Ancient Rome BCE-CE De nobis fabula narratur

1. Ancient Rome BCE-CEDe nobis fabula narratur “The Romans knew how to govern people, establish legal structures and construct roads that took them to the ends of their known world”

2. Geography- Locus-Locus-Locus • Middle of the Mediterranean • Larger and more arable land than Greece- mts north and south • River valleys- Po in the North, Tiber in middle of boot • Rome - inland accessible by boat- defensible, on “Seven Hills”

3. Reality: Etruscans unsure of origin used iron, bronze and silver Rome and Latins under rule of king beginning fear of kings, rebelled invaded by Gaul 390 BCE Origins of Rome • Legend: Romulus and Remus raised by she-wolf 733 bce traced boundaries with plow • Later: Virgil’s Aeneus, hero of Troy, roams the Med looking for a home

4. Steps to Unification • Etruscans and Gauls squeezed out by Latins • 290 BCE conquered central Italy then Samnites in South • 265 BCE took over Greek city states (colonies in Italy) • key- staying power of army, won over conquered people- become Roman citizens

5. Meanwhile, back in Rome, the importance of citizenship • gradual struggle between the patrician and plebeian classes • 2 consuls and Senate made up of patricians • popular assemblies established with a representative tribune- veto power • 450 BCE 12 Tables Roman Law codified • Result- increase of privileges for plebes

6. The Punic Wars 264-146 BCE • Major rival in Med- Phoenician Carthage • First Punic War 264-42 BCE- copied ships and corvus • out of Sicily • Second Punic war 218-202 BCE- Hannibal • 216 BCE Battle of Cannae • Third- 146 BCE - treaty infringement trumped up Cato’s speech • Carthago delenda est” Carthage plowed and sowed with salt • Result Rome now the POWER in the Mediterranean

7. Struggles Continue in the Republic • Graft, corruption, struggle between patrician and plebeians • Gracchi Brothers Tiberias and Gaius • Marius consul 6 x • Sulla- general seized Rome in 82 BCE restored power to Senate • set precedent

8. Republic’s Last Gasp • First Triumvirate Julius Caesar, Pompey, Crassus • Julius Caesar challenges the Senate crosses the Rubicon • 47 BCE virtual ruler, increased Senate to 900 • 44 BCE assassinated, Second Triumvirate • Octavius, Marc Antony, Lepidus • Battle of Actium 31 BCE End of an era

9. The Roman Empire • Caesar Augustus- purpose “to restore the republic” • 27 BC Augustus become “First Citizen” Princeps • ended strife- beginning of Pax Romanae • tried to impact life- morality, building • sculpture- deified him, literature as well • Consolidation- of power/ Senate limited • SPQR Senatus Populus que Romanus- banner

10. The Roman World • Ever expanding- spread Pax Romanae • Politically - emperor/ dictatorship • Extended Roman citizenship as they spread • The Roman family- gradual less influence for fathers • family strong unit- run like the state • women become more independent- socially and ownership • politically active as wives of emperors- Livia, wife of CA

11. The Roman World • Golden Age- literature Horace, Virgil, Ovid and Livy • Religion- state religion, Roman gods reflected Greek ideas • emperor became “divine” connection to gods • tolerant of other religions Mithras, Persian god of light • Christianity- ”And there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus” • persecutions not as many as thought- made stronger • sometimes combined with others- e.g. Celtic gods