Rome:Rome:Republic Republic

totoEmpire Empire

Roman Republic Formed • Small, poor city-state in early 8th c. BCE • Slowly Rome began to expand its territory in central Italy • 509 BCE—threw off the monarchy (last of the Etruscan kings)—Republic established by the

aristocracy • Wealthy (patricians) controlled the Senate while the plebeians (poor) had little say –though a

public assembly existed • 2 Consuls (top magistrates)—1 year terms, checked each other power, advised by the Senate

• Roman law code written in ca 450 BCE (12 Tables of Law) to give poor more protection—Roman law is one of the big contributions to western culture—big victory for the plebeians

• Values of Republic: rule of law, rights of citizens, discipline, moral behavior, honesty, ancestor worship (later called “the ways of the ancestors”)

• Values formed basis of Rome’s expansion—by 270 BCE mighty Roman army controlled entire Italian peninsula

The Roman Forum Today

• Forum was the political, judicial, economic, and religious center of the Republic—emerged in the 7th c. BCE and abandoned by the 4th c. CE

Hannibal & the Punic Wars 264-201 BCE• Rome and the powerful city-state of

Carthage fought a series of 3 wars over control of the Mediterranean trade routes

• Legendary general Hannibal attempted a surprise attack on Rome in the Second Punic War by crossing the Alps with a herd of unfortunate war elephants

• Rome defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama but Carthage remained a regional competitor until the Romans completely destroyed the city in the 3rd war (149-146 BCE) and sold off its inhabitants as slaves

Roman Roman ConquestsConquests

• After Rome defeated Carthage in 146 BCE, it seemed no Mediterranean force could stop the Romans

• Victory over Carthage gave Rome a taste of imperialism—wealth from plunder, slaves for cheap labor, new farm lands, control of trade routes, provinces for taxation, glory for generals (who could resist all of this?)

• Rome then launched a series of wars on the Eastern Mediterranean• One by one, Macedonia, Greece, and parts of Asia Minor (Turkey)

surrendered and became Roman provinces• Other regions, like Egypt, allied with Rome

• By 133 B.C., Romans called the Mediterranean Mare Nostrum, or “Our Sea”

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Rome’s Early Road Rome’s Early Road SystemSystem

Rome’s Early Road Rome’s Early Road SystemSystem

Roman Roads: Roman Roads: The The Appian WayAppian WayRoman Roads: Roman Roads:

The The Appian WayAppian Way

*Oldest and most important of the Roman roads *”queen road”*321 BCE completed*Connected Rome to Brandisi—part of the route to Greece*”All roads lead to Rome”

Imperial Roman Road Imperial Roman Road SystemSystem

Imperial Roman Road Imperial Roman Road SystemSystem

**Much like Darius I’s Royal Road, the Romans’ masterful engineers created a highway system that connected the entire empire

**Fast, efficient transportation—helped bring Rome into its golden age of peace and prosperity (Pax Romana)

The Decline of the RepublicThe Decline of the Republic

• Roman imperialism brought with it a set of growing problems that weakened the Republic:

1. Growing gap between rich and poor 2. Rise of slave agriculture and the decline of

free peasant farmers (became landless urban poor)3. Breakdown in military order 4. Greed and self-interest replaced virtues such as simplicity, hard work, and devotion to Rome 5. Corruption

The Gracchi Brothers—tribunes acting for The Gracchi Brothers—tribunes acting for the peoplethe people

• Tiberius Gracchus represented interests of Rome’s lower class---served as tribune.

• Called for the redistribution of state lands to displaced peasants, laws against corruption, extension of voting rights

• He was assassinated in 133 B.C.

• His brother Gaius Gracchus continued his brother’s reforms (assassinated in 121 B.C.)

• Attempted reforms—demonstrate how serious the social problems were in Rome

Slave RevoltsSlave Revolts

• Rome faced a series of slave revolts between 135-71 BCE

• Slaves--1/3 of the population

• Rebellion led by the gladiator Spartacus was the most serious one

• General Crassus put down revolt in 71 BCE—lined the Appian Way with 6,000 crucified slaves

Military UpheavalMilitary Upheaval

• Old system: citizen-soldiers showed allegiance to the Republic—loyal and patriotic

• New order: generals promised soldiers land and other rewards for good service---allegiance given to powerful commanders who used the army as they saw fit—dangerous situation for the Republic

General Marius:General Marius:Professional ArmyProfessional Army

• General in the Roman army.

• Marius transformed Rome’s army into a professional military with the best training and equipment

• Civil War breaks out in Rome and Marius seizes Rome in 87 B.C.E. as a dictator. He recruited a private army from landless residents to support him.

The Dictatorship of the First The Dictatorship of the First TriumvirateTriumvirate

The Dictatorship of the First The Dictatorship of the First TriumvirateTriumvirate

Julius Caesar (Marius’ nephew—elected consul in 60 B.C.E.)

Crassus (wealthy citizen—made governor of Syria where he was killed)

Pompey—(popular general—waged a civil war against Caesar—lost & was assassinated in 47 B.C.E.)

Julius Caesar Conquers GaulJulius Caesar Conquers Gaul

*58-50 B.C.E.

*Caesar’s military genius is displayed

*Wrote the book The Gallic Wars—propaganda—presents himself as the greatest living Roman

*“Veni, vidi, vici” – “I came, I saw, I conquered”

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Julius CaesarJulius Caesar• In 47 BCE he seized power in Rome and was made dictator. A short time later, in 44

BCE he was given the title dictator for life.

• His soldiers were loyal to him, not to Rome

• Gave public land to the poor, started a job program, granted citizenship to more people in the provinces

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

• Caesar’s most lasting reform was the introduction of the Julian Calendar based on Egyptian knowledge – 365 day/year calendar—July named after him

• Popularity breeds contempt

Beware the Ides of Beware the Ides of March!March!

Beware the Ides of Beware the Ides of March!March!

Caesar is assassinated on March 15 44 B.C.E. by members of the Senate led by Cassius and his friend Brutus—”Et tu Brute?”—stabbed over 20 times

The Second TriumvirateThe Second Triumvirate

43-31 B.C.E.43-31 B.C.E.

The Second TriumvirateThe Second Triumvirate

43-31 B.C.E.43-31 B.C.E.

Octavian Augustus (age 18—grandnephew of Caesar)

Marc Antony (experienced general—Caesar’s favorite)

Marcus Lepidus (powerful politician)

The Second Triumvirate: The Second Triumvirate: Octavian, Mark Antony, Marcus LepidusOctavian, Mark Antony, Marcus Lepidus

Antony & Cleopatra

• While in Egypt, Mark Antony began a romantic relationship with Cleopatra (the mother of Caesar’s child Caesarian)

• Antony wanted Cleopatra for Egypt’s wealth, and Cleopatra wanted Antony for his Roman armies

• The two soon married and had 3 kids (2 were twins) • This marriage outraged Octavian---Antony was already married

to his sister Octavia• Rumors spread that Antony & Cleopatra planned to form an

empire• Greed and ambition pitted the two men against each other• Antony & Cleopatra defeated by Octavian Augustus in 31

B.C.E. at the naval battle of Actium

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CLEOPATRA, QUEEN of EGYPT

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Defeat at Actium—Doomed Lovers Commit Suicide

Deadly asp used by Cleopatra to commit suicide

Antony falls on his sword

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Emperor AugustusEmperor Augustus

31 BCE – 14 CE31 BCE – 14 CE

Octavian Augustus:Octavian Augustus:Rome’s First EmperorRome’s First EmperorOctavian Augustus:Octavian Augustus:

Rome’s First EmperorRome’s First Emperor

Augustus was a master at using art for propaganda purposes—this statue represents Augustus in the process of giving a formal speech---Bacchus is at his feet—he is no longer a general who needs to win victories through battle—he convinces people through speeches—peace in exchange for absolute power

Octavian becomes AugustusOctavian becomes Augustus• The senate gave the triumphant Octavian the

title of Augustus, or Exalted One at the demands of angry plebian mob

• Augustus exercised absolute power but didn’t refer to himself as “king” (“first man” instead)

• Under Augustus, who ruled from 31 BCE to 14 CE, the 500-year-old Roman Republic came to an end—but Augustus was careful to still keep some of the old trappings of the Republic in tact, esp. the Senate

• New age had dawned--Augustus' reign laid foundations of a regime that lasted until the Empire’s decline

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Pax RomanaPax Romana

Ara Pacis — ALTAR OF PEACE--monument commissioned by Augustus to glorify his reign of peace and prosperity—symbolic relief sculptures represent the benefits of the Pax Romana

Pax Romana, Age of Peace, lasted 207 years! Rome is at its height of power.

The Greatest Extent of the The Greatest Extent of the Roman Empire – 14 CERoman Empire – 14 CE

The Greatest Extent of the The Greatest Extent of the Roman Empire – 14 CERoman Empire – 14 CE

Augustus: Augustus: Provides Basis for Provides Basis for StabilityStability

• Stabilized the frontier regions

• Laws were passed giving citizens more rights

• Romans were the first people to take a census

• Civil service founded—paid employees to manage the affairs of the government

• A professional army of 150,000 formed, divided into large groups called legions (5,000 each)

Augustus: Provides Basis for Stable Augustus: Provides Basis for Stable EmpireEmpire

• Roads were built connecting ever corner of the empire

• New government buildings—glorify Rome—public baths, libraries, temples, basilicas

• Agriculture became most important industry—90% --basis for supporting the huge empire (latifundia = plantations)

• Aqueducts---example of Roman engineering and building skills

• 14 aqueducts stretching over 250 miles--brought 50 gallons of water daily into Rome for each inhabitant

The Five Good Emperors 96-180 The Five Good Emperors 96-180 CE CE

• Five Good Emperors—kept the empire stable, followed Augustus’ model and reforms, promoted Pax Romana

• Emperors like Trajan and Hadrian continued to expand the empire and keep it prosperous (despite increasing revolts in the far provinces—Germany, Austria, Great Britain)

• Flourishing in literature, arts, philosophy, science, architecture

• Marcus Aurelius (last Good Emperor)—philosopher emperor— a Stoic--wrote the Meditations discusses good gov’t , service, duty

Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius ca. 180 CE

The Long Decline: Instability at The Long Decline: Instability at Borders Borders

• Diocletian (284-305 CE) divided the Empire into Eastern and Western halves and shared power with a co-Augustus in an attempt at stabilization.

Constantine the GreatConstantine the Great• Constantine the Great (306-337 CE) brought the

Empire back under a single imperial rule and tried to further unite it through his recognition of Christianity in 313 CE.

• Converted Rome into a Christian city by building large churches near the borders

• Created a Christian capital in the East in 324 CE by founding Constantinople and calling it the 'new Rome’

• Constantine's three sons divided the territories among themselves after their father's death in 337 CE while Christianity continued to flourish and gain power

• Vandals successfully sacked Rome in 455 CE

Triumphal Arch of Constantine 315 CE

• Triumph arch—another unique form of Roman propaganda celebrating a ruler’s victory over an enemy of Rome

• Placed at one of the main gates into the city

• Comparing the arch’s recycled 2nd c. CE sculptural reliefs with the 4th c. reliefs offers a telling example of Rome’s declining culture