Rome: An Overview

OutcomesAppreciate the accomplishments and significance of the Romans

Evaluate how geography affected the development of Rome

Analyze the evolution from republic to empire

Identify key historical figures (Gracchi brothers, Hannibal, Caesar, Jesus)

Analyze the causes of the fall of Rome

The Land and the People

unlike Greece, Italy lacked natural mineral resources and good harbours

Italy did possess much more farmland and rainfall than Greece- therefore Italy was always agrarian, economically as well as socially

Italy was much more accessible to the rest of Europe, conflict was continuous so the peoples of Italy became a military society very early on

original inhabitants were Cro-Magnons, but by the Neolithic age were displaced by new peoples from Spain, Africa and France

these people were displaced by new peoples in the Bronze Age around 1500 BC

coming from across the Alps and the Adriatic Sea these new peoples were nomadic herdsmen, used bronze and horses, and were war-like

these Italic peoples include the Sabines, Umbrians and Latins

around 800 BC two new groups began to settle Italy: the Greeks and the Etruscans

The Etruscans

they were a mysterious people and we don’t really know much about them

we think they came from the Mediterranean possibly somewhere close to modern day Turkey

what we do know is that they brought urbanization and civilization with them

their civilization stretched from northern Italy to the Tiber River, where a small group of Latins had started a village, which would become Rome

so we know that the Latins and Etruscans were in close contact and were the most important influence on Roman civilization (language, culture, religion, etc)

They were a sophisticated people, with an alphabet based on the Greek alphabet, a powerfully original sculptural and painting tradition, a religion based on human-type gods which they had learned from the Greeks, and a complicated set of rituals for divining the future, which they handed down to the Romans. Unlike most civilizations of the time, gender inequality seems not to have been very pronounced. (Richard Hooker)

while the Etruscans were building their power over Italy and trading with the East and Africa a small city began to grow in power, adapting many Etruscan ideas

the Kingdom of Rome was developing

The Roman Kingdom

Rome was founded by Italic peoples who were agrarian and tribal

archaeologists believe that Rome was founded around 753 BC

they imitated the Etruscans in almost every aspect of their society

early government was a monarchy, and had absolute power over the people, much like a father over his children

The monarch served as a legislator, as the head of the military, as the head of the judiciary, and as a chief priest to the people. His authority, however, was limited and controlled by a constitution which he was powerless to change. (Richard Hooker)

monarch ruled alongside a senate and assembly

the senate was a group of elders, heads of various clans, had power to choose the monarch, and made sure the monarch ruled according to the constitution and custom (much like our Supreme Court)

the assembly consisted of all male citizens (both parents were Romans), approved the appointment of the king, organized into 30 clan groups with one vote each, each clan would determine its vote by majority

Create a graphic organizer explaining the interaction between the king, senate, assembly and constitution

very early on, Romans were divided into two groups- patricians and the plebeians

patricians were the wealthiest, controlled trade and the military, and political power, were the clan leaders and senators, and political office holders

plebeians were the majority, small farmers, artisans, etc.

during the monarchy Rome expanded its control, out of fear or conquest more than out of greed

this attracted the attention of the Etruscans who in the 6th century assumed control of Rome (king was an Etruscan)

The Etruscans ruled Rome until 509 BC when apparently the Etruscan King, Sextus Tarquinius, raped a patrician woman, Lucretia and the Romans rose up and overthrew the Etruscans

Rape of Lucretia:

www.wsu.edu/~dee/ROME/ROME.HTM

The Republic

After the overthrow of the Tarquin monarchy by Junius Brutus in 509 BC, Rome does not revert back to a monarchy for the rest of its history.

The era of the great expansion of Roman power and civilization is the era of the Roman Republic, in which Rome is ruled by its Senate and its Assembly

even during the monarchy Rome had a constitution, but it was not written, and was based on tradition

during the Republic Rome was ruled by 2 Consuls, who were Patricians that ruled for 1 year, during this time they ruled like a king,

consuls initiated legislation, served as the head of the judiciary and the military, and served as chief priests to the nation. They even dressed as monarchs, by wearing purple robes and sitting on the seat traditionally reserved for the monarch: the ivory chair. (Richard Hooker)

Consuls had only limited imperium (absolute power) -

they did not rule alone, and one could veto the other

only ruled for 1 year

after their term would serve in the Senate so they cultivated the support of the Senate

in 325 BC proconsuls were consuls in times of war/emergency and could rule longer

beneath the consuls were 2 financial officers called quaestors

as the republic evolved an official called a praetor was invented, originally a judicial office but became a military position, essentially the generals of Rome, limited to one year but could be extended in times of war

the task of classifying citizens (re- taxes) eventually fell to the two censors. This was an important position and one that had much opportunity for corruption, so it was eventually filled by ex- consuls. Eventually became exceptionally powerful and had the authority to dismiss senators

Roman history was a constant conflict between the plebeians and the patricians called the struggle of the orders

 It is immediately evident that the imperium was fully concentrated in the hands of the patricians. The consuls were elected from the patrician class, as were the quaestors and the praetors; the censors, by definition, were always patricians. Because the consul reverted to the Senate, the Senate, composed only of patricians, became the principle power in Rome. The Republic in its early form was largely a transfer of power from the monarch to the wealthiest classes in Rome, and this dominance of Roman law, finances, and foreign policy by the patricians instantly produced resentment among the plebeians; from its inception in 509 BC to its demise at the hands of Caesar in the middle of the first century BC, the political history of the Roman Republic is a tumultuous, chaotic, and often violent conflict between the two classes in Rome vying for political power. (Richard Hooker)

the patricians could not exist without the plebeians and if the plebeians could act as a group they could stop the Roman economy and military

in 494 BC the plebeians withdrew from Rome to the Sacred Mount and declared an alternative government

They formed a tribal assembly, modeled after the Roman assembly, which would be headed by tribunes who were heads of their tribes. They declared that these tribunes could veto any decision by a Roman magistrate or official, and could veto any decision or legislation by the Senate.

The assembly itself, like the former assembly, voted by tribe, and the decision of the assembly was binding on all plebeians. In other words, the plebeians had won for themselves the right to author their own legislation.

Their decisions, however, were not binding on non-plebeians.

in 450 BC this class struggled produced the 12 Tables, which was a victory for the plebeians as it let them know where they stood before the law

in 445 BC, plebeians acquired the right to marry a patrician,

in 367 the plebeians gained the right to be elected consul, when the first plebeian consul was elected. Eventually at least one consul had to be a plebeian.

After the completion of the term of consular office, the consul became a member of the Senate, so the patrician hold on the Senate had, in part, been broken when the plebeians gained full access to the office of the consul.

in 300 BC, plebeians were allowed to serve at all levels of the priesthood, thus making them religiously equal to the patricians.

Finally, in the greatest victory of all in terms of power and influence, in 287 BC, the decisions and legislation of the plebeian assembly were not only binding on the plebeians, but on the entire Roman citizenry.

Please construct a graphic organizer for the political positions that evolved during the Republic

12 Tables handout

The Conquest of Italy

the conquest of Italy began soon after Rome expelled the Etruscan king, Tarquinius in 509 BC

allying themselves with the Greeks and other Latins they drove the Etruscans from Italy

however, the Romans were invaded by a celtic tribe from central Europe, the Gauls, in 387 BC

the Gauls sacked Rome, demanded a ransom and left

by 350 BC the Romans had recovered enough to continue their domination of Italy

the Romans were a part of an Latin alliance and successfully repelled several more invasions of the Gauls

however, the other Latins began to resent the dominance of the Romans

in 340 BC the Latins rose up against Rome, demanding their independence, it took Rome two years to defeat them and take control of all Latium (338 BC)

295 BC the Romans began a war against the Samnites, a tough Latin people from the Appenine Mountains

Samnites were allied with the Etruscans, Gauls, and some Italian city-states but were defeated by Rome in 280 BC

by 250 BC Rome had conquered the remaining Greek city-states in Italy as well and controlled the entire Italian peninsula

 Ancient history shows abundantly that it is enormously difficult to hang onto conquered territories; the Romans, however, seemed to have figured out how to peacefully hold onto conquered territory with both liberal and militaristic policies. First, Rome didn't destroy conquered cities, but granted them certain rights. Some cities were allowed full Roman citizenship, particularly those near to Rome. Others were allowed certain Roman rights. Some were allowed complete autonomy. Some were allowed to become allies. All, however, were required to send Rome taxes and troops...the Romans began an ambitious road-building project. Their roads were of the highest quality and went in straight lines—right straight over mountains in fact—so that soldiers and supplies could be quickly moved into rebellious territories. The response to revolt was swift and harsh. So the combination of granting conquered territories rights and citizenship (or the promise of future rights and citizenship) and the surety of a swift, harsh response to rebellion produced a lasting, peaceful empire on the Italian peninsula. (R. Hooker)

The Punic Wars

the greatest naval power in the Mediterranean in the third century BC was Carthage (a Phoenician colony), located in North Africa (modern day Tunis)

Carthage was a formidable power; it controlled almost all the commercial trade in the Mediterranean, had subjected vast numbers of people all whom sent soldiers and supplies, and amassed tremendous wealth from gold and silver mines in Spain. (R. Hooker)

Carthage (218 BC)As you can see conflict between the 2 cities was inevitable (note Sicily).

concentrated on the island of Sicily

Rome besieged many cities in Sicily and when the Carthaginian navy attempted to aid them, they were destroyed by the Roman navy

no clear winner, although Carthage gave up Sicily and paid war damages to Rome

Rome took Corsica as well (illegally) and this upset the Carthaginians who sent Hamilcar (Hannibal’s father) to modern day Spain to build colonies and recruit troops and allies

First Punic War (264-241 BC)

Second Punic War (218-202 BC)in 221 BC a 25 year old man assumed control of Spain, Hannibal

after Hannibal had conquered a Roman ally (who had been trying to destroy the Carthaginian alliance in Spain) Rome asked Carthage to dismiss Hannibal

they refused and the war started

he crossed the Alps in September of 218 BC and in 2 months had conquered most of northern Italy

this brought the Gauls or 50 000 of them to aid him in his defeat of Rome

the Romans adopted a strategy of avoidance in order to wait Hannibal out and this strategy was effective, except when they tried to engage (they were impatient) and Hannibal crushed them

so for a little more than a decade Hannibal and his army wondered around Italy, even to the walls of Rome, unopposed

he lacked the troops to siege a city like Rome but was too powerful to be directly attacked by the Romans

the Romans sent Publius Cornelius Scipio (later Scipio Africanus) to Spain and Africa and attacked Carthage threw its allies and eventually to Carthage herself

so despite winning every major battle, Hannibal lost the war

in 202 BC he returned to Carthage and they rose up against the Romans, but Hannibal was defeated by Scipio in Africa (202 BC, Zamba)

this turned Rome into an international power, and they soon moved on to Greece (Macedonians had supported Carthage), and they had complete control of the Mediterranean

Carthage began to recover, slowly, and regain some of her lost power

this concerned the Romans, who demanded that Carthage move inland and abandon their city, they refused (they were a sea-going, commercial city)

the Senate declared war and After a seige, the Romans stormed the town and the army went from house to house slaughtering the inhabitants in what is perhaps the greatest systematic execution of non-combatants before World War II. Carthaginians who weren't killed were sold into slavery. The harbor and the city was demolished, and all the surrounding countryside was sown with salt in order to render it uninhabitable. (Hooker)

Third Punic War (149-146 BC)

See: Hannibal Presentation

Conquest of Greece

while Rome was engaged internally and still did not control much of the Italian peninsula, the Macedonian Greeks conquered the known world (Alexander)

at first the Romans paid no attention to this even though there were several Greek city-states in Italy

after the death of Alexander his empire broke up into 3 main parts, and still the Romans paid little attention

this changed after the Second Punic War

Philip V of Macedonia had allied himself with Carthage against Rome, he was an empire builder

this made Rome nervous and suspicious and over a three year period defeated him (196 BC) and declared all of Greece to be free

after the Death of Philip he was succeeded by Perseus, who tried to unite Greece against the Romans, so Rome again invaded and defeated the Greeks

this time they were more harsh (looting, loss of autonomy and self-government)

it was after this that the Romans realized for the first time that empire building was lucrative, and their conquests went from being defensive to offensive in nature

Maniple v. Phalanx handout

Republican Crisis

Rome had started as a small city-state, made up mostly of farmers, the switch to empire was a dramatic change that, provoked a profound crisis in Roman society, government, and morals. (R. Hooker)

Major changes brought about by the wars for empire:

loss of land (Hannibal’s destruction of farms, etc.) meant that most farmers fled/moved to cities

wealthy bought up this land (they were less impacted as they were safe inside the city walls and made huge fortunes from the wars)

huge plantations developed making these new land owners incredibly wealthy

the Punic wars flooded Rome with slaves (by the 2nd century the majority of the population of Italy was slaves) which drove down the wages of the working class to such a degree that they could not make enough money to live/feed their families

this caused an increased migration to the cities where there was no work and little opportunity, creating a potentially explosive environment

the poor and the rich had been in conflict in Rome since its beginning (509 BC)

in 133 BC this conflict became a civil war

Tiberius Grachus, a Tribune of the Assembly, proposed that land ownership be limited to 640 acres, this angered the wealthy landowners (Senators) who managed to veto his attempts at land reform (they controlled the other Tribune Octavius)

so Grachus had him removed from office (unconstitutional) and stood for re-election (unconstitutional), he was assassinated by a group of Senators

The Gracchi

 One can't underestimate the importance of Tiberius Gracchus for Roman history. Although he was ultimately a failure in his reform, he created a new style of politics: appealing to the masses. Up until Tiberius Gracchus, political change had taken place largely in cooperation with and deference to the patrician class. Tiberius Gracchus, however, sought to bring about political change by ignoring the patricians altogether and appealing to the passions of the general populace. This created a new type of politician in Rome; they were called the populares for they attempted to gain power by raising the population in their favor. Against the populares were the optimates ("the best"), who continued to attempt political change by appealing to traditional methods and structures. (R. Hooker)

Gaius Grachus (Tiberius’ brother) continued his agenda, was elected twice as Tribune, passed laws stabilizing the price of grain (by storing excess grain in warehouses) and proposed to grant citizenship to all Italic peoples

In 121 BC the Senate declared him an enemy of the state and was hunted down by the Consuls, several thousand of his followers were killed and he committed suicide

The Gracchi Brothers

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rCiEB7p9Efw

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=D38eqaWvHuw

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wrAUo4RQUXE

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HNlQCk7aOR4

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AO94LTJPJsY

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3xz_ciMj4J0

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GlLCToH4lAg

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cQL3EFow1IQ

Marius

in 111 BC Rome began a war against Numidia but with little success so in 107 BC Gaius Marius is sent to prosecute the war in Numidia

together with his lieutenant Sulla, they defeated Numidia

however the two men became bitter rivals, Sulla was a patrician from an old family while Marius was a novus homo or new man (his family was newly wealthy)

Marius changed everything, he drew his army from the poorest classes, and they owed allegiance directly to him (he got them land, guaranteed that they got paid, etc.)

Sulla

elected consul in 88 BC, after an impressive military career

Sulla defeated Marius in a civil war and the Senate declared him Dictator

over the next 3 years he reformed Roman government and gave most power back to the Senate

he used his army to kill his political opponents (a dangerous political precedent)

Sulla

The Beginning of the EndSulla’s reforms caused violent reactions in Rome, especially amongst the lower classes

after Sulla’s death 2 ambitious generals, Crassus and Pompey were elected as consuls to deal with the unrest

Pompey gained imperium for the entire Mediterranean for several years (fought a war in Asia Minor) and became incredibly popular with Romans

Crassus was fearful of this and allied himself with a popular young patrician and general, Julius Caesar

Caesar got the two men to reconcile and formed a triumvirate (rule of three)

Caesar would enter Rome as a hero, after his victories in Spain and Gaul

the Republic was in its last days

Rise of Julius Caesar

the First Triumvirate (Crassus, Pompey, Caesar) came to power in 59 BC when Caesar was elected as Consul

He became governor of Illycrium and Gaul, which gave him the opportunity for wealth, fame, and developing a loyal army

during this time Crassus died and Pompey, fearful of Caesar, had the Senate declare him an enemy of the state

he crossed the Rubicon River with his army, starting a civil war with Pompey in 49 BC

Caesar crossing the Rubicon:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqoCRsZG1ZQ

Caesar defeated Pompey in 48 BC in Greece, he was assassinated in Egypt shortly after

Veni Vidi Vici

he entered Rome and was declared Dictator for ten years, then for life (46 BC)

this created a lot of issues with the Senate (remember the Gracchii) and in 44 BC he was assassinated by a group of senators led by Cassius and Brutus

Anthony’s Oration: www.youtube.com/watch?v=esUMvBL3gnY

Assassination: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FvgP5hO99o

Augustus

Augustus called himself princeps or first (where we get the word prince) and eventually was first amongst equals (the Emperor)

Augustus reformed the government, fought corruption, implemented land reform, professionalized the army, gave citizenship to all Italians, patronized the arts, built many public works and is considered to be the greatest of all the emperors

the Age of Augustus was a golden time for Rome, filled with peace and prosperity

The Roman Empire

It was eventually split in to parts the east and the west

the Roman Empire would continue, with its ups and downs until the 4th or 5th century

The western portion fell but the East continued on as Byzantium for several hundred more years

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dwpp60nRVAw

Christianity and Constantine http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFB56tpPHa4

Bibliography

www.wsu.edu/~dee/ROME/ROME.HTM