Rome:From Village to Empire

Topography and Geography

Like Greece, Italy is a

mountainous peninsula

– Apennines & Alps

– Fertile plains in the

north below the Alps

• Favorable climate, fertile

land and constant fresh

water source meant most

early Romans were

farmers.

Origin - Rome

• A tribe called “Latins”

established Rome on the banks

of the Tiber River (Palentine

Hills) c.750 B.C.E

– MYTH: c.753 B.C.E. –

Rome founded by twins

Romulus and Remus (Latins)

• c. 6th century B.C.E. - 3 groups

battle for control

Life Under

Etruscan Rule• Etruscans (Northern Italy)

• Skilled metalworkers and

engineers

• By 600 B.C.E – An Etruscan king of

Rome

• 6th Century B.C.E, trade routes from all parts of Italy come together in Rome

– A commercial center due to access to the Mediterranean via the Tiber River

• Safe from sea invasion

• In 509 BCE Etruscans are overthrown by the Romans

– Tarquin the Proud = last Etruscan king

Roman Republic

Romans declare to never be ruled by a king

• The Romans established a representative government -Res Publica

– No one person could inherit the right to rule

– Representatives chosen by patricians

– Decision-making responsibilities entrusted to two consuls –The Senate

• In times of war: Senate chose a dictator to rule for 6 months

Plebeians Demand Equality• 494 B.C.E. granted the right to elect tribunes (2).

– Allowed veto of laws not in the interest of plebs

• Eventually tribunes increased to 10

• 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

Patricians: wealthy landowners and office-holders

– Patrician = “Father” (Latin)

Plebeians (commoners): farmers, artisans, trader

– Could vote and served in the military, but not hold

political office

Slaves: mostly prisoners of war, non-citizens

– Not granted any rights

Patricians

10%

Plebeians

Roman Social Structure

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 Religion

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) were

freed of the “usual” social

obligations.

– devoted solely to the study and

observance of state rituals

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

– Easier military transport,

commerce

and unifying territories

Punic Wars: 100 Years of

Fighting1) 264-146 B.C.E. – Battle to Control Sicily and the western

Mediterranean – Naval Battles

2) 218-202 B.C.E. – Hannibal

attempts to lay siege to

Roman Mainland

– Defeated at the hands of

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

Republic to Empire

• Imperial expansion brought wealth to Rome

– Wealth unequally distributed which provoked class

tensions - Conflict arose over political and social

policies

• 1st Century B.C.E. - 1st Century C.E.

– Civil and military leaders gradually dismantle

Republican constitution

– Replaced with a centralized imperial

government

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

– slave labor drove smaller farmers out of business

» unequal distribution provoked class tensions

• The problem of land distribution was a symptom of a bigger

problem

2. Civil and military leaders replaced the Republican constitution -

with a 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. successfully marches on Rome – “dictator for life”

– Republic replaced by a centralized imperial Government and

Military

• Proposed massive building projects and redistributed land

- alienated many of Rome’s elite

• Extends Roman citizenship to those in imperial

provinces

• 44 B.C.E. assassinated – “Et tu Brute” - Latin phrase used poetically to represent the last words of Julius Caesar

– Civil crisis ensued for thirteen years

Octavian to Augustus

• Nephew, protégé, and adopted son of Julius Caesar

defeats his principal rival, Mark Anthony

(Cleopatra) c.31 B.C.E.

– Octavian strengthen his rule and in 27 B.C.E

– Bestowed the Divine title Augustus

– Centralized political and military power

– Preserved traditional republican government (Roman elite)

– Eliminated personal armies

• Ruled virtually unopposed for 45 years

– PAX ROMANA (27 B.C.E. to 180 C.E.)

Rise of ChristianityDuring Pax Romana - Christianity emerges

• 63 B.C.E. Judea conquered

– Jewish monotheism permitted

– Jews reluctantly live under Roman

• Jesus begins preaching to villagers c. 26 C.E.

• Welcomed by man in Jerusalem welcomed him, many priests

felt threatened - Romans feared a revolt by followers.

– 337 C.E. 1st Christian Roman Emperor Constantine

– 313 C.E. Edict of Milan - freedom of worship to all Roman

citizens

– 395 C.E. – Christianity made the official religion