Brought the light of civilized existence to tribal societies.

Assimilated the contributions of superior cultures.

Unified vast territories and different peoples under one rule (through a common legal system, bureaucracy and language).

Brought other populations under their control through military aggression.

Exterminated foreign populations through war.Enslaved foreign peoples: force labor,

deportation.Seized and occupied foreign lands with settlers.Violently repressed uprisings of native

populations Supported repressive foreign regimes in

exchange for adherence from the ruling classes. Treated leniently non-confrontational

civilizations: self-rule in exchange for taxes or military support

Barbaric peoples, tribesSuperior civilizationFreedom, liberationExpansion, unification, pacification,

civilization

The Roman empire was the largest and most perdurable of the western world in Ancient times.

It lasted around 700 years.

Consequences of the unification of the Mediterranean under Roman rule:

- Common body of Law- Roman technical advances created new

infrastructure- Improvement in communications- A more homogeneous society- Latin as a common language- Preserved, added to and transmitted the Greek

body of knowledge (literature, architecture, philosophy, science…)

.

Human cost of domination1,000,000 Gauls exterminated by Caesar.Some German and Gallic tribes disappeared

and with them their way of life. Large portions of foreign populations enslaved

and savagely repressed when they revolted: Spartacus and 6,000 followers crucified,

Carthage destroyed.

Three main periods:

Roman Monarchy (753 to 509 BCE)Roman Republic (509 to 31 BCE)Roman Empire (31 BCE to 248 AD)

Roman Monarchy (753 BCE to 509 BCE)

Etruscan influence in Rome

Etruscan art

Features of the Roman Monarchy: (753 BCE to 509 BCE)

Rome is dominated by the Etruscans Rural society (shepherds)City statesMyths: Aeneas, Romulus and Remus, Sabine

women.

Roman Republic (509 BCE to 31 BCE)Government:

Two consulsSenateAssembly Magistracies (public administrators)

Restricted democracy: indirect representation

Social conflicts:

Patricians (aristocracy, ruling class) and plebeians (disenfranchised middle class)

Aristocrats (ruling families) and the equestrian class (soldiers enriched by foreign wars)

Military campaigns:Conquest of Italy (Etruscans, Greeks, Italic

peoples)Punic Wars (264-146 BCE) against the

Carthaginians.Conquest of the East: Hellenistic kingdoms

(146 BCE)Conquest of the West: Gaul (60-44 BCE).

The Mediterranean before Roman expansion

Punic wars:Carthage is the capital of the Carthaginians (Poeni)Hannibal: Carthaginian general Scipio: Roman general

Consequence of the war: Rome conquers the Western Mediterranean (Sicily, Spain, Northern Africa).

Conquest of the Hellenistic kingdoms (146 BCE-31 BCE):

Macedonia, Greece, Asia Minor (Pergamum), Syria, Egypt (Cleopatra)…

Conquest of the Gaul by Julius Caesar (60-44 BCE).

Government: emperorOctavian (Augustus) 31-14 BCE: Pax RomanaAbsolute power of the emperorConsolidation of Roman power and administration

in all the provinces

Maximum expansion of the Roman empire (116 AD)

Army and empireOpulence and decadenceCruelty and spectacleDaily life in Pompeii

Frugalitas (austerity)Mos maiorum (customs

of the ancestors)Moral decline is

associated with wealth and foreign influence

Problematic relationship with Greek art and literature (extravagant)

Reasons for the “myth”:Wealthy aristocrats:

art collectors, owners of magnificent villas …

Banquet: means of political networking

Roman invective (political attacks): accusations of decadence.

The Roman HouseVestibule: images of

ancestorsAtrium: entrance

courtyardTablinum: officePeristyle: backyard/

garden

Walls decorated with frescoes

Floor covered with mosaics

Scarce furniture

Peristylum

Baths:Daily ritualCultural and sports

complex: library, lectures, gyms, swimming pool, sauna, gardens, (and of course prostitutes, food, board games…)

Hygiene: daily bath

Natatio (swimming pool)

Aqueducts

Tavern