Mediterranean Society: The Roman Phase
Copyright © 200 7The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
1

Establishment of Rome
 Legend of Romulus and Remus
 Rome Founded 753 BCE
 Indo-European migrants c. 2000 BCE
 Bronze c. 1800 BCE, Iron c. 900 BCE
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
2

The Etruscans
 Originally from Anatolia


Colonized Roman regions
Society declines late 6 th c. BCE


Greek maritime attacks
Celtic invasions from north
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
3

The Kingdom of Rome
 Monarchy through 7 th -6 th c. BCE
 Streets, temples, public buildings
 Major center of trade routes
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
4

Establishment of the Republic
 509 BCE Romans overthrow last Etruscan king
 Roman forum built
 Republican constitution
 Executive: 2 consuls
 Senate
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
5

Social Conflict






Patricians (aristocrats)
Plebeians (commoners)
Major class conflict 5 th c. BCE
Plebeians allowed to elect tribunes for representation
Rights expanded through 3 rd c. BCE
Constitution allowed for dictators to be appointed in times crises
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
6

Expansion of the Republic
 Dominated Etruscans
 Took over iron industry 5 th -4 th c. BCE
 Expansion via military threat and incentives
 Tax exemptions
 Trade privileges
 Citizenship
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
7

The Punic Wars
 Conflict with Carthage, 264-164 BCE
 Three major wars over Sicilian grain supply
 Later conflict with declining Hellenistic Empires
 Rome dominates Mediterranean by middle of 2 nd
C. BCE
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
8

Imperial Expansion and Domestic
Problems
 Land distribution
 Perennial problem
 Development of large plantations latifundia
 Unfair competition for smaller landholders
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
9

Expansion of the Roman republic to 133 BCE
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
10

The Gracchi Brothers
 Tiberius and Gaius
 Attempted to limit land holdings of aristocrats
 Assassinated
 Development of private armies made up of landless peasants


Gaius Marius (with reformers)
Lucius Cornelius Sulla (with aristocrats)
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
11

Civil War
 87 BCE Gaius Marius takes Rome
 Lucius Cornelius Sulla drives Marius out 83 BCE
 Reign of terror follows
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
12

Julius Caesar


Nephew of Marius
Escapes Sulla’s terror
 Relatively young, well-timed trip abroad
 Rises in popularity
 Public spectacles, victories in Gaul
 Attacks Rome 49 BCE
 Names self Dictator for life in 46 BCE
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
13

Caesar’s Policies
 Centralized military, governance under personal control
 Redistribution of land to war veterans, other allies
 Major building projects reduce urban unemployment
 Extended citizenship to provinces
 Aristocrats threatened, assassinate Caesar in 44
BCE
14
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Augustus
 Civil conflict follows death of Caesar
 Power belongs to Octavian
 Octavian defeats Mark Antony & Cleopatra
 Takes title Augustus 27 BCE
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
15

Augustus’ Administration
 Monarchy disguised as a republic
 Increasing centralization of political, military power
 Stabilized empire
 Death in 14 CE
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
16

Expansion and Integration of Empire
 Roman occupation of increasingly remote areas
 Gaul, Germany, Britain, Spain
 Coordination of crop production, transport of natural resources
 Developed infrastructure, cities emerge
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
17

The Roman Empire, about 117 CE
Page 308 Bentley 4e
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
18

Pax Romana: “Roman Peace”
 27-250 CE
 Facilitated trade, communication
 Roadwork
 Curbs
 Drainage
 Flat paving stones
 Milestones
 Postal service
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
19

Roman Law
 Twelve Tables, c. 450 BCE
 Adapted to diverse populations under Roman
Rule
 Innocent until proven guilty
 Right to challenge accusers in court
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
20

Commercial Agriculture and Trade
 Latifundia: production for export
 Regional specialization increases


Integration of Empire-wide economy
Mediterranean Sea: Mare Nostrum,
“our sea”
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
21

The City of Rome
 Cash flow
 Taxes, tribute, spoils, commerce
 Massive construction projects
 Statuary, monumental architecture, aqueducts
 Technology: concrete
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
22

Roman Attractions
 Imported goods
 Underground sewage
 Circus Maximus
 250,000 spectators
 Colosseum
 Gladiatorial Games
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
23

Family and Society
 Pater Familias : “father of the family”
 Right to arrange marriages, sell children into slavery
 Women not allowed to inherit property
 Rarely enforced
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
24

Wealth and Social Change
 Newly rich challenge aristocracy


Yet poor class increasing in size
Distraction: “Bread and Circuses”
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
25

Slavery
 2 nd c. CE: estimated at 1/3 of Empire population
 Customary manumission at age 30
 Agricultural work, quarries, mines
 Chain labor
 Revolt under Spartacus, 73 BCE
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
26

Roman Deities
 Polytheistic
 Major gods
 Tutelary deities
 Absorption of gods from other cultures
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
27

Cicero and Stoicism
 Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-46 BCE)
 Major orator, writer
 Influenced by Greek thought
 Proponent of Stoicism
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
28

Mithraism
 From Zoroastrian myth: god of Sun, light
 Roman version emphasizes strength, courage, discipline
 Women not admitted into cult
 Appealed to military
 Cult of Isis also popular
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
29

Judaism in Early Rome
 Jewish monotheism at odds with most ancient cultures
 Refusal to recognize state gods
 Repeated Jewish rebellions
 Romans finally crush Jewish self-governance in
Jewish Wars (66-70 CE)
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
30

Synagogue at Capernaum
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
31

The Essenes
 Messianic Jewish Cult
 Baptism
 Ascetic lifestyle
 Dead Sea Scrolls
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
32

Jesus of Nazareth
 Jewish teacher
 Moral code, reputation for miracle-working
 Romans fear instigation of rebellion, crucify Jesus
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
33

Jesus’ Early Followers


Belief in Jesus’ resurrection, divine nature
Title Christ: “Anointed One”
 Teachings recorded in New Testament
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
34

Paul of Tarsus
 Extends teachings far beyond Jewish circles
 Traveled widely throughout the Roman Empire
 Missionary activity
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
35

Early Christian Communities
 Local leaders: Bishops
 Regional variation in doctrine and ritual
 Nature of resurrection
 Role of women
 Gradual acceptance of core texts
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
36

Growth of Early Christianity
 Roman persecution
 Yet dramatic expansion of Christianity
 Especially with dispossessed, disenfranchised classes


Urban poor women
Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.
37