Ancient Rome

The Roman Republic

Geography

n   First settlers chose site because soil was fertile, hills made it easy to defend, there was a river (Tiber River)

n   Located on Med Sea

n   Located on peninsula

Etruscans

n    Know very little about people who founded Rome

n    About 600 B.C. Etruscans took power in Rome

n    Know one knows for sure where they came from

n    Ruled as kings

n    Romans did not like not having any say – Romans defeat the Etruscans

n    Adopted many Etruscan ideas – gods, Greek alphabet, toga

Republic

n   Establish form of Government where citizens had the right to vote and select their leaders who rule in the name of the people

n   Senate – most powerful – mirrors our legislature

n   Senate made up of upper class at first (patricians)

Roman Republic cont.

n    Consuls – 2 chief officials who lead the government

–    Chief executives

–    Enforced laws

–    Elected by assembly of citizens

–    Advised by the senate

–    Ruled for one year

–    Power divided equally between the two

–    Could veto (reject) actions

Roman Republic cont.

n   Dictator – Roman official who had all powers of a king but could hold office for only 6 months

–   Law said dictator could be appointed in case of emergency

n   Praetors – served as judges

–   Helped develop some of the first rules for Roman courts of law

Patricians and Plebeians

n    Patricians – member of wealthy family

–    Thought of themselves as leaders

–    Grew wealthy from conquests

n    Plebeians – ordinary citizens

–    Did not trust patrician senate

–    Many farmers were without work

–    Eventually refuse to fight in Roman army

n    Laws of Twelve Tables – written code of laws that applied to all citizens

 

Decline of Republic

n   Rome enters Civil War as result of Roman generals begin to fight for land and power as well as Roman consuls losing respect for one another

n   Julius Caesar arises as strong leader

 

Julius Caesar

n   Strong leadership – won loyalty of troops

n   Became dictator when he defeated the senate – ruled with great power

n   Many senators felt Rome once again had a king

n   Group of senators killed Caesar at a senate meeting in 44 B.C.

Octavian

n   Caesar’s adopted son – takes power after about 13 years of civil war following death of Caesar

n   Senate awards him title “Augustus” – meaning highly respected

n   First emperor of Rome

n   Marked beginning of Roman Empire

Augustus

n   Intelligent ruler – careful to avoid acting like a king 

n   Rome was so grateful for peace they gave him as much power as needed

 

Governing Conquered People

n    Took slaves after conquest but most people remained free

n    Divided empire into provinces – had a Roman governor supported by army

n    Allowed people to follow their own religions and customs

n    Wanted peaceful provinces that would supply empire with supplies

n    Many conquered people adopted Roman ways

Death of Augustus

n   Died in A.D 14

n   82 years after his death Rome had good, bad, and terrible emperors

n   2 of worst – Caligula and Nero – both may have been insane

n   Were both despised that Romans wanted to forget their reign altogether

 

5 “ Good Emperors”

n    A.D 96 – Rome enters age of 5 Good Emperors

n    Only the last one had a son – the others adopted the best young man to be next emperor

n    Hadrian – considered the best – built good government, code of laws, reorganized army, encouraged learning

n    Marcus Aurelius – last of the “good emperors” – chose his son Commodus to follow him

 

Commodus

n   Terrible leader

n   Ruled with great brutality

n   Ended age of peace and prosperity

Greek Influence on Rome

n   Religion

–   Practiced polytheism

–   Many Roman gods/goddesses had Greek counterparts

–   Adopted heroes from Greek mythology

n   Both valued learning

–   Romans were interested in using the Greek studies to build and organize their world

Architecture and Technology

n    Etruscans, Greeks, Own style

n    Roman Style

–    Statues and buildings heavier and stronger than Greeks

–    Arch –

–    Concrete

n    Colosseum – greatest Roman building – giant arena – 50,000

n    Roads – “All roads lead to Rome” –

n    Aqueducts – carried water from countryside to cities

Roman Law

n    Spread throughout empire

n    Cicero – great senator – “What sort of thing is the law? It is the kind that cannot be bent by influence, or broken by power, or spoiled by money.”

n    Justinian’s Code – Roman code of justice

n    Roman ideas of justice are basic to our system of laws

Roman Citizens

n   Rome had too many people

n   Census – registering was only way to claim citizenship

n   Women, girls, slaves, and those freed from slavery were not counted as citizens

n   As empire expanded people beyond Rome gained citizenship

Roman Social Classes

n     Huge difference between the rich and poor

n     Villas – elegant homes of the rich

n     Wealthy were known for their feasts, entertainment, etc ( overdid many things)

n     Most people lived in poorly built rundown housing

n     Poor needed wheat to survive – when it was not supplied there would be riots

n     Circuses – emperors supplied wheat and entertainment to prevent riots

–    Could be violent

–    Gladiators often the highlight of entertainment

Family Life

n   Most had strong sense of traditional values

n   3 generations often lived together in household

n   Paterfamilias – head of household – absolute power over household – owned everything it it

 

Role of Women

n   Amount of freedom women had depended on her husband’s wealth and status

n   Men had more freedom than women

Slavery in Rome

n   Almost every wealthy family and some poor families owned slaves

n   Had almost no rights

n   Household slaves were more fortunate than other kinds of slaves

n   Many gladiators were slaves

Rise of Christianity

n   Was one of major religions in Empire

n   Romans tolerant toward different religions and customs

n   63 B.C – Romans conquer Jewish land of Judea – tolerant at first – many Jews resented foreign rule – Rome responds with harsh rule – King Herod

Christianity

n   Jesus – stories about life and teachings found in New Testament

n   Mathew, Mark, Luke, John – Gospels

n   Jesus’ teachings alarmed many people

–   Said he was teaching God was greater than the emperor – feared he would lead armed revolt

Christianity Spreads

n    Saul (Paul) – one of most devoted followers – writings help spread faith

n    Many city dwellers were poor people who welcomed the message of Christianity as good news

n    Paganus – used by Christians to describe anyone who did not share beliefs

n    Over time scattered communities of Christians organized under a structured Church

Rome Reacts

n    Christians refused to worship the Roman gods and did not show emperor the required respect

n    Nero – first official campaign against Christians began – AD 64

n    Fire left much of city in ruins –

–    Nero blames Christians – might have started it himself

–    Ordered arrest of Christians – many were killed

Rome Reacts cont.

n   Christians persecuted for another 250 years

n   Cont. to spread despite persecution

n   Emperor after emperor tried to halt its spread

n   By AD 300’s 1/10 Romans had accepted the Christian faith

Good Rule to Bad

n   Decline of Roman Empire began under Commodus

–   18 when came to rule

–   Made poor choices

–   Did not seek approval of Senate

–   Bribed army to support him

–   Bold and extravagant

 

Empire Crumbles

n    After Commodus emperors were usually successful generals

–    Often stole money for own purpose

–    Govt and economy became weak

–    Senate lost power

n    Roman army composed of mercenaries instead of citizen soldiers

n    Empire had grown too large – enemies launched attacks all over empire – empire shrinks

Empire Crumbles

n    Economic problems – new sources of wealth stopped when Rome was no longer conquering lands – struggled to pay army – food scarce

n    Inflation – more money but less value – govt produced more coins to pay expenses

n    Diocletian – tried to stop decline – divided empire into 2 parts – co-emperor

Constantine

n    Said Christian God helped him win power of Roman empire in west – Licinius control of East

n    Stopped the persecution of Christians – freedom of worship in Rome

n    324 – Constantine has complete control of Roman Empire – 25 years as emperor

n    Worked to strengthen the Christian Church – construction of important places of worship

n    Moved capital to Byzantium (Turkey) – called it new Rome – Constantinople

 

Invasion and Collapse

n    After Constantine’s death invaders swept across Rome (Germanic Tribes)

–    Visigoths – captured and looted Rome in 410

–    Vandals – took Rome 455

n    Last Roman emperor – 14 yrs old – Romulus Augustus

n    Constantinople remained center of another empire – Byzantine Empire