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What is History? History attempts to describe and explain the past. Historians are generally concerned with the causes, consequences and significance of events. History is distinct from myths and narratives about the past in that History is exclusively concerned with what can be demonstrated through the reasoned use of evidence.
What is History? Everything has a history so anything can be the studied by History. Once, History tended to focus exclusively on war, politics and 'great men'. Now, the discipline of History is much more diverse. Areas of study include, for example; - The history of everyday life- The history of ideas- The history of technology- Gender history- Cultural history- Art history
What is History? In the Western world at least, History is regarded as falling into the following major periods:- Pre-History (before writing) - approx. 3000 BC- Ancient History - > 470 AD- Medieval History 470 - 1500 AD- Modern History 1500 > present
The Romulus & Remus Myth • Rhea, a Latin princess, escaped from the control of her uncle and gave birth to Romulus & Remus, her children by Mars, the God of War. • Rhea's wicked uncle was so jealous he killed Rhea and Mars and ordered the death of Romulus & Remus • The servant could not kill the baby twins and sent them in a basket down the Tiber. • The twins were found by a she-wolf and then a shepherd • Romulus & Remus grew into strong men and founded their own village. • In a fight over what to kill the city, Romulus killed Remus
The geography of Rome • Easily defended hills • Access to the sea by the Tiber • Island in the Tiber made it easier to cross, major north-south trade route • Volcanic activity had created fertile soil (but also malaria-infected marshes) • Later on - well-positioned in the Mediterranean (militarily and commercially)
The Etruscans and their influence • Conflicting accounts of their origins • Last three kings believed to have been Etruscan • Building: drains, sewer, paved streets, the forum, planned streets, the arch, houses • Religion - divination, necropolises
The gentes (clans) • A gens was a clan: gentes (clans) were composed of families descended from a common ancestor and had religious rites in common GENS Familia Familia Familia
The Roman Family... PATERFAMILIAS Paternal authority (patria potestas), Complete disciplinary control (manus) Lordship (dominium) Patronage (patrocinium) Family The Roman family included many generations: the oldest couple, their married sons with their wives and children, and their unmarried sons and daughters. Slaves Generally prisoners of war taken by the Romans in their conflicts with the Italian tribes around them. A slave could be freed by the paterfamilias. Freedmen (liberti) became clients. Clients Clients, although dependants, enjoyed some of the privileges of the family. They were granted land and protection by their patron in return for economic and political services.
Expansion through the Italian peninsula • 509 - 390 B.C. Wars against the Sabines, Aequi, Volsci. In 493 Latin League created • 390 - 338 B.C. Rome sacked by the Gauls. Gradually recovers - Servian wall built. In 343 defended Capua from the Samnites. • 338 - 290 B.C. Latin League dissolved. Wars with Samnites, Etruscans, Umbrians and Gauls. Wars against Samnites led to the development of Maniples. Roman colonies. • 290 - 265 B.C. Wars against Magna Graecia. Pyrrhus of Epirus
