Chapter 4 Rome: From Republic to Empire Chapter 4 Rome: From Republic to Empire Copyright © 2010...

Chapter 4Rome: From Republic to Empire

Chapter 4Rome: From Republic to Empire

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved.

Prehistoric Italy

Bronze Age, ca. 1500 B.C.E.

Early invaders, ca. 1000, speak Italic languages


The EtruscansMost powerful external influence on early RomansRose ca. 800 B.C.E. in Tuscany (west central coast)Military ruling class, used native Italian laborReligion: good & evil spirits, placated through rituals & priestsWomen had more active public role than in Greek polisExpanded territory, 7th & 6th centuries B.C.E., declined after 500 B.C.E.Driven out of northern Italy around 400 B.C.E. by Celtic peoples from Gaul


Royal RomeLatium: region around RomeImperium: power to issue commands and enforce them, granted to kings by Roman peopleSenate: second branch of early Roman government; about 300 for most of the Republic; theoretically advisory, actually quite powerfulCuriate assembly: third branch of government; made up of all citizens, called by kingFather had imperium over children. Women were under control of adult males.Clientage: social inferiors (clients) granted protection & assistance by wealthy patrons in exchange for labor, military service, political support; key institutionTwo social classes:

Patricians: upper class, monopoly on power & influence; SenatorsPlebians: lower class of poor farmers, laborers, artisans; clients


The RepublicTraditionally understood to have been created after noble revolt of 509 B.C.E.Constitution: unwritten laws & customs

Consuls: two, with imperium, elected for one year; led army, performed religious duties, acted as judges; powers legally limited

• Quaestors• Lictors• Dictator• Proconsul• Praetor• Censor


The Republic (cont.)Senate: only continuous deliberative body; made up of prominent patricians; gained control of finances & foreign policyAssembly: early Republic had centuriate assembly—army acting in a political capacity; basic unit was century, 100 fighting men

Struggle of the Orders: two-century struggle of plebians for political recognition; resulted in creation of plebian tribunes to represent interests in government; attained right to be elected consul


Conquest of ItalyEtruscans defeated, 392 B.C.E.Gauls invade from across Alps, defeat Roman army & burn Rome, extract ransom, then go away350 B.C.E., Romans rebound, fight off Gallic raids, subdue LatinsConquered peoples treated harshly if rebellious, but given opportunity for advancement, even to Roman citizenship—effective policy for successful Roman expansionGreek king Pyrrhus defeated in southern ItalyBy 265 B.C.E., Rome master of Italy to Po River by defeating Samnites


Punic WarsCarthage: great naval power of western Mediterranean; started by Phoenicians in 9th c. B.C.E. near modern Tunis, North Africa

6th c.: Carthage rules N. Africa from Libya to Gibraltar, southern Spain, Sardinia, Corsica, western Sicily

War between Rome & Carthage starts over Sicily

First Punic War (264–241 B.C.E.): Carthage loses Sicily

Second Punic War (218–202 B.C.E.): ends Carthage as great power; Rome gains control of western Mediterranean

Third Punic War (149–146 B.C.E.): Carthage obliterated


Conquest of the Hellenistic World

Greece becomes effectively a Roman protectorate; Rome aids Greece against Macedonians & SeleucidsMacedonian Wars end with Rome breaking Macedon up into four separate republics, 168 B.C.E.Barbarians of Iberian peninsula eventually pacified; Carthage destroyedLeaves Rome with six provinces: Sicily, Sardinia-Corsica, Macedonia, Hither Spain, Further Spain


Civilization of the Early Roman Republic

Greek culture highly influential, despite Roman prejudice toward Greeks

Roman gods identified with Greek equivalents

Education: Greeks introduce humanitas: language, literature, philosophy; broad intellectual training vs. vocational training

Slaves: derived commonly from POWs; used for domestic service, mining, trades; could have families, sometimes buy freedom


Roman Imperialism: The Late Republic

Aftermath of conquest: family farms, devastated by war, gradually replaced by large estates with tenant farmers or slaves; increasing gap between rich & poorThe Gracchi

Tiberius Gracchus: became tribune in 133 B.C.E. on program of land reform; threatened power of Senate by appeals to the assembly; eventually killed; politics hereafter have higher stakesGaius Gracchus (brother): tribune, 123–122 B.C.E.; further reforms, appeals to broad range of groups (equestrians); tried & executed


The Late Republic (cont.)Marius: elected consul and sent to end Jugurthine War in Africa; political newcomerSulla: subordinate of Marius who trapped Jugurtha, ending war; embittered when credit went to MariusMarius & Sulla struggle for power in Rome; civil war leaves Sulla as dictator

Sulla uses power to massacre opponentsReforms government, neutering the office of tribuneImproves courts & legal system


Fall of the RepublicRepublic undermined by special appointments giving extralegal powers to certain peoplePompey: enormously successful & popular general given wide powers in Spain, then AsiaCrassus: given command of most of Italy to put down slave rebellion led by SpartacusJulius Caesar (100–44 B.C.E.): as young politician, allied with Crassus to build military command & followingFirst Triumvirate: Pompey, Crassus, & Caesar, despite few commonalities, united in opposition to Senate


Julius CaesarElected consul, 59 B.C.E., enacting triumvirs’ programs:

Caesar: 5-year governorship of Illyricum & GaulPompey: land bill settling up with his veteransCrassus: tax breaks for his equestrian allies

Caesar conquers Gaul, Pompey seizes power in his absence49 B.C.E.: Caesar told to give up his command, but “crosses the Rubicon”Ensuing civil war lasts until 45 B.C.E.; Caesar appointed “dictator for life”March 15, 44 B.C.E.: Caesar assassinated by senatorial conspiracy led by Cassius & Brutus13 more years of civil war follow


OctavianCaesar named grand-nephew Gaius Octavius (63–14 B.C.E.) his successor; comes to be called OctavianSecond Triumvirate, 43 B.C.E.: Octavian, Mark Antony, and Aemilius Lepidus—took control of Rome and given near-dictatorial powers

Octavian gets West: becomes associated with order, justice, virtue (lauded by poets Vergil & Horace)Antony gets East: joins with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, in AlexandriaLepidus gets Africa: fades quickly

Antony and Octavian fall out, conflict becomes Rome vs. AlexandriaBattle of Actium, 31 B.C.E.: Octavian’s forces victorious, Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide; Octavian master of Mediterranean world


Chapter 4 Rome: From Republic to Empire Chapter 4 Rome: From Republic to Empire Copyright © 2010...

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