Ancient Rome

1. 500 B.C.-A.D. 500 Ancient Rome

3. Origins of Rome • Greece in decline-Rome starting to rise • Legend-Romulus and Remus • Twins raised by a she-wolf-built city • Rolling hills and center of Italian peninsula • Midpoint of Mediterranean Sea • First Romans • Latins, Greeks, Etruscans • Latins-Palatine Hill-First Romans • Greeks- southern Italy and Sicily-prosperous and commercially active • Etruscans-Northern Italy-Alphabet and architecture

4. Early Republic • 600-509 BC-kings • Tarquin the Proud-never again have a king • Republic-power with citizens who can vote • Same as Greece-only free-born male citizens • Patricians (wealthy landowners) vs. plebeians (commoners) • Patricians got most power (born into it) • Plebeians-get elected representatives (tribunes)-go against unfair acts of patricians

5. Another Legal Code • Twelve Tables-new legal code in 451 BC • Before this, laws were unwritten-patricians altered the laws for their benefit • Laws carved on 12 tablets • Posted for everyone to see • Basis for Roman Law • Idea all free citizens protected under it

6. Government in Early Republic • Consuls (2) • Like Kings but limited to one year-could be vetoed by other one • Senate (300) • Great influence, aristocratic • Chosen from upper branches • Tribal Assembly-Plebeians-democratic • Made laws for common people • Dictator could be elected in time of crisis-only to serve for 6 months

8. Roman Army • Great Emphasis on Military • All citizens who owned land required to serve • Organized into legions • Both infantry (on foot) and Calvary (on horseback) • Army as key to Rome’s rise to greatness

9. Rome Spreads Power • Expand through trade and conquest • 265 BC-nearly all Italy • Latins on Tiber-full citizens • Others-citizens without vote • Last group-allies-supplied troops for Roman army • Did not interfere with allies if they did this • Power moves beyond Italy

10. The Punic Wars • Rome’s empire relied on access to Mediterranean-Carthage interfering • 264 BC-Rome and Carthage at War • 3 Punic Wars 264 BC-146 BC • First Punic War-control of Sicily and Western Mediterranean • Defeat of Carthage • Second Punic War-rise of Hannibal • 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and 60 elephants to capture Rome • Marched his men up and down Mediterranean through the Alps • Worked originally-victory at Cannae-enormous loses on Romans

13. The Triumph • Romans regrouped after Cannae and prevented Hannibal from capturing Rome • General Scipio-plan forced Hannibal to return to Carthage • Defeat Hannibal at Zama • Third Punic War (shortest)-Rome laid siege to Carthage • City set afire and its inhabitants sold into slavery • Victory in Punic Wars=dominance over Western Mediterranean • Got eastern half shortly after

15. Collapse of Republic • Gap between rich and poor too great • Enslaved population huge • Small farmers no match for big estates-many became homeless and jobless • Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus-reforms for poor as tribunes • Limiting size of estates and giving land to poor • Great enemies-violent deaths • Deaths led to civil war • Military unfaithful • Generals seized power for self • Had no loyalty to the republic-only money and power

18. Julius Caesar Comes to Power • Julius Caesarjoins with Crassus and Pompey • Julius Caesar as consul-3 ruled as triumvirate • Consul (only one year) then governor of Gaul • Military genius-led legions to conquer all of Gaul • Very popular to the people-feared by Senate • Told to disband his legions and return home-refuses • Defeated Pompey’s armies • Comes back to Rome-dictator for life (44 BC)

19. Caesar and Reforms • Dictator with total control • Extension of Roman citizenship to many provinces • Extension of Senate • Closed gap between rich and poor • Job creation and property • For Senators and Nobles-too much power support, etc. • Brutus and Gaius Cassius-assaination

21. Beginning of Empire • Republic officially done after Julius death-civil war • Second Triumvirate • Octavian (Caesar’s grandnephew), Mark Antony, Lepidus • Ruled for 10 years-like first-jealousy, violence, etc. • Mark Antony and Cleopatra join forces-fight Octavian • Octavian wins-become emperor-Augustus “exalted one”

23. Growth of Empire • 27 BC-AD 180-peak of power • PaxRomana-Roman Peace • 60-80 million people, 3 million square miles • 1 million in Rome alone • Augustus very good leader • Set up civil service-paid workers to manage affairs of government • At death-system established sets up stability in empire • Agriculture most important industry • Vast trading network-wealthy cities on Mediterranean • Trade and roads connected Rome to provinces and other places

26. Roman World Society • Importance of gravitas-discipline, strength and loyalty • Very practical qualities • Diverse Society-most people small farmers • Slavery crucial • Harsh system-slaves as property • Most worked hard labor-others forced to be gladiators • Huge numbers-more than a million lost their lives trying to gain freedom

27. Century of Crisis-Economic Troubles • Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD) end of PaxRomana • Many problems that came • Hostile tribes and pirates disrupted trade • Expanded as far as could-had to raise taxes • Minted more money with less silver • Issue: inflation-create too much money • Agriculture lessened-soil had been overworked and destroyed in war • Food shortages and disease spread Population dropped

29. Military and Political Issues • Less disciplined and loyal soldiers • Lack of gravitas • Gave allegiance to commanders • Forced to hire mercenaries-no loyalty to Roman empire • Citizens lost patriotism • Did not care if empire fell

30. Empire Stays Alive • Empire stays alive for awhile • Diocletian (284 AD)-limited personal freedom • Restored empire by doubling the army and setting fixed prices • Presented himself as descended from the gods • Division of empire his most significant reform • Greek-speaking East and Latin-speaking West

32. Constantine’s Rise to Power • Diocletian retired-4 rivals competed for his throne • Constantine won out-gained control of West and East-single ruler • Moved capital from Rome to Byzantium (Turkey) • Strategic location between East and West • Renamed Constantinople-modeled after Rome

34. End of the Western Empire • Constantine dies- empire divided-East survives • Germanic people lived in peace for several years with Romans • Huns come in and destroy everything-Germanic people began to invade Rome • Huns became direct threat-Atilla as leader destroyed and plundered East • 476-Romulus Augustus ousted by Germanic people-no more Western ruler • Byzantine and East flourished

37. Legacy of Greco-Roman Civilization • Romans admired Greek culture • Greco-Roman Culture • Classical Civilization • Roman Fine Arts • Rome-realistic stone • Mosaics • Paintings in Pompeii • Learning and Literature • Virgil and Aeneid-Homer • Prose- Livy & Tacitus

40. Legacy of Rome • Latin Language • Official language of Church until 20th century • Base for Romance languages • Roman Architecture • Coliseum • Aqueducts and bridges • Roads • Law • Rights of citizens • Basis of many modern legal systems • Rome as a bastion of Western civilization