ROME

1. ROME Unit 5

2. Ancient Roman Empire Picture on pg. 197

3. Ancient Roman Land • 3 x as large as the homeland of ancient Greece • Shaped like a boot, the peninsula juts approximately 960 km out into the Mediterranean Sea and averages 160 KM in width • Despite 3,200 KM of coastline, good harbours were harder to find then Ancient Greece • Despite the few good Harbours, trade up and down the coast across the Mediterranean was lively • Romans were strategically located in the centre of the Mediterannean region, and could reach the Middle East, Greece, Spain, and North Africa easily

4. Ancient Roman Land • Most of the Italian peninsula is either hilly, or mountainous, which made overland travel and communication difficult • The Alps, the range in the North, helped to protect Rome from invasion, although mountain passes allowed people to cross into Europe • In contrast to the high peaks in Greece, however, the rugged Italian landscape did not prevent the Romans from unifying under a single ruler and creating a large empire

5. Ancient Roman Land • Fertile land was located in 3 main areas: • The great Northern plain, which was enriched by the fertile deposits from the Po river 2 & 3) Plains of Latium and Campania, which were both located on the West coast…Both were small areas, but their soil was enriched by phosphate from volcanoes, which were active until about 1,000 BCE • Rome was more productive agriculturally then Greece, but like the Greeks, still had to find colonies to supplement their food supply

6. 3 Main Rivers • They were the Po, the Arno, and the Tiber • The Po emptied into the Adriatic Sea to the east • The Arno and Tiber flowed into the Tyrrhenian Sea to the West • The Tiber river was particularly important because the city of Rome developed on its banks, 24 km upstream from the Sea • Rome came to control trade on the river and throughout the Mediterranean

7. The Weather • Most of the Italian peninsula enjoys a Mediterranean climate with rainy winters and hot, dry summers • The river valley of Po, however, has a continental climate with moderate winter snow, summer rain, and a wet spring and fall • The weather on the Peninsula suited the production of wheat, olives, and grapes very well

8. Roman Resources • Among the resources available to the ancient Romans was building stone, including workable yellowish limestone found around Rome • After 1st century BCE , the Romans used Marble from Carrara, although it was more difficult to work with • They also mixed a volcanic dust with water to make a type of concrete, which became an essential building material • They had mineral deposits such as Copper from Tuscany, and Iron from the Island of Elba • The heavily wooded Apennine slopes provided the timber needed for building ships

9. Rome & The Etruscans • About 1,200 BCE Indo-European settlers, who spoke a language that would later develop into Latin, began arriving in the Italian peninsula • They settled in small, scattered villages on the central plains, took up farming, and began trading with their neighbours • Because the Tiber river interrupted one major trade route, they constructed a bridge, to allow passage, at a spot where the river narrowed • Villages sprang up near the bridge, and by about 800 BCE these villages had grown into a town on the slopes of Palatine and Capitoline Hills – The town was ROME!

10. Rome & The Etruscans • As the Latin's established their communities, two other influential groups occupied the Italian peninsula – The Greeks and the Etruscans • Greek colonization lasted from 750-500 BCE • The towns grew into prosperous city-states, and Greek culture in the colonies flourished • The cities became centers of learning, trade, and commerce • Greek presence would have a profound influence on Roman culture

11. Rome & The Etruscans • The Etruscans occupied the plain just north of Rome in the region called Etruria • Historians are not certain where these people originated, they may have come from Asia Minor or they may have been native to the peninsula • By 800 BCE they had established a number of city-states ruled by kings, and had developed a highly sophisticated society • As they gained power they expanded their territory and advanced south towards Rome

12. Rome & The Etruscans • The Roman military organization was no match for the sophisticated Etruscan armies • The difference was the Etruscans enforced compulsory military service and training, their troops were organized and experienced…The Romans were the opposite • In about 600 BCE, the better trained Etruscan soldiers overpowered those of Rome

13. Rome & The Etruscans • The Etruscan family called Tarquin ruled Rome until 509 BCE, when rivalries within the family weakened the power of the king • The last Etruscan ruler was Tarquin the proud, an oppressive king who opposed the wished of the people and scorned religion • In a popular uprising, the Romans overthrew Tarquin the proud and declared their independence

14. Etruscan Influences • The period of Etruscan control lasted almost 100 years, and had a major influence on the development of Rome • They created: • The first city walls • Archways • The Alphabet • Gladiator games • Chariot races • Roads • Mandatory military service

15. The Etruscan Origins of Rome & Italy

16. Homework • Answer questions 1-3 on pg. 198 & answer questions 1-2 on pg. 202

17. Social Structure • There were 3 classes • Patricians – 5%, held most of the political power, were wealthy land owners, had beautiful homes, had servants, owned the land and paid no taxes • Plebeians – 95%, working class (artisans, farmers, traders), could vote but not hold office, paid all taxes, supported by upper class • Slaves – Mostly prisoners of war, not citizens, no rights

18. Governement • Rome developed a form of representative democracy, called a republic, where citizens elected leaders

19. The Republic of Rome • The Roman republic lasted for almost 500 years, and during this time Rome became the leading power in the Mediterranean • The Romans spent much of their early history defending it’s land against the envious, Etruscan city-states • Ultimately, the Romans decided to take the offensive • They soon discovered that several small states in the peninsula were wiling to help them fight their aggressive neighbours

20. The Republic of Rome • As the Romans changed their ideas about defense (bottom of left column, pg 203) they significantly modified their military organization • Since the population had grown so large, not every adult male had to serve in the military • All citizens who owned land (farmers & nobles) had to under go training and serve in the army • A system of pay was also introduced (not much) for poorer citizens…This was important because soldiers had to feed, clothe, and arm themselves while fighting far from home

21. The Republic of Rome • The Romans organized their troops into “legions” of 4000 to 5000 men • They established 4 legions, each subdivided into smaller units called cohorts or companies • Early in the 5th century BCE, Rome established a league of Italian Nations and began to fight for control of the Italian peninsula • By 265 BCE, Rome controlled all of Italy • Following each conquest Rome made allies of its defeated enemies by adopting a policy of just treatment and leniency

22. The Republic of Rome • Unlike the Egyptians, Persians, and other conquerors, the Romans did things to make their defeated members their allies…Things like: • Only taking a portion of their land • Allowed the defeated to keep their local Government& laws • They did not take slaves and gave some people limited citizenship rights • These reasonable measures won Rome the loyalty of the people on the Italian peninsula

23. The Punic Wars • Rome’s first territorial interest outside of the Italian peninsula was Africa • The target was the city of Carhage, a great naval power with outposts on the Mediterranean Islands of Sicily and Sardinia

24. The Punic Wars • Rome desired Carthage for 2 reasons • Carthage controlled much of Sicily, this Island was rich in wheat which could provide Rome with a valuable grain • The navy of Carthage posed a threat to the western coastal plains of Italy, and hindered trade along the west coast of the Peninsula • Rivalry and suspicion eventually led to 3 lengthy conflicts called the Punic wars The Punic Wars

25. The Effects of the Punic Wars • Rome now has Empire in North Africa, Spain, Gaul, and all of Italy • Much of empire felt unified • Senate gained power throughout the wars • Slaves from conquered lands took jobs of poor labourers and farmers • New cultures created • Greece supported Carthage, Rome began to focus on them

26. Decline of the Roman Republic Tiberius Gracchus (162 BCE-133 BCE) • Attempted to revive ancient law limiting the amount of land one could own or rent and return land to the poor…This was approved by the assembly, but thrown out by the senate • He and his followers were murdered Gaius Gracchus (153 BCE-121 BCE) • Continued efforts of his brother by reducing the power of the upper class and the senate • He and his followers were murdered

27. Decline of the Roman Republic Sulla (138 BCE-78 BCE) • First army general and politician to seize power • Refused to step down after 6 month limit • Was ruthless and killed opposition Julius Caesar (103 BCE-44 BCE) • Successful army general, and popular with the people • He ruled with 3 people, himself, Pompeii, and Crassus • His reforms were to give grain to the poor, citizenship to more, and to pay for military service • Became power hungry (dressing in purple gown, wearing head pieces, and sitting in a thrown) • Was stabbed to death by the members of the senate

28. Decline of the Roman Republic Gaius Octavius “Augustus” (63 BCE-14 CE) • Avoided appearing like a king by keeping role of a citizen • Referred to himself as “Pricep”, meaning 1st citizen rather than the emperor • Tried to keep both classes happy, shared power with the senate, granted citizenship to people from conquered lands, and created a more fair or unified tax system • Ruled for 40 years, and this time was known as “PaxRomana” or “Roman Peace”

29. Rise of Christianity • Roman religion was “polytheistic”, which meant “many gods” • Hebrew/Jewish religion was “monotheistic”, which meant “one god” • The Romans conquered Judea, the land of the Jewish people…They were expected to follow Roman laws and show respect to their gods • Many Hebrews refused to honor any other god but their own and were persecuted – Put to death, slavery, exiled • Hebrews believed that God would send a messiah/saviour to deliver them from the oppression of the Romans and return the land to the Hebrew people • 4-6 BCE Jesus Christ of Nazareth was born

30. Rise of Christianity • Around the age of 30 Jesus began preaching about God • God was loving and forgiving • Live a good life and ask for forgiveness for sins • In heaven everyone was equal and all could go there • He led by example, helped the poor, sick • Follow the ten commandments • Anyone could convert to Christianity and be saved • Many Jewish people believe Jesus was the Messiah, although many did not…This caused a split in the Jewish religion and Christianity was born • If you believed Jesus was the Messiah, you were Christian (New Testament) • If you believed Jesus was not the Messiah, you remained Jewish (Old Testament)

31. Rise of Christianity • Followers began calling Jesus the King of the Jews, began worshipping only him…Romans did not like this as the emperor was the only man to be worshipped • Many were punished for following Jesus, and at approximately 33 years of age Jesus was crucified • The apostle Paul recorded and spread the message of Jesus • Christianity was easily shared because of common language and the roads making communities easy to get to • Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity around 312 CE and gave religious freedom and equality to Christians • In 395 CE Emperor Theodosius made it the official religionof Rome