The Foundations of Rome: From Small Town to Mighty Empire

1. “History is a race between education and catastrophe.”- H. G. WellsIf you sneeze too hard you can fracture a rib. If you try to suppress a sneeze you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die. If you keep your eyes open by force they can pop out.

4. The Foundations of Rome Main Idea From a small town on the banks of an Italian river, Rome grew to control the entire Mediterranean region.

5. The Founding of Rome The Founding of Rome • Peninsula logical place for emergence of mighty empire • Lies almost halfway between eastern, western boundaries of the sea • Protected by mountains, sea; rich soil, mild climate • Legend: Romulus and Remus; founded city 753 BC • Indo-European tribe, Latins, reached Italy 1000s BC; built Rome • City prospered partly from location on Tiber River - valuable trade routes, easy access to sea • Rome first ruled by Latin Kings • Came under Etruscan rule, 600 BC • Etruscans came from northern Italy • Evidence found at cemeteries indicates Etruscans great metalworkers, jewelers • Etruscan culture heavily influenced by Greeks • Etruscans had great influence on Roman society Roman Civilization Develops “All roads lead to Rome.” “Rome was not built in a day.” “When in Rome . . .” How did Rome win such a place in modern popular culture?

15. Question: What advantages did Rome’s location give the city? Answer(s): protected by mountains; sea provided protection and transportation; had rich soil, pleasant climate; located on major trade routes; Tiber River provided easy access to the sea

16. Rome Becomes a Republic • Etruscan Rule Ends • In 509 BC, the Romans revolted and threw out last of Etruscan kings, setup new type of government – Republic —elected officials governed state • Republican Government • In early days, heads of a few aristocratic families, patricians, elected officials • Patrician families controlled all society —politics, religion, economics, military - maintained power through patronage system • From beginning, common people, plebeians, challenged patricians for power • Invaders threatened 494 BC; plebeians refused to fight until changes made – plebeian rights expanded

17. Plebeian Council • After receiving new rights, plebeians formed own assembly, Plebeian Council, to oversee affairs and protect interests • Gained right to elect officials known as tribunes – protected against unjust treatment by patrician officials • Gained right to veto • Laws • 450 BC, plebeians forced patricians to have all laws written down – displayed in Roman Forum • Because laws were posted, patrician judges could not make decisions based on own opinions or secret laws

20. Elements of Government New Offices and Institutions • Senate: 300 members, advised elected officials, controlled public finances, handled all foreign relations • Popular assemblies: in these all citizens voted on laws, elected officials • Magistrates: governed in name of Senate and people, put laws into practice, acted as priests • Patricians, plebeians worked out practical constitution • Government consisted of three parts: Senate, popular assemblies, magistrates • Initially dominated by patricians; all state offices later open to both patricians, plebeians Republican Government

21. Governing Details • Consuls • When last king thrown out, his place taken by two magistrates called consuls • Elected for one year; chief executives, army commanders • Censors • Next most important after consuls • Recorded wealth, residence of population • Filled vacancies in Senate • Praetors • Primarily judges, could act for consuls if consuls away at war • After terms ended, given military commands, appointed provisional governors • Constraints • Government worked well because of system of checks, balances • Each part could impose certain constraints on others

23. Political Center Agrarian Root • City leaders often found in Forum mingling with common people • Senate met in Forum - key public addresses made there • Shopping and public celebrations • Despite bustling nature of city, Romans prided themselves on connection with soil – Legend of Cincinnatus • Farming, landownership the noblest ways to make money • Senators forbidden to participate in any career that did not involve land, could not engage in commerce Life in the Republic During the days of the Roman Republic, Rome was a thriving and vibrant city. At its heart was the Forum, the public square and site of the most important government buildings and temples.

26. Question: Why do you think the Romans established a republic? Answer(s): possible answer—They wanted a system of laws to keep peace within their expanding empire.

27. The Republic Expands • Growth • As Rome’s government changed population grew • Surplus population settled on land acquired by conquering neighbors • Military Might • Successful expansion due to powerful army • All Roman men between ages 17 and 46 with minimum amount of property required to serve in army during times of war • Army organized into legions – comprised of centurions - noncommissioned officers who each commanded 100 men • Army highly disciplined, well-trained, could fight in all types of terrain • Rome in control of all of Italy by 265 BC • Two strict conditions on subject people — provide troops for Roman army, abandon relations with foreign nations • Other than those conditions, Rome rarely interfered with domestic affairs of people it conquered • Now in control of Italy, turned to Sicily - Punic Wars raged for nearly 80 years (Carthage)

28. Legionaries Centurion

29. Hannibal Scipio • Violence soon broke out again • 218 BC, Carthaginian general Hannibal led army across Pyrenees, Alps to invade Italy • Hannibal ravaged Italy, defeated every army he faced • Romans needed new strategy • Romans decided to take war to Africa • General Publius Cornelius Scipio sailed to Africa, besieged Carthage • Forced Hannibal to sail home • Scipio defeated Hannibal, took Carthage, won Second Punic War The Punic Wars Violence between Rome and Carthage broke out in 264 BC. Because the First Punic War was fought mostly at sea, Carthage’s powerful navy dominated the early fighting. Soon, however, the Romans built a navy of their own and were able to defeat Carthage. The Romans had defeated Carthage, but it did not destroy the city as many citizens had wanted.

37. Huge losses of Second Punic War remained in memories of many Romans 149 BC Rome decided to destroy old enemy once and for all Declared war on Carthage for 3rd time After siege of three years, Carthage fell Romans enslaved entire population, completely destroyed city, and salted the earth They banned any people from living there Carthage Falls

38. Macedonia, Persia Greek Culture • Romans and Greek allies fought, and defeated Macedonia, Persia • Both became Roman provinces • Eventually Romans annexed Greece as province • Romans adopted many elements of Greek culture, particularly art • Romans also borrowed ideas of religion from Greeks, adopted their gods but changed the names • Not all Romans happy with growing Greek influence, thought Rome should remain purely Roman • Influence continued for many years The Conquest of Greece • Punic Wars raged in western republic; Rome became involved in politics of eastern Mediterranean

40. “People always seem to know half of history and get it confused with the other half.” - Jane Haddam In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years, no one reported a single case where an ostrich buried its head in the sand.

41. From Republic to Empire Main Idea Governmental and social problems led to the end of the Roman Republic and the creation of a new form of government.

42. Social Unrest The Military in Politics • Revolution began in political, social institutions • Tensions grew between classes of Roman society – issue of soldier-farmers and land – Senate fear of reduced power • 107 BC, social unrest reached new level • General Gaius Marius elected consul • Eliminated property restrictions • Accepted anyone who wanted to join army • Armies, private forces devoted to general • Poor hoped to share plunder at end of war • Ruthless generals realized loyalty of troops could be used as political tool Problems in the Late Republic By the mid-100s BC, Rome had no rival anywhere in the Mediterranean world. However, the responsibilities of running their vast holdings stretched the Roman political system to its limits.

44. General Gaius Marius

45. The Social War Civil War • Rome’s Italian allies had been trying to obtain Roman citizenship • Senate wanted to maintain monopoly on power, refused • 90 BC, Social War broke out- rebels were defeated, but granted citizenship • Social War revealed talent of General Lucius Cornelius Sulla • Sulla became consul, 88 BC; after consulship ended - he marched on Rome, won civil war, became dictator • Carried out program of reforms to protect power of Senate Social and Civil Wars

46. Question: What challenges faced Rome in the late Republic? Answer(s): slave revolts, social unrest, the Social War, and a civil war in which Sulla became dictator

47. The First Triumvirate End of Triumvirate • Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompey, Licinius Crassus helped bring end to Republic • Caesar, Pompey successful military commanders • Crassus one of wealthiest people in Rome • 60 BC, the three took over Roman state, ruled as First Triumvirate • Crassus died; Pompey, Caesar fought civil war • Caesar defeated Pompey, took full control of Rome, became dictator for life, 44 BC. • Caesar brought many changes to Rome, popular reforms • Senate feared he would destroy Roman Republic, murdered him, Ides of March • Caesar’s murder did not save the Republic – Civil War Rome Becomes an Empire Sulla paved the way for major changes in Rome’s government. The end of the Republic resulted from the ambitions of a few individuals.

48. Sulla Caesar Pompey Crassus