ANCIENT ROME

THE ROMAN CIVILIZATION

INTRODUCTION

• In this unit you will find out how have the Romans influenced us:

– Many European languages are based on Latin.

– The Romans admired Greek culture, so they spread Greek culture across Europe.

– Our laws are based on Roman laws.

– Christianity appeared in the Roman Empire.

– We still use their numerals and names.

– Even today, the Roman art impresses us.

THE ROMANS

Who were the Romans?

The Romans came from a city called Rome. Rome is in modern day Italy. Two thousand years ago the Romans built a great empire which covered much of

Europe.

Why was the Roman empire important?

The Romans, even today, play an important part in our lives. Many of the things we do or

have originated from the Romans.

How long did the Roman empire last?

The Roman civilisation

started in 753BC and

ended in 476AD

Over 1480 years!!

THE

NATURAL

ENVIRONMENT

ITALIAN PENINSULA

SICILY, CORSICA AND SARDINIA

TYRRHENIAN SEA

ADRIATIC SEA

IONIAN SEA

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

ALPS

THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

• In the 8th century BC, the Roman peninsula was inhabitated by different people, like the Etruscans in the north, the Latins in the centre and the Greeks in the south.

• According to the legend, Rome was founded in 753 BC.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE

• The Roman Empire was at its biggest in 117 AD.

• As Rome controlled the Mediterranean, it was safe to transport goods by sea. This was cheaper and quicker than using roads, so trade prospered.

• Rome was the biggest and richest city in the world: it had a population of over 1 million people.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE AT ITS BIGGEST

THE FOUNDATION OF ROME

ACTIVITY

• Find out about the myth of Romulus and Remus.

• Use the next template to create a comic, based on Romulus and Remus´ myth.

• Look at the example before.

POLITICAL HISTORY

• The history of Rome can be divided into three periods:

– The Monarchy (753 – 509 BC).

– The Republic (509 – 27 BC).

– The Empire (27 BC – 476 AD).

The Monarchy (753 – 509 BC)

• Rome had seven kings. Romulus, the first legendary king; three Latin and three Etruscan.

• Roman people elected the king.

• The king had absolute power. A council called the senate helps the king to make decissions.

• In 509 BC, a great revolt meant the end of the last Etruscan king, Tarquinius Superbus.

• Rome became a Republic.

The Roman Monarchy under the Etruscan domination.

The Republic (509 – 27 BC)

• People of Rome decided that they didn’t want a king. Instead they created a Republic.

• This is how the Republic worked:

Assemblies All the citizens vote in assemblies. The assemblies decide the laws.

Senate The senate is a council of citizens from the most important families.

Magistrates The magistrates govern Rome. The two most important magistrates are called consuls.

The assemblies elect the magistrates

The senate advise the magistrates

The magistrate always follow the advice of the senate, so really the senate takes the most important decisions.

Roman expansion

• For a long time, this system of government works very well, so Rome became more and more powerful.

• Thanks to its well-organized army, Roman territory expanded rapidly.

First, Rome takes the control of all of Italy.

• Second, Rome defeats Carthage (264-146 BC) in a series of three wars, known as Punic* Wars.

• The most famous Carthaginian general was Hannibal Barca. * Punic = Carthaginian.

• And third, Rome conquered the Hellenistic kingdoms (214-31 BC).

Roman Republic (44 BC)

Crisis of the Republic

• In the 1st centuty Rome suffers a political crisis:

1. The Senate can’t control the extension of the Roman territories.

2. There is a lot of corruption.

3. People think taxes are too high.

4. The generals become too powerful, and they fight each other in several civil wars.

Crisis of the Republic

• Between 73 and 71 BC, Spartacus (a slave) leads an army of gladiators and slaves in a rebellion against Rome.

• From 49 to 45 BC there was a civil war between Pompey and Julius Caesar.

• In 44 BC, Julius Caesar is murdered. [For Caesar, see the Julius Caesar sheet]

The Empire (27 BC – 476 AD)

• From 27 BC to 14 AD, Augustus becomes the first Roman emperor.

• There is still a Senate, but it is very weak.

• For the next 200 years, the empire is peaceful and prosperous. This period is called the Pax Romana (the Roman peace).

• Rome is at its biggest under the emperor Trajan.

Crisis and civil war – again!

• In the 3rd century AD, the Roman Empire has another crisis. It was a triple crisis:

POLITICAL CRISIS:

– Germanic tribes attacked Roman towns. The borders were not safe. The military leaders took control over the emperors.

– Lots of Roman generals want to be emperor, so there is constant civil wars.

ECONOMIC CRISIS:

– In the 3rd century, the conquests ended. So there were fewer slaves to work. So the Empire became poorer.

– It is dangerous to transport goods, so there is less trade. Prices therefore go up, and people become much poorer.

SOCIAL CRISIS:

- Taxes increased.

- Many people emigrated to the countryside.

- The Empire became rural.

Crisis and civil war – again!

• Finally the civil wars end, and the Romans defeat their enemies.

• The emperors Diocletian and Constantine bring stability and the 4th century is peaceful again.

The fall of the Western Roman Empire

• In 395 AD, Theodosius divides the Roman Empire into two parts: West and East.

The fall of the Western Roman Empire

• What happens next is very different in the two parts: –Germanic tribes invade the Western

Empire. In 476, Romulus Augustus, the last Roman emperor, is removed by the barbarian king Odoacer.

– The Eastern Empire of the Roman Empire becomes the Byzantine Empire, which survives for another 1,000 years.

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ACTIVITY

• Look at the map in the following slide.

• Write the names of the places numbered in the map above. Which current countries correspond to these Roman provinces?

SOCIETY

CITIZENS AND NON-CITIZENS

• In Rome there is a big difference between being a citizen and a non-citizen:

– Roman citizens have more rights than non-citizens.

– Only citizens can vote, be magistrates or own property.

– Women , slaves and freedmen are not citizens.

Roman society

SOCIETY

PATRICIANS AND PLEBEIANS

• Citizens are divided into two groups:

– Patricians are the richest and most powerful families.

– Plebeians are the rest of the citizens.

– Plebeians complained and there were wars between patricians and plebeians.

ACTIVITY

• Write down a short story about Roman society. Choose any of the categories of Roman society (patrician, plebeian, citizen, slave, etc.) and create your own story.

• Maximum length: 100 words.

ECONOMY

• Agriculture was based on the growing of cereals, vines, olives, fruit and vegetables. Slaves worked the lands.

• Mining exploited minerals like gold, silver, iron, lead, tin, copper, mercury and salt.

• Craftwork included many different professions.

• Trade was very important inside and outside the Roman Empire.

Trade in the Roman world

RELIGION

• Romans were polytheistic.

• The most important Roman godas are:

– The Greek gods, although their names are different in Rome.

– Local gods in new provinces, who become Roman gods as well. Example: Cibeles, Isis.

– Emperors were considered gods, too (like Augustus).

RELIGION • The Romans believed in two kinds of gods:

state gods and household gods.

State gods: The government builds temples to the official gods of Rome.

Household gods: They protect the family and the home. They have a small altar called lararium.

ACTIVITY • Complete the following table:

Greek name God of… Roman name

Aphrodite Venus

God of music Apollo

Ares Mars

Goddess of hunting Diana

Athena Minerva

Goddess of the earth Ceres

Hades Pluto

God of fire and metal Vulcan

Hera Juno

Messenger god Mercury

Poseidon Neptune

God of the sky Jupiter

The Julian Calendar

• Julius Caesar wasn’t only a soldier and dictator: he also gave Rome a new calendar.

• The Julian Calendar was quite similar to the modern calendar: – Each year was 365 days long.

– There was a leap year every four years.

– There were twelve months.

• In Europe, we used the Julian Calendar until 1582.

CHRISTIANITY

• During the reign of Augustus, a new religion appears in the Roman province of Judea: Christianity.

CHRISTIANITY

• A Jew called Jesus teaches that:

– There is only one God.

– All people are equal.

• After Jesus was crucified, his disciples spread this message through the Roman Empire.

• The Christian refused to worship the Roman emperor, so the emperors persecute them.

CHRISTIANITY

• In 313 AD, the emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan, which recognises Christianity as a religion.

• In 380 AD, Theodosius makes Christianity the official religion of the Roman empire.

• Now people who refuse to worship the Christian god are persecuted.

Christian catacomb

ENTERTAINMENT

• There are no weekends in Ancient Rome, but they had a lot of religious festivals.

• During the festivals, the Romans liked to go to chariot races, gladiator fights and the theatre.

• The Amphitheatre

Gladiators and animals fight in the “arena”

• The Circus

Chariot races and horse races were the most popular shows