Rome: From Republic to Empire to Church

1. Unit 5 Rome From Republic to Empire to Church

2. Preface • Rome grows from a small village in Italy into a vast powerful empire that is literally the center of the Western World. • Like the Greeks, the Romans influence lasts into the contemporary era. Rome is synonymous with civilization. • Romans made monumental advances in engineering and architecture. • Romans promulgated an advanced system of laws and government. • Christianity “conquered” Rome from within and used the structure of the empire to spread Christianity throughout the western world.

3. Chapter 11 The Roman Republic

4. Geography Is Destiny • Rome’s geography was central to its success. It had a strategic location and wonderful climate. (It’s a peninsula) • Rome rose to power when it became a military power and conquered its neighbors. (Greece, Egypt, Asia Minor) • A pontiff is a man who collects a tax where a road crosses over a river on a bridge. • It also means The Pope! Why?

5. Rome’s Physical Features • Italy is capped by the Alps in the north and bisected north to south by the Apennines. • Italy had volcanisms. (Note Vesuvius.) • These features made Italy easy to protect and hard to transverse. • The topography is mountainous and hilly. These features aided in building defensive fortifications. Rome was built on 7 hills. • Italy has numerous rivers. The Tiber flows through Rome. People settled near rivers.

6. Rome’s Climate • Rome was blessed with warm dry summers and mild rainy winters. It resembles southern California. • This mild climate allowed for growing a wide range of crops and livestock. • Romans enjoyed grains, citrus fruits, grapes and olives. • Its plentiful supply of food and water greatly added to Rome’s advancement.

7. Rome’s Mythical Origin I • People settled Rome around 800 BC. There are no written records of the settling of Rome. • Romans claimed Trojan hero Aeneas founded Rome. His odyssey is told in Vergil’s the Aeneid. Aeneas carried his father from burning Troy. (lesson?) • Aeneas made an alliance with the Latins, a group he encountered in Italy. Together they defeated all other Italian people’s. (Unification by conquering) • Aeneas then married the Latin princess. Thus, Aeneas and his descendants became prominent Italian rulers.

8. Rome’s Mythical Origin II • Twin brothers Romulus and Remus (descendants of Aeneas) were placed in a basket and set adrift on the Tiber (Moses?). • They were rescued by a she-wolf who raised them. Eventually they were discovered by a shepherd who adopted them. (Good Shepherd?) • The brothers built Rome on the site where the wolf rescued them. They argued and Romulus killed Remus (Cain and Abel?). Rome is named after Romulus. (Founded by a murderer?)

9. The Early Roman Kings • 753 (+/- 50 years) BC Romulus becomes King of Rome. Its an acceptable date for the founding of Rome. • Rome had 7 kings. The last three were Etruscans.

10. The Etruscans • The Etruscans lived north of Rome. They predated Rome. They were highly influenced by Greek culture. • The Etruscan Roman kings shaped Roman society. They built massive temples and a sewer system (important!). • Most likely, Romans took the Etruscan alphabet and number system.

11. The Last Roman King • It is believed the last king was horribly cruel. He sent many to their deaths including his own advisors. • The aristocracy (nobility) overthrew the king in 509 BC. • The aristocracy refused to accept further monarchy in Rome.

12. The Early Roman Republic • A republic is a government system in which people elect representatives to run their government. It began in 509 BC. • Roman representatives only served for one year to prevent tyranny by an individual. • Rome was not a democracy. It was an oligarchy. Rule by a few people. • The aristocracy held all the power in Rome. All elected representatives were arisocrats.

13. 50 Years of War • These wars began shortly after Rome was founded. Rome warred with its neighbors. • Rome was mostly victorious but nonetheless many lives and much property were lost.

14. Rome Embraces Dictators • During the war years, Rome chose dictators (rulers with absolute power) to lead Rome. • Dictators were limited to 6 month terms. After 6 months the dictators relinquished their power. • Is there an area of governance where dictatorial powers might benefit a society?

15. Cincinnatus • He rose to power in 458 BC. He was a farmer. The Roman Army had suffered defeat. Cincinnatus was admired for his loyalty and military talents. He easily defeated Rome’s enemies. • Upon winning he instantly stepped down and returned to his farm. • Why is George Washington called the American Cincinnatus? (3 term).

16. Social Division Within The Republic • Roman society was divided between the Plebeians and Patricians. • Plebeians (commoners) wanted more influence in the government. • Plebeians were the majority. Some were peasants, craftsman, merchants and laborers. Some were as wealthy as patricians. (Exclusive right to commerce.) • Patricians (nobility/aristocracy) ran the government. Only patricians could hold office. • In 494 BC plebeians established a separate governing council. Patricians realized it is time to change Republic’s government. They needed to cooperate.

17. Chapter 11 Roman Government & Society

18. Preface • Roam government required compromise between officials and branches of government. • Those in government felt they had to keep the public happy. • To avoid tyranny, power was divided among several government officials. • Term limits (1 year in office) helped limit power and avoid tyranny.

19. Roman Government • Roman Republican government feared rebellion if the people were unhappy. Thus when the plebeians formed a separate council, the patrician government reformed. • New plebeian officials were created to protect the Plebes. Over a long time the distinction between plebeian and patrician evaporated. • A tripartite ( 3 part) government developed. Each part had distinct responsibilities, duties and powers. • Tripartite: 1)Magistrates, 2)Senate and 3)Assemblies & Tribunes

20. Magistrates • Magistrates were elected officials. The most powerful were the two consuls. • Elected for one year the consuls ran the city and led the military. Had power over all citizens. • There were two consuls so no one person had complete control. (a check to power). • There were a variety of magistrates elected annually below the consuls that governed various aspects of Rome’s government. • Examples are treasurers and recreation directors.

21. Senate • The Senate was comprised of wealthy powerful aristocrats that advised Rome’s consuls. • Senators served for life. There were over 300 senators. At first only patricians could serve in the senate but later wealthy plebeians were included. • Magistrates ascended to the senate after their one year term. • Over time the senate became more powerful. Eventually the senate took control of Rome’s finances. • By 200 BC, the senate had great influence over Rome.

22. Assemblies & Tribunes • These two branches protected Plebes. They declared war, approved/rejected laws, • Assemblies were comprised of patricians and Plebes. The primary power of the assemblies was to elect magistrates. (No term limits for members) • Tribunes were elected by the plebeians. Tribunes could veto actions by officials (consuls and magistrates). • The veto power made tribunals quite powerful. Tribunes served for one year.

23. Civic Duty • Romans were active participants in their government because they saw it as their DUTY. • They felt they had a duty to do what was right for Rome an its prosperity. • Citizens were expected to attend assemblies and vote. Voting was a privilege not to be wasted. • The wealthy felt they had a DUTY to hold public office. Those who served were respected.

24. Checks and Balances • Checks and balances are designed to limit the power of any one part of the government. They are attempts to balance power. • The goal is to prevent any one part of government from becoming all powerful. • For example, laws proposed by the senate had to be approved by magistrates and ratified by assemblies. (Was government swift?) • As a result Roman government was complicated and could be efficient or unproductive depending on whether the participants agreed on issues.

25. The Value of Written Laws • The most important act of Roman government was to write their laws down and post them publically. • By doing so everyone could be held accountable to the law. Everyone knew their rights and responsibilities. • If the laws are published everyone can plan their lives accordingly. • But ignorance is no longer an excuse for violations. • In 450 BC the 12 bronze tables of Roman law were posted in the Forum (Rome’s public meeting place). • These are known as the Law of the Twelve Tables.

26. Roman Heritage in Our Government • The USA is a republic. We elect representatives to run our government in our name. Voting is a DUTY. • We have a division of power, three branches of government and power is divided among these branches (Congress, President, Judiciary) through a system of checks and balances. • The powers of the government are set out in the supreme law of the land the Constitution. • Examples of checks are presidential veto, HOR purse strings, judicial review of legislation, congressional override, senate ratification, judges serve for life.

27. The Roman Forum • Forum means public place. The forum was the center of the Roman Republic. It is where the 12 Tables were posted. • It sat between two hills. On one side was the Palatine where the richest Romans lived. On the other side was the Capitoline where one found Rome’s most impressive temples. • In the forum the rich and powerful mingle with the commoners. Often speeches were made. • The Forum was home to shops, public ceremonies, gladiator matches

28. Chapter 11 The Late Republic

29. Preface • Roman expansion required a a well trained successful army. • After the army conquered new lands the Roman traders entered seeking new products and new markets. • By about 400BC the Roman Republic had conquered nearly all of Italy and its merchants sailed the Mediterranean in search of markets, goods and wealth. • The Mediterranean became the Republic’s trading causeway.

30. The Gauls Attack • In 387 BC the Gauls attack and take Rome. The Romans had to pay a huge ransom in gold to get them to leave. • After wards other neighbors attacked. The Republic managed to defeat these neighbors and take their land. • The Republic soon controlled most of Italy.

31. Roman Legions • A legion is a unit of up to 6,000 Roman Soldiers. • A legion was divided into centuries (groups of 100 soldiers). • This organization made the army flexible. • The army could fight as one vast unit or a series of small units. • This strategy was enough to beat most adversaries.

32. Transformation of Farming • In the beginning most Romans were farmers. As the Republic grew many farmers moved to Rome. • Wealthy Romans bought up the small farms and replaced them with huge farms worked by slaves. The owners lived in Rome. • The Roman farms could not produce enough food to feed the Republic.

33. Romans Rely On Trade • As the Republic expanded so did trade. • Roman merchants had to import food in order to meet the demand for food in the Republic. (The USA exports huge amounts of food to China and Mexico.) • Merchants also imported slaves and metal goods. (How old is the international slave trade?) • The Romans minted coins to facilitate trade. Roman coins were used throughout the Mediterranean.

34. Rome Expands Beyond Italy • As the Republic grew more powerful its neighbors saw it as a threat and attacked. • The Republic was victorious and acquired its defeated neighbor’s territories and thus grew.

35. The Punic Wars • Punic means Phoenicians. The Phoenician empire built Carthage. • The Punic Wars were a series of three wars between Rome and Carthage between 264 and 146 BC. • The wars began when Carthage sent its armies to Sicily. Roman did the same. • After almost 20 years of war Rome was victorious and conquered Sicily.

36. Hannibal I • In 218 BC The Carthage army under the command of General Hannibal attacked Rome. He could not conquer Rome. • Rome sent an army led by Scipio to attack Carthage and Hannibal had to return to Carthage to defend his homeland. • The Romans defeated Carthage at the Battle of Zama. Thus ended the 2nd Punic War. The Romans had a cavalry. Romans blew distracting trumpets and yelled to distract their enemies. Hannibal’s troops included 80 elephants!

37. Hannibal II • Hannibal had a long hatred of Rome. After he was forced out of Carthage by the Romans he fought with an Asian king until he was defeated. Hannibal committed Suicide to avoid Roman capture. • Hannibal was one of the greatest generals of the ancient world. He became the leader of Carthage until forced to flee by the Romans. • He had begun the 2nd Punic War by attacking Rome’s ally Spain.

38. The Third Punic War • By 140s BC Carthage was powerful again. (?) • The Senate convinced the Roman Consuls to declare war. • Rome defeated and destroyed Carthage. • The city was burned and most inhabitants killed. • The few survivors were sold into slavery. • Rome now controlled northern Africa.

39. Roman Expansion Continues • During Punic Wars Rome acquired Sicily, Corsica, Spain and North Africa. • In the 120s BC Rome conquered southern Gaul, Greece and western Asia. • The Romans were impressed by the Greeks and adopted Greek ideas (culture) regarding literature, art, philosophy and education. (Hellenistic Ideas)

40. The Republic Faces Crisis • The Republic’s territorial expansion seemed to bring an expansion in problems. • The wealthy had grown far more richer. • Would violence erupt between the rich and the poor?

41. Tribune Brothers Tiberius and Gracchus • These brothers as tribunes tried to address Rome’s problems. • Tiberius (133 BC) suggested farms for the poor be created on public lands the wealthy had illegally annexed. Riots broke out! Tiberius was killed. • Gracchus attempted to build farms for the poor and sold them food at a discount. Riots broke out. Gracchus was killed. • Violence was now a legitimate political weapon. • If you disagreed with a leaders just attack him. Civilized?

42. The Great Gaius Marius • By 107 BC the Roman Army needed soldiers. Marius encouraged the poor to enlist. Prior only land owners could serve in the military. • The army swelled with ranks of the poor and unemployed. • Marius was a successful charismatic general and his troops were loyal to him than Rome. This gave him political power. • He served as Consul at least 5 times. Was essentially an emperor.

43. Sulla Transforms Rome • Sulla had been Marius’ assistant before becoming consul in 88 BC. • Sulla and Marius came into conflict and as a result civil war broke out in Rome. • Sulla defeated Marius and declared himself dictator. He punished his ememies. • Although a dictator her greatly increased the power of the Senate (aristocracy).

44. Chapter 12 The Roman Empire

45. Chapter 12 From Republic to Empire

46. Preface • Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar led Rome’s transition a republic to an empire.

47. Preface • The Roman Empire has had lasting influence on the Western World. • By 1st century AD the Roman Republic was unable to weather the changes taking place in Rome and its territories. • Although politicians and philosophers proposed solutions to Rome’s problems the republic was doomed.

48. The Call For Change • By the 70’s BC Rome was a dangerous place. It was a place of chaos, violence and confusion. • Political order broke down and immigrants flooded into Rome from throughout the republic. • The unemployed rioted in Rome over the lack of food.

49. Cicero • Cicero was one of many Roman philosopher/politicians/orators who called for reform. He advocated less power for generals and more power for the Senate. • Cicero stressed returning checks and balances to the government. • He was unsuccessful. Many Romans ignored him. Many were obsessed with their own problems.

50. Julius Caesar • Julius Caesar was probably the greatest Roman generals and one of the generals seeking to take over the Roman government. • His soldiers respected him. (political power) • Between 58 and 50 BC he conquered Gaul (France, Germany, N Italy and S Britain). • He wrote of his victories. (read quote page 353) • His military successes made him a major figure in Rome. Also, he was an excellent orator. He won many over to his side via his speeches.