I.
Structure of the Early Roman Republic
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Government/family life/social and class structure
II. Roman Representative Government
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After 509 BC – Government & Law
III. Military Conquests
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Republic
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Gallic Invasion
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Defeat of Latin League
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Southern Italy
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Rome & Carthage
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Punic Wars
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Empire in 3 Stages
IV. How Rome was Built
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Technology/Engineering/Architecture
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Contributions of the Emperors
V. Slavery in Rome
VI. The Rise of Rome as an Empire
VII. The Caesars and the Eventual Decline of the Empire
VIII. Rise of Christianity
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Mountains and plains
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Grains and crops grown on plains
Rome
• 15 miles inland at base of 7 hills of the Apennine mountain
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range
Hills provided good defense against attack
Inland = protection from sea-based attack or invasion
Natural crossing point for North/South traffic
Caught East/West trade from Mediterranean
Mare Nostrum = “our sea” = Roman view of the
Mediterranean Sea
 Romans
in conflict and competition with
Etruscans
 Self-governing city-states linked by religion
 Governed by councils and elected
magistrates
 Military/conquest
 Competition with Greece and Carthage
 Polytheistic
 Roadways and Buildings (Sacred Way, 575
BCE)
509 BCE Romans gained control
from Etruscans
Roman Republic formed
 Two
sons of Mars and local woman
 Abandoned and raised by she-wolf
 Romulus killed Remus
 Settled on banks of Tiber River and seven
hills
 Rome named for Romulus
 Legend says he chose 100 men to advise
him (precursor to Roman Republic)
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Roman Republic founded 509 BCE – representational
democracy (compared to Athenian Greek direct
democracy)
• Elected representatives made laws and decisions, rather than all (male)
citizens
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Roman Senate
• Aristocratic council - approved ruler, advisory council
• Elected two consuls who administered the state for one-year terms
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Curiate Assembly (Centuriate Assembly)
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All male citizens
Summoned to ratify ruler’s decrees
Voted in groups (like House of Representatives)
Voted on ruler and granted “imperium” (right to command)
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Men = head/ruler
Supervised daily religious rites of worshipping ancestors
Could execute children or sell them into slavery
Less authority over wife (protected by family of birth)
Wife was administrator of household
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2 forms of marriage
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• transfer of “manus” (protection) from father to husband OR
• father retained “manus” (protection)
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Conflict between two major classes
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Patricians
• Hereditary upper class
• Wealthy landowners
• Served as priests
• Could sit on Senate and hold office
• Led military units
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Plebeians
• Hereditary lower class (not necessarily poor)
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2 Consuls – had Imperium (the right to command)
• Led armies and oversaw state religion/judges
• Office term = 1 year
• Consuls could appoint Dictator in times of War (6 month term)
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Censors
• Responsible for enrolling and keeping track of citizens
• Had right to impeach consuls for bad behavior
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Roman Senate
• Prominent patricians (leaders of their class)
• Controlled state finances and foreign policy
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Centuriate Assembly (from the old Curiate Assembly)
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Military assembly
Elected consuls and magistrates
Voted on bills from Senate
Made decisions of war and peace
Served as court of appeals for citizens
Voted in centuries (groups of 100)
Each man brought his own equipment – grouped by classes and
wealth
Fight for political, legal and social equality between
Patricians and Plebeians
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2.
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Lasted over 200 years
Plebeians made up large part of military (led “strikes”)
Plebeians won the right to form political
organizations of their own (Plebian trial assembly)
Elected Tribunes (officials with power to protect
plebeians from abuse by patrician magistrate)
The Tribunes could VETO any action of a magistrate
or any bill in a Roman assembly or Senate
 Plebeians
forced patricians to expand and
include them in Republic and law
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Rome’s laws were Codified (written down) – 450 BCE
Twelve Tables
Equality under the law – 287 BCE – secured passage of a law
that made the decision of the Plebeian assembly binding on
ALL Romans
By 287 BCE, all Roman citizens were equal under the law and
could “strive for political office”
Raised importance and status of Roman citizenship – “Civis
Romanus Sum” – “I am a Roman citizen” – all male adults
 1.
Read the Tables
 2.
Choose 2 laws that interest you.
 3.
Do you think those laws are fair or
just? – Briefly explain on sheet
 4.
Break up into groups of 2 or 3 and
discuss each of your laws – fair or just?
 What
do they tell us about the Roman
Republic?
• Defining crime and punishment
• Defining who is worthwhile, who is a burden, useful
• Prosecution and defense
• System of law, of valuing truth and honesty
• Laws of respect for the city, establish order (fear of rebellion, of Rome being
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overthrown – plebs, other outsiders, slaves)
Reinforced class system
Reinforcing gender roles; appropriate behavior
Defining public vs. private
Defining power: who has it, who doesn’t
 Why
was it progress for plebeians for the
laws to be written down (codified)?
1.
Conquest of Italy
2.
Punic Wars and Western Mediterranean
3.
Hellenistic Kingdom and Eastern
Mediterranean
509 BCE – As Republic formed, Rome began to “pay” men for military
service (helped poor and improved army)
387 BCE – Gallic Invasion
Burned the city of Rome – Rome paid a ransom to get city back
340 BCE – Rome defeated the Latin League and began to expand
1. not all conquered treated the same
2. some given full citizenship
3. some given municipal privileges (internal self-government,
right to intermarry, but could not take part in Roman politics
unless moved to Rome and applied for citizenship)
4. all allies supplied troops for Roman army (did not pay taxes)
5. planted colonies of veteran soldiers on annexed land
6. If the citizens of a conquered nation cooperated, Rome made
them a Province of Rome with all the rights of a Roman Citizen
Rome used Diplomacy and Force to separate enemies
280 BCE – Etruscans and Gauls – Rome was victorious
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Rome turned to southern Italy
Most of the territory held by Greeks
War with Greek mercenary Pyrrhus, King of Epirus
• Pyrrhus defeated Rome 2 times, but suffered great casualties as a
result
• PYRRHIC Victory (one not worth the cost) – withdrew and Greeks had
to join Roman Confederation
• The Defeat of Pyrrhus won Rome recognition as a power in the
Hellenistic (Greek) World
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By 265 BCE Rome ruled southern Italy
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Carthage – largest and richest country in Mediterranean
Conflict between Rome and Carthage known as PUNIC
Wars:
First Punic War (264-241 BCE)
• Target = Sicily
• Became First Roman Province
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Second Punic War (218-202 BCE)
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Hannibal on the offensive – took battle to Roman backyard
Alps and the Elephants into Gaul/France – WON
Rome went to Hannibal's house … Spain
Peace treaty signed in 202 BCE
Spain became Second Roman Province
Map of
Punic Wars
Rome vs.
Carthage
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Macedonian Conflicts
• Phillip V of Macedonia and Rome at Thessaly
• Romans helped Greek city-states to gain freedom from
Macedonia
• 179 BCE Rome and the 3rd Macedonian War
• Macedonia is divided into 4 parts – harsh Roman policy
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Third Punic War (146 BCE)
• Results over broken peace treaty
• Romans defeated Carthage and it became 3rd Roman Province
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133 BCE Rome took Pergamum (coast of Asia Minor)
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Accomplishments in Engineering and Architecture
– many still visible today
Romans inherited Etruscan accomplishments –
water movement, road building (Sacred Way) and
wall building
Republican public spaces
Each Roman Emperor wanted to add something
spectacular to Rome … some to build the city …
others to build the empire
Rome Reborn – link to virtual tour of Ancient Rome
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Sewer System
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The Forum (ancient Rome’s “downtown” district)
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Via Appia (Roman Way) – 312 BCE – 132 miles long
(Video)
By time of Julius Ceasar (49-44 BCE) Rome
controlled Western Europe and Eastern Africa … the
road system was enormous and efficient
Theaters and amphitheaters – by 31 CE – London,
Bonn, Paris
Roman Road
System in Italy
Roman Road
System in Italy
© Jon Arnold Images (Walter Bibikow)/Alamy
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Under Emperor Claudius (41-54 CE)
• Conquered Britannia
• Built 2 major aqueduct systems (aqua Claudia)
• Perfected the Arch
• fountains/baths
• Running water in wealthy homes
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Under Vespasian 69-79 CE (former commander of
Judea)
• Coliseum
• Financed by relics from Jewish Temple in Jerusalem
• Built by 12,000 Jewish captives/slaves
Roman Bath at Bath, England
Modern bath built on Roman
foundation
Aqueduct, Segovia, Spain – Still in use today
Roman Coliseum
Hadrian’s Walls of Britain –
117-138 CE – consolidated Roman
power in Britain, controlled movement
Trajan’s Marketplace (New Forum) –
built by Emperor Trajan – 98-117 CE
panoramic view
Also under Hadrian - Pantheon
 Article
on tours of Rome’s underground cellars
 Article on ancient Roman underground tunnel
in Syria
 Online tour of the Basilica of St. Clemente with
underground temple & early church
 Video on Coliseum & Basilica w/ Temple to
Mithras
 Article on pagan tomb under Vatican
 Video on ruins under Basilica St. Mary Major
 Underground ruins of Emperor Nero’s Golden
House palace Video 1; Video 2; Video 3
The Roman Empire and Emperors
 Online
article’s main points?:
• Civil War – disagreements –
• Class conflict – rising inequality, particularly
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among farmers and urban poor
Individual conflicts – power hungry individuals
Relationship between people and rulers
Corruption – people doubted Senate’s power
Military/generals
Loyalty to generals or leaders
Rising faith in military or violent solutions
 What
effect did expanding empire have on the
Roman Republic?
• Conquering of new lands and peoples
• Roman citizenship not granted to all conquered men – had
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to earn it – exclusive
Creation of Roman provinces – not equal members of
empire – resentment
Expanded institution of slavery – great # of conquered
peoples became slaves
Increase in inequality
Threat of provincial and slave revolts
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Slaves came from POWs and purchase
Allowed to marry – but children became slaves
(permanent status)
Domestic slaves allowed to earn $$
Transformed ethnic composition of population
Many worked on latifundia (agricultural system)
Slave Rebellions
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most famous … Spartacus – Gladiator
70,000 fugitive slaves from Italian countryside
repeatedly defeated Roman Legions
Finally caught Spartacus – crucified him and 6,000 men
Read more info on Roman slavery
Problems of expanding power – also expanding
rights?
 New wealth from conquered lands – tax monies
 New provinces – who would control them?
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New social classes in Rome
• Disparity of wealth – growth in inequality
• Wealthy landowners
• New wage working class in cities (former farmers)
• Social and economic inequality = conflict
Military commanders gained more power by appealing
to poor – raised possibility of dictatorship
Tiberius Gracchus (133 BCE)
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Proposed land reform – appealed for popular support
Wealthy senators would be hurt
Some worried about precedent of interfering with property
rights
Feared political gains – people would like the “drafter” of
this new law
Took proposals directly to assembly – if assembly
could pass laws after they had been opposed by the
Senate and vetoed by a Tribune, Rome would no
longer be an oligarchic republic but a real
democracy
Eventually Tiberius was murdered
Link to BBC site - Rome’s pivotal Emperors
Growing conflict and violence – over
power and inequality
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Gaius Gracchus (123 BCE)
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Brother of Tiberius
made alliances among voters
revived land distribution efforts
managed to stabilize price of grain
He was also murdered …
Gaius’ death taught the population that they would
have to resort to violence to oppose the Senate
Marius (109 BCE)
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Sulla – military general – became dictator
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Military General persuaded Rome to make changes in
recruitment – larger armies in fields
Convinced assembly to drop property qualifications for
military (paved way for citizen army)
Semi-professional army (clients) of Marius (loyal to him)
Used army as a political tool
General who led Rome in Italian civil war
Gained consulship and command of war against Asia
Turned his army on Rome
Wanted to restore traditional senate in government
Led to Civil War that destroyed Republic
Redistributed land
End of Republic – military dictators
ignored elected bodies and Senate
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Three Caesars came to power … First Triumvirate:
Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Caesar
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1st Triumvirate (able to control republic)
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Power-sharing:
59 BCE Caesar = consulship
50 BCE Pompey = consulship
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Caesar Rebelled, defeated Pompey in battle, had him
killed in Egypt
Pompey
Julius Ceasar
Crassus
 47
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BCE Caesar proclaimed himself DICTATOR
Appointed by Senate for 10 years; he extended it to
LIFE
Increased size of Senate
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Reformed Calendar (365 days to match Egyptian)
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Held tightly to power
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Combined military genius, political acumen, and oratorical
skills
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HBO, “Rome,” Caesar Given Power by the Senate
HBO, “Rome,” Gaius Julius Caesar Clips
 44
BCE Caesar assassinated in the Roman
Senate and civil war ensued
 HBO, “Rome,” Assassination of Caesar
 Conspirators
defeated by Marcus Antonius,
Lepidus, and Caesar’s nephew Octavian
 Octavian
defeated other 2 conspirators – came
to power after struggle and battles
 Octavian was sole Emperor by 27 BCE
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Made himself 1st Roman Emperor
• Senate proclaimed him “Augustus” – Revered One
• Senate gave him Imperium
• He assumed many roles of Republic – tried to keep
image of Republic alive, while, in reality, he made most
decisions
• Created great army
• New system of government (deputies to rule provinces)
• Stabilized frontiers and economic expansion
• Came against Germanic tribes of North – defeated
 Augustine’s
Absolute Rule:
• Confiscation of Egypt’s treasury, so A had plenty of $$$$$$
• Constitution – inaugurated Pax Romana (Roman Peace)
• Monarchy (all civil and military power lay with ruler)
• Blocked ambitious politicians
• Founded the 1st Fire Department and Police Force
• Organized Grain distribution and set up water systems (Vast
Public Works projects)
• Resigned most offices except governorship of Spain, Gaul and
Syria (contained 20/26 legions)
Senate saw this as restoration of Republic …
Julio – Claudian Dynasty 14 – 68 CE
 What
would happen after Augustus died?
 He had created personal rule, not
institutional legacy
 Military loyal to him, not Republic
 Military had power to overthrow any new
ruler or Republic
 Empire too large – invaders
 Contact with other cultures – monotheism
threatened Roman polytheism and values
 What
happened to Roman Empire?
• Division into 2 halves – western and eastern
• Fall of Western Roman Empire
 Germanic
peoples
• Migration, conquests
 Development
of Christianity
• Beliefs
• Divisions
• Conflicts
• Achievements
 “Story
of God” video link
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Roman presence in Canaan since 63 BCE
Christianity in Roman Empire – link to BBC website on the
Spread of Christianity and Rome.
Began as Jewish Sect around 30 CE
The Apostle Paul and others spread Gospel (Good News)
about Jesus
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Christ (Christos) “anointed one”
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Spread of Christianity map
 Relationship
changed over time
 From
ignoring small cult, to persecution,
to acceptance, to institution of
Christianity as imperial religion
 Roman
polytheism open to new gods,
rituals, and cults – groundwork for
acceptance