders the construction of the Colosseum for gladiatorial games.

• He puts down revolts in Gaul and Judea.

• He rotates the army in the provinces which discourages mutiny. He also makes sure that troops are stationed far from their homelands.

Good Emperors

• Hadrian (117-138 C.E.)- He strengthened the borders of Britain. Hadrian’s Wall. Fought a number of Jewish revolts. Much of the Jewish population forced out of Palestine.

• Many Jews were sold into slavery. The Romans encouraged non-Jews to settle in Palestine.

Good Emperors

• Antonius Pius (138-161 C.E.)- He introduced laws that required humane treatment of slaves. He also introduces the legal principle of innocent until proven guilty.

Good Emperors

• Marcus Aurelius ( 161-180 C.E.)- He is the philosopher Emperor. He wages war in Germania and successfully brings barbarian groups under Roman control.

• He also re-introduces the idea of a co-emperor. Aurelius names his brother as co-emperor. After his brother’s death, he names his 17 year old son Commodus as co-emperor.

Family Life in the Roman Empire

• The family included all household members who lived together.

• Father of the family ruled the household

• Women had considerable power in their own families and many ran businesses and managed estates.

• Ancestor worship was extremely important to the family.

Roman Family Life

Slavery

• Slaves made up 1/3 of the Roman population.

• Working conditions for slaves in the cities were somewhat better.

• Laborers would often be chained together while working in the fields.

• Spartacus’ uprising in 73 B.C.E. was the largest slave revolt, but not the only one.

The Coliseum

Pompeii Ruins

Pompeii

• Etruscan town that was conquered by Rome.

• At the time of its destruction it had a population of 20,000

• A favorite resort of wealthy Romans and Emperors.

Pompeii

The Pantheon 128 A.D.

• Commissioned by Emperor Hadrin

• Started in 118 A.D.

• It is a clock of sorts. It tells the time by rays of light hitting the sculptures inside.

The Roman EmpireOther Important Roman Emperors:

Diocletian - split the empire into two haves (East and West) Western Capital - Rome

Eastern Capital - Turkey

The Roman EmpireOther Important Roman Emperors:

Constantine - reunited the empire and moved the capital to Constantinople. Adopted Christianity (Holy Roman Empire)

The Roman EmpireOther Important Roman Emperors:

Justinian - his code of laws quickly spread throughout all of Europe

The Fall of the Roman EmpireThe Eastern half of the empire lasted until 1453 AD when the Turks conquered Constantinople. Rome was conquered by German barbarians in 476 AD.

The Fall of the Roman EmpireReasons:

Political:

1. Lack of democracy led to a loss of patriotism

2. The Empire was geographically to big

3. Lack of orderly succession led to civil wars and generals coming to power

Economic:

1. Growing gap between the rich and the poor

2. Farmers lost land because of growing debt (Slaves)

3. Increased use of slaves led to a loss of trade and high unemployment

The Fall of the Roman EmpireReasons:

Social:

1. Wars, hunger and plague

2. Cultural decline (Sense of drift)

Military:

1. Armies were masters of the state and could make and unmake emperors

2. Lack of trust in the Military (Mercenaries)

Roman ContributionsLaw - The Twelve Tables (450 BC) gradually developed into

Justinian’s Code of the 6th century AD. It divided law into civil and criminal law. Roman law was just and humane. In principle, all people were equal. The accused were considered to be innocent until proven guilty. Torture was outlawed.

Roman ContributionsRoads - To unite the empire of over 100 million Greeks,

Egyptians, Gauls, Germans, Britains, and others, Rome built roads for trade and protection. Latin language and culture spread to the outlying provinces.

Roman ContributionsLanguage - “Romance” languages of Italian, French,

Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian are based on Latin. Latin became the language of the government, church, and schools throughout Europe. Modern law and medicine still contain many Latin terms.

Roman ContributionsBuilders - Roads, bridges, aqueducts, sewers, public baths,

coliseums, and basilicas (churches) were built by Roman engineers. Romans developed concrete and used arches and domes in their construction.

Roman ContributionsLiterature - Virgil’s Aeneid is an epic poem modeled after

Homer’s Illiad. Ceasar’s Commentaries, on his battles in Gaul are considered great literature.