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Paragraph 4.1. The Romans, From city to empire. . The myth of Romulus and Remus. The story goes that the city of Rome was found by twins , called Romulus and Remus . The king of Alba Longa was driven out by an enemy . The god of war, Mars, intervened :
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Paragraph 4.1 The Romans, Fromcityto empire.
The myth of Romulus andRemus • The story goesthat the city of Rome was found bytwins, called Romulus andRemus. • The king of Alba Longa was driven out byanenemy. • The god of war, Mars, intervened: • He made surethere was an heir: twinswere born as grandchildren of the exiledking.
The new kingheardaboutthis, andorderedthat the twinsshouldbekilled. • A servantcouldn’t do it, but leftthem at the riverTiber in a basket. • Theywere found by a she-wolf andsheraisedthem.
Years later, the 2 brotherskill the kingwho had driventheirgrandfatheraway. • Theybuildtheirowncitynear the placewhere the wolf had found them. • But whoshouldbekingnow? • Theygotintoan argument, and Romulus killed his brother. • He named the cityafterhimself; Rome.
The Roman republic. • If we follow the story of the twins, Rome was found 753 BC. • But it’snotforsure. • All we know is thattheyusedto have a king. • Anditbecame a republicaround 500 BC.
Republic: • They had a public assemblyforwhichall Roman citizens ( men) had a vote. • They chose the rulers. • It wasn’t a democracy. • The real power was in hands of the senate. • Therewere 300 members in the senate. • Onlyveryrich families couldbecomesenators.
Fame andhonour • The Romans had a well-organisedand well-armedarmy. • It was made up of legions of 5000-6000 men. • The soldierswere free citizenswhopaidfortheirownweaponry. • Most of themwere farmers wholeft the fieldswhenthere was a war.
Most soldierslovedto show their courage andwerewillingto die fortheir country. • Rich families of senators profited a lot from wars. • Theysupplied the generals.
Succesfullgeneralswereallowedto keep a big part of the booty, andgainedfameandhonour. • They had a parade aftereachmilitaryvictory. • Duringsuch a parade the generalwouldbedriventhrough the city, dressedlike the god Jupiter. • Therewouldbetrumpeteersand drummers.
There would also be chained prisoners of war and carts with the booty. • He was followed by his soldiers.
Roman victories • Between 350 BC and 270 BC the Romans conquered almost all of Italy. • During these conquests they got even more soldiers. • In 264 BC they started to conquest the territories on the other side of the sea; they attacked Carthage.
Carthage • Powerful city in North Africa. • Ruled a large piece of land including Sicily. • Rome was threatened by this power. • Rome wanted that power and land.
The Romans needed a fleet to attack the city. • In the south lived some Greek shipbuilders. • The Romans conquered Sicily in 20 years. • A son of a Carthagian commander wanted revenge. • His name was Hannibal.
Hannibal • 218 BC Hannibal set out to attack Roma, via Spain. • He crossed the Alps with 100.000 men and fighting elephants. • The Roman army was crushed and they lost land. • But Rome won and in 201 BC Carthage was defeated.
149 BC, a 3rd war started when Rome attacked Carthage again. • Carthage was destroyed, and rebuilt as a Roman city. • Now all coasts of the Mediterranean sea were in hands of the Romans, in their: • Imperium Romanun(= Roman Empire)
The Roman Empire. • Around 200 BC the Romans wanted to expand to the east. • 146 BC: captured Greece and Asia Minor ( = Turkey) • 30 BC: Egypt was taken over.
The Romans had created a global empire in Europe, Asia and Africa. • Between 58 and 52 BC Julius Caesar conquered all of Gaul: France, Belgium and NL. • The territories outside Italy became provinces, governed by governors.
The Roman government exploited the provinces. • They were used without mercy, and if a city didn’t listen the city would be plundered and destroyed.
Julius Caesar. • Successful army commanders became very important in Rome. • They stopped taking orders from the senate. • They were the leaders of many legions. • Legions were now professional soldiers, because the trips overseas were too far away for just farmers. • They were now soldiers that supported their general through everything.
Generals often fought about the power, which sometimes turned into a civil war. • The most successful general, Caesar, seized all power after taking over Gaul. • In 46 BC he forced the senate to make him dictator (= absolute ruler) for life.
2 years later, Caesar was killed by a group of senators. • They stabbed him 23 times, hoping that the senate would get their power back. • They were wrong.
Emperor Augustus • Before his death, Caesar had adopted his 18 years old cousin as his son, called Octavian. • During a new civil war, Octavian defeated all the enemies. • In 27 BC, he ended the republic, and found an empire. • There was still a senate, but with no power.
Octavian used his father’s name, Caesar as a title. • The Dutch word keizer (emperor) comes from this title. • He was now called Caesar Augustus, the Revered One, because he was worshipped like a god.
Peace in the empire. • Augustus ruled for over 40 years. • He provided peace, order and prosperity. • After him the empire was expanded further. • Borders in Europe were now the rivers: Rhine and Danube. • Almost all of Britain was now conquered, and there was a big wall at the border.
In Africa the Sahara desert formed the border. • In Asia the river Euphrates was the border. • They are natural borders and easier to defend. • There were legions to guard the borders.
There were straight roads, so soldiers could be transported quickly to a place of there was danger. • For 200 years, there was peace and tranquility in the empire: • PaxRomana( Roman peace)
