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Roman Republic

Roman Republic. Founding of Rome – The Roman Race. The tale of Aeneas ( The Aeneid ) Dido at Carthage and other travels (like The Odyssey ) Historical evidence Settlements from 11 th Century BC. Founding of Rome – The Roman Race. Wars against the Latins (like The Illiad )

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Roman Republic

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  1. Roman Republic

  2. Founding of Rome –The Roman Race • The tale of Aeneas (The Aeneid) • Dido at Carthage and other travels (like The Odyssey) • Historical evidence • Settlements from 11th Century BC

  3. Founding of Rome –The Roman Race • Wars against the Latins (like The Illiad) • Rape of the Sabine Women (Jacques Louis David)

  4. Founding of Rome –The City (Kingdom) of Rome • Romulus and Remus • Latin princess was Vestal virgin • Raped by Mars, bore twin boys • Ordered killed by non-Latin king • Suckled by a wolf • Grew and founded a city (753BC) • Romulus killed Remus • Historic Evidence • The Etruscans conquered the Romans (non-Latin king) • Romans eventually overthrew Etruscans and established kingdom • Ruins of home of king (Romulus?) date from 8th Century BC

  5. Regal Period • Began with war of independence from Etruscans (500 BC) • War heroes exhibit desired qualities of Romans • Horatio at the bridge (Oath of the Horatii by Jacques Louis David) • Stories became legends for Romans throughout their history • Compare to American War of Independence • Regal period • Ruled by 7 kings • Revolted against last king to found the republic

  6. Republican Government • Ruled by a senate and the people • SPQR= Senate and the People of Rome • Senate (patricians) appointed consuls (1 year) • Foreign affairs and the military • Direct access by the people to the consul • People (plebs) organized by tribes and they elected 10 tribunes • Governed local affairs • Had veto power (individually)

  7. Constitution(balanced power) • Senate • Never made laws but advice was accepted • Had power to appoint a person to solve a specific problem (He was a "speaker" or "dictator") • Appointed censors (moral guardian/rank judge) • Appointed governors • Concilium plebis • Made all the laws (called plebecites) • Elected magistrates (administrators) and judges • Comitia Curiata/Centuriata – plebs and patricians • Committed the emporium (military power) • All met in the forum (looked over each other) • Pontifex Maximus • Religious leader

  8. Government Comparisons with US government • Balance of power • Senate and House of Representatives • Consul (= president) • Tribune (veto power) • Courts (independent) • Military power (?) • Censor (?)

  9. Military Organization • Centuries — 100 armed men • Headed by Centurian (from the ranks) • Maniples—3 Centuries • Could move quickly through difficult terrain (better than phalanx) • Independent decisions (tribunes) • Legions—groups of Maniples • 6000 men • Supported by light cavalry • Discipline • Death for individual insubordination • Decimation for cowardice

  10. Roman Expansion (in Italy) • Conquest of Italy • Took 200 years • Granted full or partial citizenship • Tax and legal benefits • Developed loyalty in conquered Italian areas • Invasion by King Pyrrhus (pyrrhic victory) • Roman colonies • Established in strategic locations • Established by treaty • Troops sent when needed • Customs of the area left intact • Colonies were mostly for trade, with some military purposes

  11. Roman Expansion (outside Italy) • Punic Wars • Phoenicians (Poeni) • Sicily • Hannibal attacked Rome • Help of non-Roman Italians(?)

  12. Roman Expansion (outside Italy) • Conquest of the East and West • Allies rather than servants or slaves • Toleration • Corruption in the Greek kingdoms • Some states given to the Romans • Fast, direct attacks with strong determination and discipline • Outnumbered in most battles • Victory over Parthia (parthian shot)

  13. Building an Empire • Structure of the "empire" • Still a republican form of government • Checks and balances • Two parties emerged • Optimares (conservatives, Cato and Cicero) • Populares (power to people) • Family • Values (according to the Romans) • Piety • Discipline • Frugality • Not greedy • Righteous wars • Never quit

  14. Building an Empire • Status of Women • Absence of men at war • Women gained economic power • Ability to divorce and retain property • Morals eventually eroded, in part because home-life eroded

  15. Building an Empire • Slavery • Conquests increased the number of slaves • Constituted 40% of the population • Conditions were poor • Romans feared slave uprising • Slaves took jobs from the plebs so plebs were given food and other benefits

  16. Collapse of the Republic • Gracchus brothers • Violence used to impose one's will • Marius • Re-election to consulate (many times) • Standing army • Sulla • Assumption of dictator powers • Use of the army to override councils • Proscription list

  17. Julius Caesar100-44 BC • Early Life • Born to aristocratic family • Caesarian section • Legend that he descended from the gods • Known for partying and sexual appetite • Captured by pirates and held for ransom • Returned to area and killed pirates • Appointed to a series of government jobs • Statue of Alexander

  18. Julius Caesar • Triumvirate • Praised for his work in Spain • Appointed governor in Gaul (conquest) • Alliance with Crassus and Pompey to form the triumvirate (not initially, but later elected) • Rivalry with Pompey after death of Crassus • Crossing the Rubicon • Uprising in Asia • Veni, vidi, vici—I came, I saw, I conquered • Conquest of Egypt • Cleopatra

  19. Julius Caesar • Returned to Rome as a conquering hero • Procession for each territory on a different day (Gaul, Africa, Spain, Asia) and games for many additional days • Offered crown (as emperor) twice and refused it when people didn't respond favorably • Dictator (rule by one man) • Appointed for 10 years and then for life • Caesar’s plans for Rome • Calendar (July) • Libraries, theaters, other public works • Gave citizenship to people in Spain and Gaul

  20. Julius Caesar • Murder of Caesar • Killed by senatorial opponents • Instigated by his usurpation of power and their fear that he would become emperor • Died March 15, 44 BC • Stabbed by 20 senators • Brutus—illegitimate son • Mark Anthony and Octavian • Rallied against the conspirators

  21. Collapse of the Republic • Violence used to eliminate enemies and impose one’s will • Gracchus • Re-election to consulate (many times) and standing army • Marius • Assumption of dictator powers, use of the army to override councils, proscription list • Sulla

  22. Roman Republic • Rome conquered Greece 150 BC • Romans took on much Greek culture • Gods and goddesses parallel each other • Gods had Indo-European roots

  23. The Fall of the Roman Empire

  24. The Roman Empire at its Height • The Roman Empire became huge • It covered most of Europe, North Africa, and some of Asia • The Empire reached its height under Emperor Diocletian (284-305 CE)

  25. Expansion: Good or Bad? • What are some problems that an empire or country might have by being stretched out too far?

  26. The Decline Begins • 180 CE Marcus Aurelius died • His son, Commodus, took control of Rome • Commodus was a poor leader, killed by his bodyguard • Time of disarray follows Commodus from the movie Gladiator

  27. Political Problems • Poor leaders weakened the government • Frequent fights for power • Many officials took bribes • Talented people chose not to serve due to dangers of government life

  28. Social Problems • Taxes were too great, many rich people stopped paying • People stopped attending school • Large number of people enslaved • Plague (disease) spread throughout Rome, killing 1 in 10 • Famine: There was not enough food to feed people

  29. Economic Problems • Farmers lost land, unable to grow and sell crops, out of work (and famine) • People bought fewer goods, shops closed • Inflation occurred: Rapidly rising prices. Money lost value because fewer taxes paid. • Coins lost value: Less gold put in, people found out (caused inflation) • Bartering grew: sell goods without using money • No taxes, no money

  30. Military Problems • Military only in it for money (mercenaries) • No money to pay military = weak military • Constant threat of invaders on empire’s borders • Weak military, unable to stop border invasions

  31. Diocletian • 284 CE, Diocletian became emperor • Tried reforms (political changes) • Set price limits (if a person went beyond limits, put to death) and ordered workers to stay in jobs to death

  32. Dividing the Empire • Diocletian felt that the only way to save the empire was to divide it in half • Created two empires: Western and Eastern • Western Empire: Europe/ North Africa and city of Rome • Eastern Empire: Turkey/ Asia and city of Byzantium • Two emperors, emperor in charge of Rome was senior

  33. Constantine • Diocletian retired and Constantine took his place as emperor • Constantine (312 CE) united the empire again under one ruler • First Christian emperor • Edict of Milan? • Attempted reforms • Main reform: sons had to follow fathers’ trade

  34. Constantinople • Rome continued to decline • Constantine moved the capital from Rome to city of Byzantium • City name changed to Constantinople (today is Istanbul)

  35. Current Day

  36. Theodosius • Constantine died in 337 CE, replaced by Theodosius • Theodosius could not rule the empire, divided in two again • Western Roman Empire with capital in Rome • Eastern Rome Empire with capital in Constantinople

  37. Rome invaded • Western Empire unable to hold off German tribes on its borders • Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Vandals, Saxons • German tribes wanted warmer area, Roman riches, and to flee the Huns

  38. Visigoths • Rome agreed to allow the Visigoths to live inside of Roman boundaries • Romans treated Visigoths badly • Visigoths rebelled and defeated the Romans • Visigoth leader, Alaric, captured Rome in 410 CE

  39. Vandals • Vandals followed Visigoths and spent 12 days stripping Rome of valuables (vandalism) • Many more German invaders followed • Finally, a German general named Odoacer defeated the western emperor Romulus Augustulus (14 years old, little Augustus)

  40. The Fall • Augustulus was defeated in 476 CE • For this reason, this date is given as the fall of the Western Roman Empire • Western Empire was divided into many kingdoms that adopted many of the customs of Rome

  41. Odoacer

  42. Eastern Roman Empire • Although the Western Empire fell in 476 CE, the Eastern Roman Empire continued to prosper for 1,000 more years • Became known as the Byzantine Empire

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