The Roman Republicand Early Empire

ca. 753 BC to 180 AD

Lectures 9 & 10September 28 and 30, 2009

HIST 101 History of World Civilizations to 1550University of Montevallo, Fall 2009

Adjunct Instructor Jill Cooley

Lectures 9 & 10: Outline

• Early Rome– Etruscan Kings– Roman Republic– Struggle of the Orders

• Roman Conquest & Expansion– Punic Wars– Effects of Conquest

• Late Roman Republic– The Gracchi– The First Triumvirate &

Julius Caesar– The Second

Triumvirate & Octavian

• Early Empire– Augustus– Julio-Claudian Dynasty– Five Good Emperors

Lecture 9: Key Terms

• Etruscan kings• Republic• Patricians• Plebeians• Senate• Consuls• Assembly• Struggle of the Orders • Tribunes• Twelve Tables• Virtue• Cincinattus

• Punic Wars• Carthage• Hannibal• Scipio• Tiberius Gracchus• Gaius Gracchus• Julius Caesar• Octavian or Augustus• Meritocracy• Pax Romana• Marcus Aurelius

The Roman World

Etruscans

• 753 BC- southern part dominated by Greeks• City of Rome ruled Etruscans-monarchy 753BC-509BC,

the king had most of the power & served for life, stayed within family usually however more of a senate ruling for kings at this time. Senate consisted of the most important people (picked the king and advised him)

• Assembly in Rome- had little power, basically ratified the decision made by the senate

• Under the Etruscans- 2 different social classes (elite class-patricians (could not marry outside their class)) (lower class-plebeians (small farmers, laborers) )

The Etruscans

The Roman Republic

• S.P.Q.R.—Senatus Populusque Romanus

• Rome Expands… (Wanted Sicily)

Plebeians Gain Power

• Tribunes- power to veto decisions, own elected officials, eventually had legislative influence

• Assembly itself gained more power: pass legislation thus govern the plebeian class, behalf of all Romans

• Insisted Roman Law be written down: Twelve Tables (prior to this time Roman law was orally passed down, law became whatever the judges/patrician class said it was,

Republican Values• Virtue• The Roman Ideal

—Cincinnatus- legendary, called to public service when Rome was under attack by foreign invaders, called to be dictator. When the period was over he asked to go back to his farm and give up his rule. Ideal of virtue.

The Punic Wars

Punic Wars

• - When Rome tried to take over Sicily, they ended up in war with Carthage “Punic Wars” 264BC-241BC Rome defeats Carthage and takes over Sicily. First Punic War ends in 241BC.

• -However Rome continues to aggravate Carthage and by 218BC Carthage declares war on Rome and takes the war to Rome (2nd Punic War) Hannibal of Carthage takes over a good portion of the Italian peninsula. Then the Roman general Scipio takes the war to Carthage in 202BC & Rome prevails and defeats Hannibal. A truths strips Carthage of its empire.

• -148-146BC (third Punic war) Good and bad, Greek/Roman influence spreads however government cannot handle control over such a large land area and the Roman Ideal fades away (especially farming sector) and eventually would collapse

• 133BC Tiberius Gracchus elected and promotes the Ideal, take excess wealth and give it to the wealthy landowners and give land back to those who lost it in war, however the Senate does not support this

Augustus,

31 BC - 14 AD- Wanted to maintain

power to prevent civil war

- Didn’t want to make the same mistakes of Julius

- Augustan Settlement: maintained powers of the government however he maintained the republic structure

- Roman Empire

Augustus

• Pax Romana- peace for Rome• Meritocracy- jobs based on abilities not birth, Augustus selected his

advisors…- Wanted the best people to hold positions- Wanted to prevent conspiracy against him

Morality Legislation- wants to rebuild & restore Roman Fiber

Built temples, criminalized adultery, encourage families (tax on single men)

When he died, he left it to Tiberius then it changed periodically throughout the family

Roman Empire, 31 BC to 14 AD

Five Good Emperors

Hadrian’s Wall Source: Myhistorylab.com

Roman Empire, 14-180 AD

Lectures 9 & 10: TimelineTime Period Historical Event Important Points

ca. 753 BC Rome founded Etruscan kings

ca. 509-31 BC Roman Republic Governed by two consuls and a Senate

ca. 494-287 BC Struggle of the Orders Patricians vs. plebeians

264-146 BC Punic Wars Rome vs. Carthage

133-121 BC Gracchi Crisis Land Reform

ca. 60 BC First Triumvirate Caesar, Pompey, Crassus

45-44 BC Julius Caesar Roman Dictator

43 BC Second Triumvirate Octavian, Antony, Lepidus

31 BC-14 AD Augustus ruled Roman Empire

14-68 AD Julio-Claudian Dynasty Augustus’s Successors

96-180 AD Five Good Emperors Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius