Geographic Factors to the Rise of Rome

3. Geographic Factors to the Rise of Rome • Italian Peninsula is central in Mediterranean world • Northern Italy is secluded from the rest of Europe by rugged mountains (Alps and Apennine mountains) which offered good protection but made communication difficult • Mild climate & fertile agricultural land: river beds, volcanic soil, mountain deposits • Rivers: Po and Tiger allowed for transport and created borders from other peoples • Rome is the story of growth, expansion and influence of a small settlement in Tiber River Valley

4. Timeline of Ancient Rome

5. Etruscans • Inhabitants of Northern Italy and contributed to the rise of Rome and culture • Burial customs= tombs hollowed out of group or under mounds of dirt • Interior of tombs resembled houses of living • Skilled artisans and accomplished traders

7. Etruscan Monarchy • Historically there were 7 kings of Rome • First King was Romulus (ancient myth) • Origins of Rome in bloodshed • Etruscans expanded power and took control over Romans • Last Etruscan King was Tarquin the Proud= expelled by a popular rebellion in 509 BCE due to a scandal • Paved way for Rome to create a democratic republic • Etruscan influence on Romans: numerals, blood sports, politics (purple robes) and symbol of fasces

8. Roman Republic (509 BCE) • Roman Republic= Res Publica (public matter) • SPQR = Senatus Populusque Romanus or the Senate and the People of Rome • Resulted from discontent of tyrannical Etruscan monarchy • A combination of aristocracy, oligarchy and democracy

10. Patricians Senatorial aristocracy Landowning aristocracy Plebeians People Landless poor Senate and the People of Rome The internal history of the Roman Republic consisted of constant tension and feuds between the patricians and the plebeians

11. Roles in Roman Republic • Senate: council of men who controlled Rome (state budget and foreign affairs); controlled most land and chosen for life • Assemblies (Comitia): four assemblies (organized by wealth / classes) of male citizens elected officials as magistrates annually to pass and enforce lawsMagistrates: most powerful magistrates were the two consuls, or Chief Magistrates of State; both had the power to veto (Latin for “I forbid”) each other in important decisions • Plebian Tribal Council & Tribunes: membership restricted to non-senatorial males; 2 plebeian tribunes elected and could veto decisions made by consuls; eventually increased to 10 tribunes; the establishment of Tribunes became powerful interpreters of the peoples’ wishes

13. Expansion & Trade • Over next 400 years, Rome’s expansion was driven by its need to expand itstrade and eventually by greed • defeated the Gauls 390 BCE • gained resources in Sicily (grain); Spain(cooking oil); other cities in east (wine, produce, leather and woolen goods) • Expansion in south led to clashes with the trading peoples called the Carthaginians (North Africa) • Increase in military activity led to massive increase in the trade in arms and armour • Creation of colonies that were composed of full Roman citizens who remained loyal (ie. discharged soldiers) and were linked by roads and a unified currency

14. Roman Law: The Twelve Tables • Rome was among few societies that developed laws that were codified (written down) and fully analyzed by jurists • pressure by the ordinary people to break the monopolization of the law by the patricians and upper class • Twelve Tables: written 450 BCE in Latin • Most laws related to civil matters • Formed basic legal procedures and appropriate punishments • But Roman law still distinguished between rich and poor, freemen and slaves

15. All roads lead to Rome • First paved road called via Appia (Appian Way)

19. Very religious and superstitious tendencies (integrated Greek, Etruscan and Roman deities) Belief in werewolves and all forms of magic, laying curses, casting spells and foretelling the future and astrology All actions (political and military) were made with omens of nature which would signal approval from the gods Inheritance of property was most important element Adoption of males was very common (ie. Caesar adopted Octavian, the son of his niece) Arranged marriages were common Daily Life in the Republic

20. Roles of Men, Women and Children • Building block of society was the family unit (patriarchal society) and men had the right to kill and abuse, but also had to make public appearances and maintain a dignified status • Women had the duty of marriage (age of 15), child bearing to continue the family line (male babies were preferred) • Education of children: read and write Latin and sometimes Greek; taught literature; boys studies rhetoric (logical and persuasive argument); girls taught to sing, dance, spin and weave

21. Latin • Romans spoke Latin,which spread throughout the Mediterranean (only Greek survived) • For next thousand years, Latin was the language ofRoman government, legal system and became the international language of the Christian church, education and scholarship • Latin still to this day has a strong presence in language of medicine and law

22. Veni, vidi, vici “I am, I saw, I conquered” Alter ego “another I” Bona fide “in good faith” Et cetera “and other” Exit or exenut “He / she / they go out” Habeas corpus “you must have the fact / body of the crime” Via “by way of” Vice versa “the other way around” Examples of Latin

23. Art and Architecture • Art was influenced by Etruscans and even more by the Greeks (sculptures, paintings) with expansion and conquests (ie. Corinth) • Greek architecture (columns) was fused into Roman culture • Romans alone gave the world CONCRETE

24. PUNIC WARS: MILITARY SCENARIO

25. 1st Punic War 264 BCE- 241 BCE Rome vs. Sicily, Syracuse and Carthage Rome wins and adds Sicily and Syracuse to its empire and destroysCarthage Punic Wars: Three Punic Wars (Rome vs. Carthage)

26. 2nd Punic War • 218 BCE – 202 BCE • Hannibal takes ambitious journey from Spain with 36 000 troops and 37 elephants over Alps; conquers most of Italian Peninsula with remaining 26 000 troops and 1 elephant • Four great battles with heavy Roman losses (ie. at Cannae, over 50 000 out of 86 000 Roman soldiers were annihilated in one day • 14 years later, the final Battle at Zama (202 BCE), Roman general Scipio pushes Hannibal out of Italy and Carthagians were forced to pay reparations to Rome, dismantle navy and forfeit commercial empire

29. 3rd Punic War • 149 BCE – 146 BCE • 50 years after Hannibal’s defeat, Carthage was ready for more and insulted a Roman delegation • Rome invades Carthage and burns it to the ground, steals its many wealthy and luxurious objects

30. The Greek World • After Alexander the Great dies in 323 BCE, there is a fight over his empire – causes instability • While visiting Corinth some important Roman delegates were insulted • Rome attacked and destroyed Corinth, stealing its treasure and riches • Marks the beginning of decadence and a love of luxury for the Romans

31. Widening gap between patriciansand plebeians Issue of Roman citizenship in colonies Wealth from wars and expansion made leaders greedy and dishonest, and it also caused the poor people to want more rights Solutions continuous attempts to control tensions and help poor (Gracchus brothers) Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus= sought land reforms, proposed free grain and more citizen rights… but both were killed Reasons for Fall of Republic state’s inability to bridge the gap between rich and poor Lack of effective control of Rome’s new found wealth & commercialism social uprisings of non-Roman Italians over Roman citizenship Military reforms of standing army and legions increased power and influence of Roman Generals (ie. Julius Caesar) Discontent with Roman Republic

32. The First Triumvirate • In 60 BCE, three Roman Generals: Pompey, Crassus and Caesar formed the First Triumvirate: Rule of Three Men • Plan was to usurp the Roman Republic, backed with the power of their armies • Crassus was killed in battle, and then Caesar set out to defeat Pompey (which he did) • 46 BCE, Julius Caesar, appointed himself dictator for 10 years andthen extended it for life; as well appointed himself PontifexMaximus (Chief Priest) • 44BCE- March 15th, the Ides of March, Caesar was assassinatedby self proclaimed “defenders ofliberty”

33. The Birth of the Roman Empire • After Caesar’s assassination= civil war ensued • Second Triumvirate: Octavian, Marc Antony and Lepidus in 43 BCE and divided the Republic between them (sealed with a marriage between Octavian’s sister and Marc Antony) • Lepidus was pushed from power • Marc Antony met and married Cleopatra in 36 BCE, but Octavian defeated Antony’s armies and Anthony and Cleopatra committed suicide • Octavian was left as master of Roman world