Warmup

Why is Alexander the Great important?

Tuesday: Writing Madness!Analyze the cultural and political changes and continuities in ONE of the following empires in the Classical period.

• Chinese (100 C.E.–600 C.E.)• Indian (300C.E.–600 C.E.)• Roman (100 C.E.–600 C.E.)You may bring whatever notes you would like on Tuesday to complete this essay.

Next Week

• Monday: Roman Empire• Tuesday: CCOT in class• Wednesday: Review Due• Thursday: Classical Era Test• Friday: Go over test

Where Did the Romans Come From?

-753 BCE: Founding of Rome by Romulus

-Great grandchildren of Aeneas

-Rome was a monarchy at first

The Aeneid: The Story the Romans Made Up for Themselves

The Birth of the Republic

509 BCE: Last king of Romewas deposed

• SPQR = Senatus Populusque RomanusThe Senate and People of Rome

Roman Political Structure: Republic

Roman Paranoia

390 BCE: Rome sacked by the Celts

ROMAN LEGION

The Battle for the Mediterranean

Romans conquer Italy by 265 BCE

The Battle for the Mediterranean

• 264-146 BCE• The Punic Wars: Rome vs. Carthage• The Second Punic War is the most important

because:

The Battle for the Mediterranean

146 BCE: Carthage Destroyed

Hannibal on Elephants

Roman Technology: Roads

Roman Technology: Arch

Roman Technology: Aqueducts

Roman Technology: Monuments

Romans and Conquered Peoples

• Roman typically allowed conquered groups to select their own leaders as long as they were loyal to Rome.

• Romans syncretized the gods of conquered peoples

Hellenistic Influence

• Architecture• Drama• Sculpture• Literature• “Rome captured Greece, but Greece

captivated Rome.”

What to do with the poor?

• 133-121 BCE• Increasing numbers of Romans are now landless.– Soldiers had land foreclosed on– Latifundia – Huge estates made up of large amounts of

farmland• Landless Romans may not serve in the army or vote.• Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus try to give land to the

poor.– Very popular– Both are killed– Julius Caesar favored similar reforms

General Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

• 59 BCE First Triumvirate– Group which consolidated most of the political

power in Rome– Julius Caesar, Pompey, Crassus

• 49 BC: Caesar crosses the Rubicon River with his army, declares himself

dictator of Rome.Caesar’s soldiers are loyal to himPersonally, not Rome.

The End of the Republic

• 44 BCE Caesar Assassinated• 31 BCE Octavian wins civil war– Changes his name to Augustus

Caesar– Assumes title of imperator

Octavian = Augustus Caesar

Question

• What in Roman history made the Romans so reluctant to give up on the Republic?

Question

• Some historians argue that the West is built on the culture of four cities:– Jerusalem– Athens– Rome– London

• Which qualities do you think historians attribute to the Romans?