Ancient Rome

Beginning of Rome

Legend of Romulus and Remus

Circa 750 BCE

Abandoned brothers

Raised by She-Wolf

Romulus killed Remus

Early Government

Republic

Form of government in which the power rests with the citizens who then vote to select their leaders to represent them

Social ClassesPatricians

Wealthy land owners, nobles, controlled government

PlebeiansFarmers and workers, works to increase power

SlavesNo power

Early Government

Three bodies that control aspects of government

Senate – Controls public funds, Foreign policy

Magistrates – Advised by SenateConsuls - Two, 1 year terms, Checks & Balances, veto

Praetors – Help consuls

Censors – Registered citizens by wealth

Dictator – Absolute ruler, 6 months, time of crisis

AssembliesTribunes – leader of Plebeian Assemblies, 10

Voted on laws, elected officials

5

Conflict of the Orders

Plebeians

Felt left out of political life.

Leave Rome

Set up own city on nearby hill

Creates its own ruling body

Tribal assembly

Return

After the patricians in the Senate agreed to share power

6

Growth of Plebeian Power

Plebes can serve at all levels of priesthood.Decisions of the plebeian assembly are binding on ALL Roman citizens, not only on the plebes.

287

First plebe elected consul.366

Marriage between patricians and plebes legalized.

445

The Twelve Tables – Plebes, fearful of abuse of power, wanted codification of law. The Twelve Tables of Roman Law were etched on bronze plaques.

451 BCE

Roman Republic vs. U. S. Government(No need to copy)

Rome United States

Executive 2 Consuls, elected by the assembly for 1 year, commander of army

President, elected by citizens for 4 years, commander of army

Legislative Senate-300 memebersTribal Assembly- elected according to where they liveBoth elected for life

Senate-100 members, 6 yr termsHouse of Representatives-435 members, 2 yr . terms

Judicial Praetors-eight judges chosen for 1 year

Supreme Court-9 justices, appointed for life by President

Legal Code Twelve Tables – list of rules that were the basis of Roman Law

U.S. Constitution

Citizenship All adult male landowners only

All native-born or naturalized people

Republic Grows

200 years of wars with neighbors expands Rome’s Empire

ArmyAdult Landowning males

Strict discipline

Legion – groups of 4500-6000 soldiers

Well trained, high morals

Wise policiesAreas Close to Rome granted full citizenship

Further areas given partial citizenship– Even Greek City States– Own property– Could Marry– Could not vote

Areas remain independent– Required to send soldiers– Land for Roman farms

Punic Wars 264 – 146 BCECarthage

Powerful city

Controlled Sicily

Leary of Rome

Rome leery of Carthage’s NavyKnows they need a Navy

Strikes first

1st Punic War 264 – 241 BCE

War for control of SicilyTest for Rome’s new navy

Based off captured Carthaginian ship

Used ‘boarding bridges’ and land tactics– 35 ft. tall, on a swivel

23 years of war

ResultCarthage asks for Peace

Rome gets money

Rome controls Sicily

Gains Corsica and Sardinia shortly after

2nd Punic War 218 – 202 BCE

Carthage attacks Northern ItalyCarthaginian General Hannibal

Foot and horse soldiers, Elephants

Cross Alps

Roman soldiers no match, retreat

No equipment to attack citiesDestroys and raids farms and countryside

Tried to gain roman support

Roman turn the tide of warInvades Africa

Hannibal called home

Scipio defeats Hannibal

ResultRome gets money

Carthage gives up most of Navy

Rome gains Spanish colonies

Rome most powerful in area

3rd Punic War 149 – 146 BCE

Rome wants to destroy CarthageCarthage no longer a threat

This is personal

Hannibal and Scipio

ResultCarthage Destroyed

Rome has also conquered MacedoniaRetaliation for helping Carthage (2nd PW)

Greek City States under Rome's ‘protection’

Expansion Problems

Growth forces government to changeSenate

Complete control of army and foreign policy

ProvincesGoverned loosely

Not citizens, not allies, subjects of Rome

Had Governors with military backing– Took bribes– No concern for people– Squeezed by tax collectors

Expansion Problems

Problems At homeSoldiers homes, livestock and farms destroyed by war

No money to fix, had to sell

Rome becomes dependent on imported grains

Moved to citiesHard to find jobs

Rely on government for support

Increased trade creates a business classEquites

Great wealth and political power

Gap between rich and poor grows

Weakening Republic

Gracchus brothersTiberius – Elected Tribune 133 BCE

Supported help for farmer-soldiers

Angered Senators and supporters– Clubbed to death

Gaius – Elected Tribune 123 and 122 BCEUsed public funds to buy grain

– Sold to poor for cheap

Angered senators

Killed by rioters

Violence replaces respect for law and politics

Social War

Italian AlliesRome resists calls for Italian allies to gain citizenship and hold office

Allies RebelOne of bloodiest wars in Rome’s history

Rome wins but gives into demands

Italians start to view themselves as ‘Romans’

Social War

Political IssuesGaius Marius

General and Consul, makes changes in political system

Creates an army of volunteers – Paid well and war loot

Other Generals follow suit

Civil War breaks out

SullaGeneral, conquerors Rome

Rules as dictator

Restores power to Senate– Increases number from 200 to 300– Given complete control of government

Julius CaesarNephew of Marius

General, powerful speaker, becoming popular– has support of poor

First Triumvirate

Means rule by Three

60 BCECrassus - dies in battle in 53 BCE

Caesar – military command in Gaul (France)Gains military support

Pompey – Sole ConsulJealous of Caesar

Orders him home w/o army

Caesar refuses – Attacks Rome

Pompey flees to GreeceCaesar defeats him then heads to Africa

Places Cleopatra, an ally, on the throne

Returns to RomeSenate declares him ‘Dictator for life’

Increases Senate to 900 seats

Senators fear his ambitionAssassinated - March 15, 44 BCE‘Ides of March’

Caesar v. Pompey

Second Triumvirate

43 – 33 BCELepidus

Octavian forced him to retire

Marc AntonyDrove Caesar’s conspirators out of Rome

Led army to east to reconquer areas in Asia Minor

Joined Cleopatra in Egypt

Ruled Eastern half of empire

Octavian-nephew of Caesar Ruled Western half of empire

Convinced the Senate to declare war on Marc and Cleopatra

Defeats Marc and Cleopatra’s navy and takes Alexandria

Fearing capture Marc Antony commits suicideCleopatra does the same – Death by poisonous snake

Augustus/Octavian 63 BCE – 14 CE

Nephew and adopted son of Julius CaesarWanted to restore the Republic

Called himself ‘First Citizen’Senate gave title Augustus = Revered oneConsidered First Emperor

“Ablest Emperor of Rome”Reformed the government by adding a civil service, paid workersSystem of roads “All roads lead to Rome”Strengthened army and navyIncreased the size of the Roman Empire

Beginning of Pax Romana27 BCE – 180 CE

Height of Empire

Julio-Claudian Emperors

Relatives of Julius CaesarTiberius

14-37 CE – Adequate but disliked

Caligula 37-41 CE – Brutal, Insane, murdered

Claudius41-54 CE – Smart, wise, conquered Britain

– Poisoned by wife

Nero 54-68 CE – Blamed for fire in Rome

– Killed himself vs. waiting to be assassinated

Five Good Emperors

No set policy for choosing a leaderMany named own successor

Many lose military support

69 CE – 4 different Emperors at the same time

Nerva 96 – 98 CE

Trajan 98-117 CE

Hadrian117-138 CE – Spanish born

Built wall to protect northern frontier, sea to sea in Britain

Antoninus Pius138-161 CE

Marcus Aurelius 161-180 CE

Preferred Stoic philosophy to war

Defended Empire against invaders from the north and south

Last of Rome’s “good emperors”

Roman Society and Culture

Government & LawIn many ways strongest element of Rome

Kept order, Enforced laws

Two major changes to 12 Tables1 – Govt. passes laws as needed

2 – Judges interrupt laws for current times

Laws applied to all people

Roman Law - Basis for our laws todayInnocent till proven guiltyFair trial for both sidesJudges base decision on evidence

Roman Society and Culture

Science and ArtsMedicine

Galen– Wrote multi-volume work summarizing

all know medical knowledge.

Astronomy and GeographyPtolemy

– Sun, planets, stars revolve around the earth

– Believed for over 1500 years

Roman Society and Culture

Science and ArtsEngineering

Roads– Layers construction

Aqueducts– Bridge-like structures built to

carry water from mountains to city

ArchitectureArch

Vaulted Arch– Large rooms with high ceilings

Roman Society and Culture

LanguageAlphabet

Greeks –> Etruscans –> Romans23 letters

Roman/Latin alphabet23 letter + ‘j’, ‘y’, ‘w’

Used throughout Europe and Roman Catholic Church

Basis for ‘romance languages’Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian

LawLanguageRepublic

Troubled Times

Empire sliding in to crisisMany struggle for power

Invaders threaten

Civil War

InflationDecrease in value of money + higher prices

Daily life Becomes hard for many

Border attacks

Economic problemsSmall farmers forced to sell

Attempts at Reform

Some progress pushing back invaders

Economy still shaky

DiocletianGeneral and Emperor 284 CE

Empire too large for one person to manage

Appointed a co-emperor, and assistants

Diocletian ruled the Eastern half– Empire first, individual freedom second

Drove out invading barbarian tribes

Controlled prices, wages

Reforms slow decline, but do not stop it

305 CE, both emperors retire

Attempts at ReformTwo Assistants take over rule

One dies, his son Constantine takes overNot recognized by emperor in the east

Civil War breaks out

ConstantineEventually wins war, sole emperor 324 CE

Brought stability back to the empire

Supported Christianity

Created a new capital in the East– Constantinople

Dies 337 CE

Empire remains stable for about 50 more years

Two halves of empire break apartWest grows weaker and weaker

East becomes center of power and wealth

Final Invasions

Goths, Vandals, Franks and others

GothsTried to settle in Empire to escape Hun invaders

Treated badly

Revolt in 375 CECrushed Roman Army

Goths allowed to settle under own leaders– If joined Roman Army

Visigoths410 CE

Alaric (king) attacks and sacks Rome

First time in 800 years

Final Invasions

VandalsTook advantage of chaos, little opposition

Advances through to African Coast

Return to sack Rome

HunsNomadic people from Asia

Raiders and plunderers

Led by AttilaAttacked Gaul (France)

Defeated by army of Roman and Visigoth soldiers

Results of Invasion

Romulus Augustulus Last Roman Emperor14 year old boyDeposed and sent into exile in 476

Western HalfGermanic tribes set up kingdomsLearning declines

Schools and libraries destroyedOvertime knowledge of world and past declines

Eastern half of EmpireByzantine EmpireSurvives and flourishes

Causes for Decline

Reasons for the decline:Destroyed from within…..

1 - Political – Government not efficient for size of empire as it grows, grew fast to quick, office seen as a burden, division of empire, moving of capital

2 - Social – lack of patriotism, huge difference between rich and poor, little interest in public affairs, low confidence in empire

3 - Economic – poor harvests, inflation, no more war plunder, heavy taxes, disruption of trade

Military- threat from northern tribes, low funds for defense, lack of interest in army, lack of loyalty, dependent on foreign troops for defense