Unit 1: Foundations of Western Society Essential Question: What were Greece and Rome’s most...

Unit 1: Foundations of Western Society

• Essential Question: What were Greece and Rome’s most enduring contributions to Western civilization?

Rome’s Contributions to Western Society

• Modern Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Romanian) trace their origins to Latin, the language of the Romans.

• Form of government (Republic) and policy• Christianity, which arose during the Roman Empire,

remains one of the world’s main religions• Social classes: Tensions between rich and poor

continue to affect society, as they did in the days of patrician and plebeians

• Classical art and architecture• Inventions: Developed road construction methods,

aqueducts, domes, and concrete.

Historical Perspective

Rome• 700s kings rule• 600s Etruscans rule develop

Rome• 500s Etruscans out,

Republic in• 300s Rome conquers

surrounding states• 200s finished conquering

all of Italy• mid-200s – 100s conquest

of the Mediterranean

Greece • 800-500Homeric Age

• 500-300 Classical Age

• 300s Hellenistic Period

• 133 Romans seize control of Greece

The Mythical Founding of Rome:The Mythical Founding of Rome:Romulus & RemusRomulus & Remus

Origins of Rome

Rome: from Rome: from village to village to empireempire

c. 750 BCE: Latins (tribe) settle what becomes Rome

See Rome Expand!

Let’s Talk Topography and Geography

peninsula mountains rivers

Long ago on a peninsula far, far away…

• Apennine Mountains – not so rugged as the Greek mainland, did not divide the country into small isolated communities

• Large fertile plains – could support a large population. Agriculture was the most important industry in the empire.

• Rome was located on Tiber River – access to the Mediterranean Sea

• Built on seven hills – easily defended; military strategy

The early Romans were mostly…

farmers

Ancient Italy (c. 6th century B.C.)

PEOPLE:

Latins-Rome: “The First Romans”-Influence: Latin Language

Etruscans-Northern Italy-Urbanized Rome: Building Programs (the Forum)-Influence on Romans: the arch, alphabet

Greeks-Southern Italy and Sicily-Influence on Romans: art, architecture, literature, government, grew olives and grew olives and grapes (oh and goats!)grapes (oh and goats!)

c. 600 BCE:

EtruscansEtruscans Conquer Rome…

…Romans adopt Etruscan alphabet, art, gods, building techniques (including the arch)

In 509 BCE...

…the Romans overthrew the Etruscans

Rome Spreads its Power• Romans defeat

Etruscans in north and Greek city-states in south

• Treatment of Conquered:– Forge alliances– Offer

citizenship

• By 265 B.C., Rome controls Italian peninsula

It’s interesting to note that this was the precise time that we think of Greece as entering its Classical Era.

Unlike the Athenians, who had a direct or participatory democracy, the Romans established a representative democracy, or, a “republic…”

…like we have today

Roman social structureRoman social structure

Patricians: wealthy landowners and office-holders

Plebeians: farmers, artisans, traders…could vote but not hold political office

Slaves: mostly prisoners of war…not citizens…no rights

RomanRoman ReligionReligion

polytheistic

absorbed gods of others, including the Greeks

lots of public festivals

Roman WomenRoman Women

educated just like boys

couldn’t vote but could testify in court

gained property rights

more influence in family than Greek women

451 BCE: First Roman Law CodeFirst Roman Law CodeTHE TWELVE TABLES

carved stone tablets

• 451 B.C., officials carve Roman laws on twelve tablets and hung in Forum.

• Laws confirm right of all free citizens to protection of the law

• Become the basis for later Roman law

The Roman ForumThe Roman ForumThe Roman ForumThe Roman Forum

• Political center of Roman Empire

• Ideal place for dramatic public speeches

• Town Square, mall (vendors), and government center

Gradually, the Romans began to expand their control…

…until they had conquered the entire Italian peninsula plus the islands of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily

As they expanded their control…

…the Romans built an excellent network of roads

Here’s how they built them:

Their road system is one of the Romans’ greatest achievements

Why do you think they built them?

The Roman road system

allowed easy military transport

enabled trade and commerce

helped unify expanding Roman territories

Back to Roman expansion…who do you think would be a likely rival for control of the Mediterranean Sea?

Carthage!!Carthage!!

Between 264-146 BCE the Romans fought 3 wars with Carthage, known as the “Punic Wars.”“Punic Wars.”

Note: The conflict was called the "Punic War" because Rome's name for Carthaginians was Punici (older Phoenici, due to their Phoenician ancestry).

In its adjective form : “treacherous”

The First Punic War : 264 to 241 BCAfter 23 years of fighting, Rome emerged the victor and imposed heavy conditions upon Carthage as the price for peace.

Rome replaced Carthage as the dominant naval power of the Mediterranean

Both states were financially and demographically exhausted.

Spoils of War: They drew what they considered a straight line across the Mediterranean.

Hispania, Corsica, Sardinia and Africa remained Carthaginian. All that was north of that line was signed over to Rome.

The Second Punic War : 218 to 202 BC

After Carthage lost its holdings in Sicily to Rome in the First Punic War, Carthage moved to compensate for the loss by extending her territory in Hispania (the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula).

Rome won…and went on to conquer the rest of the Mediterranean world.

The period 27 BCE-180 AD (the last two maps) is known as the:

PAX ROMANAPAX ROMANA

During this period:

o Romans thought they were the entire civilized world

o The population of the city of Rome reached 1 million

o Trade increased, bringing a wealth of resources into Rome

o The arts flourished

o Rome enjoyed military dominance

Well, that’s it for our quick overview of Rome’s journey from small village to huge empire. Over the

next several weeks we will concentrate on the following:

the influence of Greek culture upon the Romans

Roman contributions to politics, technology and the arts

the rise of Christianity within the Roman Empire

reasons for the decline and collapse of the Empire