Transcript Rome Notes Ch 6 parts 1 and 2

Rome – The Republic and the Empire (Ch 6 Parts
1 and 2) – THE date to know = 44BC
• Rome emerged as a large republic, and became a
major regional force.
• Power struggles in Rome led to the republic
changing into a vast empire.
• At its peak Rome controlled Mesopotamia to Spain,
North Africa to Britain.
• At its peak there was a time called the Pax Romana
which was a golden age for cultural, and
engineering achievements.
Rome – Origins
• Legend = City founded by
Romulus and Remus
(Trojan War)
• Society emerges and is
influenced by Etruscans,
Greeks, and Latins
• Etruscans – engineering,
celebrations, alphabet
• Greeks – Gods / Religion,
Trading heritage
• Latins – Territory in central
Italy where settlement
originated
Early Republic c. 600
• Series of Etruscan kings
rule over Rome
• Tarquin the Proud – Last
Etruscan King, very
unpopular with aristocrats
--- overthrown
• New government is called
a REPUBLIC
– Power rests with citizens
who vote to select leaders
Features of Roman Republic
• Patricians v. Plebeians
• Tribunes – Represent the
rights of Plebeians
• 12 Tables – Written and
posted laws
– Rule of Law
Structure of Roman Republic
Government
• 2 Consuls – Command army and direct gov
– veto power, short term, 10 year gap
• Senate – 300 Patricians meet and make laws for
gov --- Lifetime membership
• Centuriate Assembly
– All citizen soldiers part of this – picks the Consul
• Tribal Assembly
– Assembly for the Plebeians – grows in power over
time
• Dictator
– In times of emergency, 1 man given absolute power
for 6 months
• Army
– Legions – Army unit of 5000 infantry + cavalry
– Century – 80 man units within legion
– Strength was flexibility and independence in
decision making
The Republic Spreads
• By 70 BC – Rome basically
owns the Mediterranean
• Establishes big
Commercial Network
– Location is key
• Treatment of conquered
areas
– Diff people have diff rights
– Some become full citizens
– Treat them as allies
The Punic Wars – 3 Wars 200s BCE
• Carthage = strong city state in
N. Africa (Tunisia)
• Hannibal – seeks to avenge
Carthaginian losses, attacks
Rome via Spain with elephants
• H – spends 10 yrs raiding Italy,
but never takes Rome itself
• Scipio – Roman general who
finally attacks Carthage
directly, forces Hannibal to
return
• 3rd War – Carthage is no longer
a threat, but Rome attacks and
annihilates anyway
Problems Lead to Collapse of the
Republic
• Expansion led to increased gap
between rich and poor
• Latifundia = big estates owned by
nobles
–
–
–
–
Lots of slave labor
Small farmers can’t compete
Many become homeless, jobless
Large group of urban poor
emerges (20%)
• Gracchus Brothers – Proposed
reforms to help poor
– Seen as threat by nobles
– Assassinated
– Civil War breaks out
Civil War leads to Rise of Julius Caesar
• Triumvirate is formed (JC,
Pompey, Crassus)
• Caesar is consul, then
governor of Gaul
– Hugely popular with troops
and people
• Caesar marches on Rome
– Against orders from Senate
– Crosses the Rubicon
– Pompey flees
• Caesar is declared Dictator,
then Dictator for Life
Rome under Julius Caesar 44 BCE
• Absolute Ruler
• Reforms
– Expands citizenship
– Creates jobs (construction)
– Creates colonies (land for
landless)
• Backlash and Assassination
– Nobles / Senators fear C’s
growing power
– March 15, 44BCE (Beware
the Ides of March(
– Et tu Brute?
Augustus Caesar and the start of the
Empire
• Civil War breaks out after death of JC
• New Triumvirate
– Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus
– Goes after assassins of JC
• Octavian v. Mark Antony
– Mark Antony in Egypt (Cleopatra)
– Octavian accuses MA, Civil War Breaks
out
– MA and Cleo suicides
• Octavian promises to restore the
Republic
– Becomes “Augustus” – Exalted one
– Becomes Imperator (sup mil
commander)
Caesar Augustus marks start of Pax
Romana
• Pax Romana –
– Peak of Roman power 27BC-180CE –
– 200 years of peace / stability
• Econ
– Agriculture + trade
– Trade is safe, prosperous
• Management
– Army offers route to citizenship
– Keeps people invested
• Stability
– Civil Service –
– So stable it survives “Bad Emperors”
• Succession
– 5 Good Emperors
Life in Roman Empire
•
•
•
60-80 million people – 1 million in Rome
Most lived in countryside
Values
– Strength, Discipline, Loyalty
• -- Gravitas
•
•
Family Structure
– Paterfamilias
Women
–
–
–
•
Almost socially equal to men
Could own property, testify in court
Could NOT vote
Children
– Boys favored over girls
– Little formal schooling, especially for
poor
– Girls usually married by 16yrs – Males
much older
Slavery in Roman Empire
• Huge part of Rome
• 1/3 of population
• Mostly conquered people from
wars
• Men, Women, Children
• Masters had total power – even
death
• Mostly hard manual labor
• Some become Gladiators
• Occasional slave rebellions,
always failed
Religion in Roman Empire
• Early Romans
– Numina –natural spirits in all things
– Lares – guardian spirits of families
• Greek / Etruscan Influence
– Personification of spirits
– New names for Greek gods
• Asian Influence
– Buddhism, Hinduism have some followers
• Rise of Christianity
– 60 AD – Major persecution
– 200s AD – Major influence
– 300s AD – Becomes official religion
Bread and Circus
• Huge difference between
Rich and Poor
• Poor received daily grain
ration
• Gov creates games to
distract / control the poor
• 150 holidays per year –
Each with games, fights,
shows, races etc in
Coliseum