Rome: From Village to Empire
Geography and Origin
Like Greece, Italy is a mountainous peninsula
• Apennines & Alps
• Fertile plains in the north below the Alps
Favorable climate, fertile land and meant most early Romans were farmers.
Circa 750 B.C.E. - “Latins” establish Rome on the banks of the Tiber River (Palatine Hills)
• MYTH: c.753 B.C.E. – Rome founded by twins Romulus and Remus (Latins)
Life Under Etruscan Rule • Etruscans (Northern Italy)
• Skilled metalworkers and engineers
• 600 B.C.E – An Etruscan king of Rome
• 6th Century B.C.E, trade routes from all parts of Italy meet in Rome
• A commercial center due to Mediterranean via the Tiber R.
• Safe from sea invasion
• In 509 BCE Etruscans are overthrown by the Romans
• Tarquin the Proud = last Etruscan king
Roman Religion Polytheistic
• Absorbed gods of other civilizations including Greece
• Important Roman gods/goddesses:
• Jupiter (father of gods) - Zeus
• Juno (watched over women) – Hera
• Minerva (goddess of wisdom) – Athena
• Apollo (god of the sun)
• Emperor worship eventually became part of the religion of Rome.
Roman Social Structure Patricians: wealthy landowners and office-holders
• Patrician -“Father” (Latin)
Plebeians (commoners): farmers, artisans, trader
• Could vote and serve in the military
• Could not hold political office
• Struggled for power with Patricians
Slaves: mostly prisoners of war, non-citizens
• Not granted any rights
Patricians
10%
Plebeians
The Role of Roman Women More influence than Greek women
• Many upper class women received some formal education
• Could NOT vote, but allowed to testify in court
• Gained property rights
The Vestals (c. 717–673 BCE) freed of the “usual” social obligations.
• Devoted solely to the study and observance of state rituals
• "full-time professional clergy."
Roman Republic Romans declare to never be ruled by a king after 509 B.C.E.
• Establishment of a representative government – “Res Publica”
• Hereditary rule prohibited
• Representatives chosen by patricians
Decision-making responsibilities entrusted to two Consuls
• The Senate - In times of war chose a dictator to rule for 6 months
Plebeians Demand Equality
• 494 B.C.E. granted the right to elect tribunes.
• Allowed veto of laws not in the interest of plebs
• 450 B.C.E. - 12 Tables (first written laws)
• Posted in the Roman Forum
• Early 3rd century, Rome = more democratic
• Plebeians allowed in Senate and hold political office.
• Struggle for Political power continued in Rome for several centuries
Roman Expansion
• Gradually, the Romans began to expand their control over the entire Italian peninsula plus:
• Corsica, Sardinia & Sicily
• As they expanded their control so did the network of roads – “Via Appia”
• Easier military transport, commerce and unifying territories
100 Years of Punic Wars
1) 264-146 B.C.E. – Battle to Control Sicily and the Western Mediterranean – Naval Battles
2) 218-202 B.C.E. – Hannibal lays siege to Roman Mainland
• Defeated by Scipio
• Hannibal commits suicide rather than captured.
3) 149-146 B.C.E. – Rome laid siege to Carthage – city set ablaze and its 50,000 inhabitants were sold into slavery
• Carthaginian Peace
Imperial Issues 1st Century B.C.E. - 1st Century C.E.
Expansion brought wealth to Rome:
1. Land concentrated into the hands of wealthy elites
• Enormous plantations - Latifundia
• Unequal distribution provoked class tensions
2. Republic replace by centralized imperial government
• The Republic constitution was designed for a small city-state
• Roman politicians and generals began jockeying for power by raising personal armies (for support).
Julius Caesar: Bread and Circus 50’s B.C.E. - Conquers Gaul
49 B.C.E. Marches on Rome – “Alea iacta est”
• Republic Centralized imperial Gov’t/Military
• “dictator for life”
• Massive building projects and redistributed land
• Alienated Rome’s elite
• Extends Roman citizenship imperial provinces
44 B.C.E. assassinated – “Et tu Brute” – “last words” of Julius Caesar
• Civil crisis ensued for thirteen years
Octavian to Augustus Nephew, protégé, and adopted son of Julius Caesar
• 31 B.C.E Defeats Mark Antony (principal rival) & Cleopatra
Octavian strengthen his rule and in 27 B.C.E
1. Centralized political and military power
• Eliminates personal armies
2. Bestowed the Divine title Augustus
3. Preserves traditional republican government (Roman elite)
Ruled virtually unopposed for 45 years
• PAX ROMANA (27 B.C.E. to 180 C.E.)
Rise of Christianity
During Pax Romana - Christianity emerges
• 63 B.C.E. Judea conquered
• Jewish monotheism permitted
• Jews reluctantly live under Roman
c. 26 C.E. Jesus begins preaching to villagers
• Welcomed by man in Jerusalem
• Threatened Judaism - Romans feared a revolt.
• C. 313 C.E. Edict of Milan - freedom of worship to all Roman citizens
• C. 337 C.E. 1st Christian Roman Emperor Constantine
• C. 380 C.E. – Christianity made the official religion (Theodosius)
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