Transcript From Monarchy to Republic

Early Rome
From Monarchy to Republic
753-509 BC
Rome’s Foundation

Fratricide
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Immigration
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Criminal Elements
Lecture Outline 1/15
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Discussion of Monarchy (Part I)
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Short Break (around 6 pm)
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Gladiator Graffiti (Part II)
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Beginning of Republic (Part III)
Titus Livius
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Roman historian
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c.59 BC-AD 17
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Wrote about the history
of Rome from its
foundation to 9 BC
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142 Books, 35 are still
in existence
Livy’s Methodology
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Explain history by
looking at the
characters of people
involved (p.34)
“I invite the reader’s
attention to . . .”
Who were the men?
How does the moral
decline occur?
Learn from lessons of
the past
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“The study of
history is the best
medicine for a sick
mind”
“fine things to take
as models, base
things, rotten
through and
through, to avoid”
Romulus: Small Town
Criminal or City Father?
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Survival of the state
over individual needs
Whether Mars is the
divine parent or not
(p.33), Livy
encourages his reader
to see how this “adds
dignity to the past.”
Rome’s success
dependent on divine
favor
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Gives you two
different versions of
Remus death
Can’t tell what
really happened, so
don’t judge it
Look at Romulus’
record as king
Rape of the Sabine
Women
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Romulus offers
asylum to former
male slaves,
robbers and
runaways
How to populate the
city?
Seek women who
can be married
Roman Men Want
Classy Women
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Suggestion comes
to take slave
women and offer
them asylum
Not acceptable to
Roman men
“the young Romans
naturally resented
this” (p.43)
Community Action
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Young men of
Rome abduct
Sabine women
Deception is ok if
you are responding
to an injustice
Need respectable
women to marry
War Breaks Out
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Strong military
action, followed by
religious action
Dedication of
Rome’s first temple
Result:growth of the
city
How the Women Saved
the City
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“We would rather
die ourselves than
be widowed or
orphaned.” (p.48)
“Thus the
population of Rome
was doubled.”
Story of Tarpeia
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Daughter of a Roman
commander
Bribed by king of
Sabines, Tatius
Promises her “what
they wear on their
arms”
Puts individual needs
before the needs of the
state
The Capitoline
Sabines are able to temporarily take
the citadel
 With the help of the Sabine women,
Rome is saved
 Put state before individuals
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Romulus
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What were
Romulus’
intentions?
Did he act on behalf
of the city?
What was the
outcome of his
actions?
The Kings of Rome
Romulus
Numa
Pompilius
Tullius
Hostilius
Ancus
Marcius
L. Tarquinius
Priscus
Servius Tullius
L. Tarquinius
Superbus
Lucretia
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How do the actions of
Collatinus when he is
with his soldier friends
affect Lucretia?
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“Never shall Lucretia
provide a precedent for
unchaste women to
escape what they
deserve.”
Other Men’s Wives
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Collatinus and the
other soldiers visit
other men’s homes
They find the wives
“enjoying
themselves with a
group of young
friends at a dinner
party, the greatest
luxury.” (p.98)
The Roman Republic
Begins . . .
Lucretia is the ultimate human sacrifice
 Life is out of balance in the monarchy
 Boundaries between public and private
are transgressed
 Sacrifice becomes the national
spectacle which unites the community
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How did this king’s
regime begin and end?
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Tullia rides out into the public assembly after
Servius Tullius’ death
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Then Tullia hails Tarquin as king in public
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Tarquin’s reign ends when he enters a
private house and violates the modest wife
within
The formation of the
Republic
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Libertas = freedom
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Rome has laws, the senate, and its
first temples
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Brought to you by Romulus
Political Changes
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Romans feared that the lower strata of
society would take control
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Livy cautions that political change
must take place when the time is right
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Community needs to grow first (p. 105)
The Plebeians
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Lower strata of
Roman society
Can fight in wars
with wealthy
privileged
Romans,but have
very little say in the
government
Rebel in 494
(pp.140-2
The Patricians
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Descendents of 100
senators Romulus
picked
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Religious officials
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Set laws
Cincinnatus
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Exemplum virtutis = example of virtue
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Knew when to rule and when to go
back to being an ordinary citizen
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Interdependence between family and
Roman state
Cincinnatus
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His farm is set off
from the city center
A ship must take
him to the public
part of the city
He puts his feelings
for the state ahead
of his paternal
instincts
Mucius Scaevola
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Burns off his hand
Declaration of
Roman citizenship
Rejects private life
for his civic identity
Cloelia
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QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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Hostage held by
Roman enemy
Escapes heroically
Returns to free
other hostages
Romans honor her
with statue
Horatius
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Kills his sister
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Is put on trial for
treason
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Acquited when his
father pleads for
him
Exemplary Lessons
There are moral difficulties in
establishing community
 Rome’s greatness is renewed by these
figures
 Impact of person on the state is the
measure of moral character
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The Republic is
always on the edge
of a knife
The Bourne Ultimatum