Ancient Rome
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Roman Republic
City of Rome founded by Latin people on river in center of Italy.
Good location on Mediterranean, able to use ideas by Greeks (in South and
Etruscans (in North) who were also living in Italy at time.
600 BC, Etruscan king ruled over his people and Rome a wealthy large city.
509 Overthrew the king and declared Rome a Republic
a. People would vote to have a leader
b. Said never again would have a king
Two Groups Struggle for Power
a. Patricians--Nobles have more power at first and control gov’t
b. Plebeians--Over time common people won more rights.
12 Tables
a. Rules that were the basis of Roman law
b. All free citizens protected by law.
c. Posted in public for all to see.
Government of Republic-3 parts
a. 2 Consuls to lead government and army
i. Couldn’t become a consul 2nd time until 10 years had passed.
b. Senate
i. Started with 100 members chosen from upper classes.
ii. Later expanded and some members common people.
iii. Passed laws everyone to abide by.
Voting
a. All free-born males were citizens—had right to vote.
b. If you owned property you had to serve in army.
Expansion
a. 4th century—captured almost all of Italy within 150 years.
b. Rome allowed some conquered people to enjoy citizenship benefits.
c. Growth in trade.
Punic Wars—conflict with trading city of Carthage
a. 264-146 BC
b. 3 bitter wars. 1st Rome wins control of Sicily—23 years, 2nd Carthage
causes destruction in Italy-led by Hannibal, Rome spared, 3rd Rome
completely destroys Carthage—burns it and sells 50,000 into slavery.
A few decades later conquers Greece, Macedonia, Spain and parts of modern
Turkey—Controlled Mediterranean Sea.
Roman Empire
Victory brings conflict—rich vs. poor
2 Brothers try to get laws passed to help poor—get killed.
Rome erupted into civil war as leading Generals seek power
Julius Caesar—tries to take control.
a. 1st Joins with wealthy man Cassius and Pompey a successful General
b. Triumvirate—next 10 years these 3 lead Rome.
c. Casesar gains fame with several battle victories.
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d. Pompey fears Caesar, fights him, loses and Caesar grabs all power.
Caesar takes charge
a. Reform changes increase his popularity
i. Grants many citizenship in provinces
ii. Expanded Senate, adding friends from Italy and other regions.
iii. Helped poor by creating public works jobs.
iv. Increased pay of soldiers
v. Started colonies where people w/o land could own property.
b. Some changes raise problems with senate and military leaders. Marcus
Brutus and Cassius assassinate him on March 15, 44 BC—stabbed in
Senate Chamber
Beginning empire—
a. Civil war breaks out—destroys rest of Republic
b. Caesar’s grandnephew and adopted son Octavius bands with strong
General Marc Antony and strong politician, control Rome for 10 years
in 2nd Triumvirate.
c. Octavius and Marc Antony become rivals. Antony and girlfriend
Queen Cleopatra of Egypt gang up on Octavius but Octavius wins.
d. Antony and Cleopatra later commit suicide
e. Octavius restores some aspects of republic, but takes on title of
Augustus (supreme commander, emporer).
Powerful Empire
Peak of power from 27 BC to 180 AD.
a. Pax Romana (Roman Peace)—about 200 years of peace and prosperity
except for few squabbles at borders.
b. 3 million sq. miles of territory., 60-80 million people, 1 million in Rome
c. 90 percent of people were farmers
Sound Government
a. Augustus
i. Stabilized frontier
ii. Glorified Rome w/ public buildings
iii. Civil service—paid gov’t officials (grain supply, postal, taxes)
iv. Senate still functions, but plebes and poor help run
government.
Social Life
a. Rich—lavish lifestyle
b. Poor—gov’t food handouts and gory public entertainment at
Coliseum.
c. 1/3 of people in empire were slaves—never had successful revolt.
Gov’t linked to gods
a. Roman gods—strong spirits everywhere (Numina). Lares guardian
spirit of each family—public worship, gov’t ceremonies esp to honor
father of Gods (Jupiter),
Rise of Christianity
a. Land of the Jews taken by Empire
b. Some Jews waiting for coming Messiah (savior)to rid them of Roman rule.
c. Messiah was to restore kingdom of the Jews
d. Jesus born (4 to 6 BC)—error in calendar calculations
e. Ministry at age 30 for 3 years
A. Preaches message of God’s love
B. According to witnesses performed miracles
C. Called people to repent from sin (wrong)
D. Jewish leaders reject him as Messiah, arrest him and sentence
him to death on a cross.
E. Followers claim he rose from the dead, proving Messiah.
F. Call him Christ (Greek for Messiah)
G. At first followers all Jews, but later non-Jews (Gentiles).
H. Paul takes message of Gospel (good news) of Jesus through
Empire—Christianity spreads.
I. Roman leaders tried to punish Christians who refused to worship
Roman gods. Put them to death, put them in arenas with wild
animals who would kill—spectator sport.
J. Continues to Spread (hope to all—slave or poor, man or woman,
rich or poor, appeal of morality in immoral society, offered
personal relationship with God)
K. Eventually Bishop of Rome heads church
L. 313 AD Emperor Constantine--no longer persecute Christians.
M. A few decades later, becomes official religion of the Empire.
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Rome declines after 180—lots of economic problems, high taxes, supply
problems, military problems with German tribes in North.
a. Diocletian takes over the throne—passed laws, claimed son of chief
Roman god.
b. Divides empire into halves—East and West
c. Constantine continues in about 324—takes over whole kingdom, forms
Constantinople as new head of empire, but Western empire falls.
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Rome and Roots of Western Civilization.
a. Sculpture—borrowed Greek practices, but statues more realistic—3
dimensional images.
b. Mosaic-many small tiles.
c. Engineering—arches and domes allow for large buildings (think of our
capitol building)
d. Excellent system of roads—helps trade and military (interstate system)
e. Aqueducts—running water to bring from distant lakes and through cities.
f. Language—Spanish and even English—many Latin roots.
g. MOST LASTING INFLUENCE—GOVERNMENT
A. ALL PERSONS TREATED EQUALLY UNDER LAW
B. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
C. BURDEN OF PROOF ON ACCUSER
D. PUNISH FOR ACTIONS AND NOT THOUGHTS/OPINONS
Ethnocentrism—belief that your ethnicity is right. The Romans were ethnocentric
because they thought their way was the best, but they did take best ideas of other cultures
and make them their own.