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)