Roman BeginningsRoman Beginnings

Prince Aeneas Prince Aeneas leads a group of leads a group of people from Troy people from Troy (Aeneid by Virgil)(Aeneid by Virgil)

They join with people called LatinsThey join with people called Latins

They settle on the Palatine They settle on the Palatine Hill near the Tiber RiverHill near the Tiber River

Myth - Roman war god, Mars, fathered Myth - Roman war god, Mars, fathered twin boys named Romulus and twin boys named Romulus and Remus Remus

Mars Mars

Boys are Sent floating down the Tiber Boys are Sent floating down the Tiber River by mean uncle River by mean uncle

Rescued and raised by a wolf Rescued and raised by a wolf

Wolf is killed and a shepherd raises Wolf is killed and a shepherd raises them them

when they grow up, fight over who when they grow up, fight over who should ruleshould rule

Romulus kills Remus and names his Romulus kills Remus and names his city -  Romecity -  Rome

c. 800 BC -north of the Palatine in c. 800 BC -north of the Palatine in Etruria was Italy's first highly civilized Etruria was Italy's first highly civilized people - Etruscans people - Etruscans

built their walled cities on hilltops built their walled cities on hilltops and survived as pirates and traders and survived as pirates and traders

copied military copied military techniques like techniques like phalanx from phalanx from Greeks Greeks

Etruscan "secret Etruscan "secret weapon" was weapon" was

shoes - heavy leather ankle high shoes - heavy leather ankle high shoes – gave great traction and shoes – gave great traction and support in hills of Italysupport in hills of Italy

great love of sports and games great love of sports and games Etruscan women participate in all Etruscan women participate in all

activities and own property activities and own property

ClassesClasses

Upper - nobles, landowners, and Upper - nobles, landowners, and priestspriests

Middle - traders, farmers, and city-Middle - traders, farmers, and city-workersworkers

Lower - slaves and acrobatsLower - slaves and acrobats

ReligionReligion

polytheistic - copy Greek gods polytheistic - copy Greek gods humans are powerless and exist only humans are powerless and exist only

to serve gods to serve gods universe divided into provinces universe divided into provinces soothsayers read omens to soothsayers read omens to

determine will of the gods determine will of the gods life after death was most important life after death was most important

Etruscan funeral ritual –Etruscan funeral ritual – 2 slaves fight to the death- the 2 slaves fight to the death- the

loser’s soul accompanies the noble’s loser’s soul accompanies the noble’s soul into the next life; buried in soul into the next life; buried in catacombs or “tombs of gold”catacombs or “tombs of gold”

Funeral ritual develops into Roman Funeral ritual develops into Roman gladiatorial gamesgladiatorial games

Panem et Circenses Panem et Circenses Latin phrase that means Latin phrase that means Bread and CircusesBread and Circuses Originally held in the Forum, they Originally held in the Forum, they

began in 122 BCbegan in 122 BC Games were held throughout the Games were held throughout the

lands controlled by Rome – France, lands controlled by Rome – France, Spain, BritainSpain, Britain

Majority of gladiators were prisoners of Majority of gladiators were prisoners of war, slaves, and criminalswar, slaves, and criminals

People would give a thumbs up or thumbs People would give a thumbs up or thumbs down and the emperor would decide a down and the emperor would decide a gladiator’s fategladiator’s fate

Criminals were also executed – either “ad Criminals were also executed – either “ad gladium” (by the sword) or “ad bestias” gladium” (by the sword) or “ad bestias” (by wild animals)(by wild animals)

At one point, so many people were being At one point, so many people were being killed, Emperor Caligula, took innocent killed, Emperor Caligula, took innocent people and cut out their tongues, and people and cut out their tongues, and forced them to be gladiatorsforced them to be gladiators

70 AD – Flavian Amphitheater is built70 AD – Flavian Amphitheater is built Later re-named the Colosseum Later re-named the Colosseum

(50,000 seats)(50,000 seats)

Main purpose of the games was a Main purpose of the games was a political strategypolitical strategy

Majority of Romans were lower class Majority of Romans were lower class (plebeians) and very poor(plebeians) and very poor

Leaders feared rebellion; used the games Leaders feared rebellion; used the games to distract people – gave out free food to distract people – gave out free food (bread) and free entertainment (circuses)(bread) and free entertainment (circuses)

Free stuff makes the emperor popular; Free stuff makes the emperor popular; poor have something to occupy their poor have something to occupy their timetime

Gave people a chance to put their Gave people a chance to put their sad lives in perspective – at least I’m sad lives in perspective – at least I’m not fighting in the arenanot fighting in the arena

People can “talk” to the emperor and People can “talk” to the emperor and believe that he is listening to them believe that he is listening to them and doing what they sayand doing what they say

Circus MaximusCircus Maximus

Tarquinius dynasty built a track Tarquinius dynasty built a track between the Palatine and Aventine between the Palatine and Aventine HillsHills

Location of chariot racesLocation of chariot races Circus Maximus was eventually built Circus Maximus was eventually built

there, a hippodromethere, a hippodrome Room for up to 350,000 people to Room for up to 350,000 people to

watchwatch

Other Etruscan contributions:Other Etruscan contributions: triumphtriumph arch arch fascesfasces city-design (soothsayers, city-design (soothsayers,

mundus)mundus)

FascesFasces

ArchArch