Roman amphitheaterRoman amphitheater

Early Roman CivilizationEarly Roman Civilization

(753 B.C.E. to 284 A.D.)(753 B.C.E. to 284 A.D.)

Early Roman CivilizationEarly Roman Civilization

Three historical periods:Three historical periods:– The Roman Monarchy (753 BCE to 509 The Roman Monarchy (753 BCE to 509

BCE)BCE)– The Roman Republic (509 BCE to 31 The Roman Republic (509 BCE to 31

BCE)BCE)– The Roman Empire (31 BCE to 248 AD)The Roman Empire (31 BCE to 248 AD)

The Roman RepublicThe Roman RepublicThe Early RepublicThe Early Republic (509-264 BCE): (509-264 BCE): division of society into two classes, the division of society into two classes, the aristocratic patricians and the plebeiansaristocratic patricians and the plebeians

The Middle RepublicThe Middle Republic (264-133 BCE): the (264-133 BCE): the challenge of Carthage; the Punic Wars challenge of Carthage; the Punic Wars (264-146 BCE).(264-146 BCE).

The Late RepublicThe Late Republic (133-31 BCE): the rise (133-31 BCE): the rise of the equestrian order, a social class who of the equestrian order, a social class who gained wealth during the Punic Wars.gained wealth during the Punic Wars.

The Late Republic: Julius Caesar, IThe Late Republic: Julius Caesar, I

Julius Caesar, an equestrian, was a major Julius Caesar, an equestrian, was a major political figure from 60 to 44 BCE.political figure from 60 to 44 BCE.

He took his authority from the many titles He took his authority from the many titles and powers he held: dictator for life, and powers he held: dictator for life, consul, and head of the armies.consul, and head of the armies.

Future Roman emperors recognized him Future Roman emperors recognized him as their predecessor by calling themselves as their predecessor by calling themselves Caesar, or ruler. Caesar, or ruler.

The Late Republic: Julius Caesar, IIThe Late Republic: Julius Caesar, IIOn march 15, 44 BCE, a band of senatorial On march 15, 44 BCE, a band of senatorial assassins murdered Caesar and Rome plunged assassins murdered Caesar and Rome plunged into chaos.into chaos.Caesar’s nephew and adopted son, Caesar’s nephew and adopted son, OctavianOctavian, , emerged as a new leader in 31 BCE. He was later emerged as a new leader in 31 BCE. He was later called called Augustus CaesarAugustus Caesar..With Octavian, we have the beginning of Pax With Octavian, we have the beginning of Pax Romana (Roman Peace) and the Roman Empire.Romana (Roman Peace) and the Roman Empire.During Octavian’s rule, patrician’s power During Octavian’s rule, patrician’s power decreased and equestrian power increased.decreased and equestrian power increased.

Assassination of Julius CaesarAssassination of Julius Caesar

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

Circus MaximusCircus Maximus

Three Social Classes Three Social Classes

During Roman Republic and Empire, During Roman Republic and Empire, there were three distinct social there were three distinct social classes:classes:

The patrician (aristocracy)The patrician (aristocracy)

The equestrian (army)The equestrian (army)

The plebian (common people)The plebian (common people)

Roman cultureRoman culture

Hellenistic culture became the Hellenistic culture became the foundation of Roman civilization.foundation of Roman civilization.

The Roman blend the utilitarian with The Roman blend the utilitarian with the aesthetic.the aesthetic.

Fascination with the spectacleFascination with the spectacle

Architecture and sculpture are Architecture and sculpture are increasingly monumental and increasingly monumental and theatrical.theatrical.

Roman ReligionRoman Religion

The Romans were syncretists, The Romans were syncretists, blending different religions. From blending different religions. From Egypt came the worship of Isis (a Egypt came the worship of Isis (a religion that promised immortality), religion that promised immortality), from Persia they borrowed the cult of from Persia they borrowed the cult of Mithra. They celebrated December Mithra. They celebrated December 2525thth as Mithra’s birthday. as Mithra’s birthday.

Roman LiteratureRoman Literature

The First Literary Period (250 to 31 The First Literary Period (250 to 31 BCE)BCE)

The Second Literary Period (The The Second Literary Period (The Golden Age, 31 BCE to 14 AD)Golden Age, 31 BCE to 14 AD)

The Third Literary Period (The Silver The Third Literary Period (The Silver Age, 14 AD to 200 AD)Age, 14 AD to 200 AD)

Roman Literature: The First Literary Roman Literature: The First Literary PeriodPeriod

Lucretius: in his book (On the Nature Lucretius: in his book (On the Nature of Things) he defended Epicurianism of Things) he defended Epicurianism that denied divine intervention in that denied divine intervention in human affairs.human affairs.

Catullus: love poetryCatullus: love poetry

Cicero: letters, speeches, translationsCicero: letters, speeches, translations

CiceroCicero

CiceroCicero

Roman Literature: The Second Roman Literature: The Second Literary PeriodLiterary Period

Virgil: Virgil: AeneidAeneid imitates Homer’s imitates Homer’s The The OdysseyOdyssey

Horace: he created a new genre, the Horace: he created a new genre, the satiresatire

Ovid: Ovid: Art of LoveArt of Love, on how to seduce , on how to seduce women. In women. In MetamorphosesMetamorphoses (Transformations) he revives Greek (Transformations) he revives Greek and Roman Myths.and Roman Myths.