Rome: From Kingdom to Republic

1. Rome: From Kingdom to Republic HST 397 – Ancient History Prof. Marc Cooper

2. Gaul Alps Apennine Mountains Adriatic Sea Pyrenees Rome Spain Italy Mediterranean Sea Sicily Africa

3. Geography • Widest in the north. • Most of the peninsula is less than 125 miles wide. • Italy enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate. • The Alps mountains in the north block cold winds. • Apennine mountains run diagonally across northern Italy and then turn southward to bisect the peninsula • Most people lived on the west side of the Apennines • South - poorer soil and less water. • Hills of Italy are gentle enough for pasturing and wood was plentiful. • Hills did not act as barriers to isolate cities as was the case in Greece.

4. The Etruscans and the Origins of Rome

5. Romulus and Remus: Roman Foundation Legend • Legendary twins rescued by a she-wolf; founded Rome in 753 BCE. • No evidence for their existence • Roman tradition makes Romulus the founder of the state • Responsible for the state cult • Responsible for setting up the major civil and religious institutions

6. Etruscan lands ca. 650 - 550 BCE

7. Etruscans • Cities developed under Greek influence in the 8th century • Dominated northern Italy including Rome • Borrowed much of their culture from the Greek colonists in the south including alphabet • Formed a confederacy of 12 cities to defend themselves against • Gauls to the north • Greek piracy at sea • Hill tribes to the east and south • Probably founded Roman monarchy

8. The kingdom of Rome was on the Tiber River • City founded at lowest ford • Villages formed town in the 8th century BCE • Etruscan kings ruled Rome from ca. 600 – 500 BCE

9. The Roman republic and its constitution • Social classes • Patricians - aristocrats • Plebians – commoners • Class important in early law • Status equally important • Patron – Client relationship • Patrons became “nobile” in later Republic • Patrons control government

10. Establishment of the republic • Rome nobility deposed the last Etruscan king in 509 BCE • Republican constitution included two consuls • Consuls were elected by an assembly dominated by the patricians • Senate advised the consuls and ratified major decisions • Senate and consuls represented the interests of the patricians

11. Conflicts between patricians and plebeians • Patricians granted plebeians the tribunes • Plebiscites became law by 400 BCE • Tribunes' power to intervene and veto decisions • Plebeians' tribunes dominated Roman politics, early third century BCE

12. The expansion of the republic: 338 BCE

13. Rome Unifies Italy • Controls Latin League by 338 BCE • Unifies Italy by 270 BCE • Reduces Etruscans to federati • Hill tribesmen defeated – Roman settlers bring urban life to central/southern Italy • Greek colonists in south submit • Gauls in Po valley defeated – Roman settlers establish cities

14. Roman expansion: 279 BCE