Basic Roman History

From Alba Longa to Tarquinius Superbus

Imperium Romanum

The Problem With Records

390 BC

Rome is sacked

Records are burned

History before thisis reimagined afterthe fact – more legend/myth

This is how Romans want to be seen

Our Story Begins

1184 B.C.

C. 783 B.C.

Alba Longa

Numitor & Amulius

Rhea Silvia

Numitor’s daughter

Amulius’s decision

Mars’s interference

Has twin boys

Punished for

violating vow

Romulus & Remus

• Babies in Basket• Father Tiber• A wolf and a

woodpecker• Faustulus & Acca

Larentia

The boys grow up…

• Amulius’s Shepherds

• Remus Captured!

• Faustulus reveals the truth

• Numitor’s hunch about Remus

• Amulius’s death

• Restoring Numitor

Ab Urbe Condita

• Which hill?• Augury & Vultures• “Don’t jump over my wall!”

The Rape of The Sabine Women

• Problem with a bunch of dudes?

• Festival of treachery

• Women given civil and property rights; mothers of free men

The War with the Sabines

Titus Tatius

The Perfidy of Tarpeia

Romulus stopsthe rout

“Stop, in the name of love!”

The Senators & the ‘death’ of Romulus

• 100 Patres

• A whirling nimbus

• “Romulus is with the gods”• Quirinus

Our story so far…

Why did Aeneas flee Troy?

How many years were there between the founding of Alba Longa & the foundation of Rome?

Why did Romulus and Remus have to get their milk from a wolf?

Why is the Tarpeian Rock called the Tarpeian Rock?

Numa Pompilius

• Interregnum• Chosen to be king• Refusal & augury• Peace• Egeria• Religious Laws• The Fasti

• Jan/Feb

Tullus Hostilius (673-642 B.C.)

Ferocitas

Religion? Pfft!

Treachery and barbaric death of Mettius Fufetius

Bad omens

Death by lightning

Horatii v. Curiatii

2 sets of triplets – Romans & Albans

Early setbacks

Cunning of

surviving Horatius

Horatia’s mistake

Horatius’s

acquittal

Ancus Marcius

Not very important for us

Builds a lot!

1st bridge across Tiber

Rome’s 1st prison

Tarquinius Priscus

Lucumo & Tanaquil leave Tarquinii

An eagle and a cap

Lucumo becomes king for Ancus’s sons

Disinheritance of Ancus’ sons

Circus Maximus

Death by Ancus’s sons

Servius Tullius

Priscus’s son-in-law

The burning hair

Census, temples, coins, bigger city, new wall

Expansion of the vote

All-around great king

The Rise of Tarquinius Superbus

Tullia m. TarquiniusSo does her sister

Treacherous switcheroo

Public power grab

A daughter’s love…

Reduces the Senate

Capitoline temple