Ancient Rome

1. Ancient Rome

2. Lecture Outline I. Structure of the Early Roman Republic • Government/family life/social and class structure II. Roman Representative Government • After 509 BC – Government & Law III. Building the Empire: Military Conquests IV. How Rome was Built • Technology/Engineering/Architecture • 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

3. Geography • Mountains and plains • Grains and crops grown on plains • Rome • 15 miles inland at base of 7 hills of the Apennine mountain 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

4. Geography:MountainsHillsPlainsSeas

5. Seven Hills of Ancient Rome

6. 509 BCE Romans gained control from Etruscans Roman Republic formed

7. Legend of Romulus and Remus 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)

8. Romulus and Remus

9. Structure of Early Roman Republic • Roman Republic founded 509 BCE – representational democracy (compared to Athenian Greek direct democracy) • Elected representatives made laws and decisions, rather than all (male) citizens • Roman Senate • Aristocratic council - approved ruler, advisory council • Elected two consuls who administered the state for one-year terms • Curiate Assembly (Centuriate Assembly) • 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)

10. Family & Political Structure • 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 • 2 forms of marriage • transfer of “manus” (protection) from father to husband OR • father retained “manus” (protection)

11. Roman Social Classes • Conflict between two major classes • Patricians • Hereditary upper class • Wealthy landowners • Served as priests • Could sit on Senate and hold office • Led military units • Plebeians • Hereditary lower class (not necessarily poor)

12. Roman Representative Government (after 509 BCE) • 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) • Censors • Responsible for enrolling and keeping track of citizens • Had right to impeach consuls for bad behavior

13. Roman Representative Govt.(continued) • Roman Senate • Prominent patricians (leaders of their class) • Controlled state finances and foreign policy • Centuriate Assembly (from the old Curiate Assembly) • 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

14. Struggle of the Orders: • Fight for political, legal and social equality between Patricians and Plebeians • 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

15. Roman Law • Plebeians forced patricians to expand and include them in Republic and law • 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 – “CivisRomanus Sum” – “I am a Roman citizen” – all male adults

16. 12 Tables 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?

17. 12 Tables What do they tell us about the Roman Republic? Why was it progress for plebeians for the laws to be written down (codified)?

18. Roman Empire: 3 Stages of Conquest • Conquest of Italy • Punic Wars and Western Mediterranean • Hellenistic Kingdom and Eastern Mediterranean

19. Military History of Rome 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

20. Rome used Diplomacy and Force to separate enemies 280 BCE – Etruscans and Gauls – Rome was victorious

21. Roman Victories in Italy • 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 • By 265 BCE Rome ruled southern Italy

22. Rome and Carthage • 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 • Second Punic War (218-202 BCE) • 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

23. Map of Punic Wars Rome vs. Carthage

25. Other Conflicts • 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 • Third Punic War (146 BCE) • Results over broken peace treaty • Romans defeated Carthage and it became 3rd Roman Province • 133 BCE Rome took Pergamum (coast of Asia Minor)

27. How Rome was “Built” 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

29. Architecture & Infrastructure Sewer System The Forum (ancient Rome’s “downtown” district) 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

30. Roman Road System in Italy

31. Roman Road System in Italy © Jon Arnold Images (Walter Bibikow)/Alamy

32. Imperial Construction Projects • 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 • 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

33. Roman Bath at Bath, England Modern bath built on Roman foundation

34. Aqueduct, Segovia, Spain – Still in use today

35. Roman Coliseum

36. Hadrian’s Walls of Britain – • 117-138 CE – consolidated Roman • power in Britain, controlled movement

37. Trajan’s Marketplace (New Forum) – • built by Emperor Trajan – 98-117 CE panoramic view

38. Also under Hadrian - Pantheon

39. Further Resources:Roman Architecture & Building 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

40. Fall of the Roman Republic The Roman Empire and Emperors

41. Why Did the Roman Republic Fall? • Online article’s main points?: • Civil War – disagreements – • Class conflict – rising inequality, particularly 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

42. Empire and Effects on Republic • 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 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

43. Slavery in Ancient Rome • 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 • 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

44. Problems in the Republic • Problems of expanding power – also expanding rights? • New wealth from conquered lands – tax monies • New provinces – who would control them? • 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

45. Rise of Roman Empire • Tiberius Gracchus (133 BCE) • 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

46. Growing conflict and violence – over power and inequality • Gaius Gracchus (123 BCE) • 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

47. Marius (109 BCE) • 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 • Sulla – military general – became dictator • 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

48. First Caesars and Decline of Roman Republic Three Caesars came to power … First Triumvirate: Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Caesar 1st Triumvirate (able to control republic) Power-sharing: 59 BCE Caesar = consulship 50 BCE Pompey = consulship Caesar Rebelled, defeated Pompey in battle, had him killed in Egypt

49. Pompey Crassus Julius Ceasar

50. Caesar Grabbed Power • 47 BCE Caesar proclaimed himself DICTATOR • Appointed by Senate for 10 years; he extended it to LIFE • Increased size of Senate • Reformed Calendar (365 days to match Egyptian) • Held tightly to power • Combined military genius, political acumen, and oratorical skills • HBO, “Rome,” Caesar Given Power by the Senate • HBO, “Rome,” Gaius Julius Caesar Clips