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Ancient Rome BCE-CEDe nobis fabula narratur

“The Romans knew how to govern people, establish legal structures

and construct roads that took them to the ends of their known world”

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Geography- Locus-Locus-Locus

Middle of the Mediterranean Larger and more arable land than Greece-

mts north and south River valleys- Po in the North, Tiber in

middle of boot Rome - inland accessible by boat-

defensible,on “Seven Hills”

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Origins of Rome

Legend: Romulus and Remus raised by she-wolf 733bce traced boundaries with plow

Later: Virgil’s Aeneus, hero of Troy, roams the Med looking for a home

Reality: Etruscans unsure of origin used iron, bronze and

silver Rome and Latins under

rule of king beginning fear of kings,

rebelled invaded by Gaul 390

BCE

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Steps to Unification

Etruscans and Gauls squeezed out by Latins 290- conquered central Italy then Samnites

in South 265 took over Greek city states key- staying power of army, won over

conquered people- become Roman citizens

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Meanwhile, back in Rome, the importance of citizenship

gradual struggle between the patrician and plebeian classes

2 consuls and Senate made up of patricians popular assemblies established with a

representative tribune- veto power 450 BCE 12 Tables Roman Law codified Result- increase of privileges for plebes

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The Punic Wars 264-146 BCE

Major rival in Med- Phoenician Carthage First Punic War 264-42- copied ships and corvus

– out of Sicily Second Punic war 218-202- Hannibal 216 Battle of

Camnae Third- treaty infringement trumped up Cato’s speech

– Carthago delenda est” Carthage plowed and sowed with salt

– Result Rome now the POWER in the Mediterranean

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8 Struggles Continue in the Republic

Graft, corruption, struggle between patrician and plebeians

Gracchi Brothers Tiberias and Gaius Marius consul 6 x Sulla- general seized Rome in 82 BCE

restored power to Senate– set precedent

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Republic’s Last Gasp

First Triumvirate Julius Caesar, Pompey, Crassus

Julius Caesar challenges the Senate crosses the Rubicon

47 BCE virtual ruler, increased Senate to 900 44 BCE assassinated, Second Triumvirate

– Octavius, Marc Antony, Lepidus– Battle of Actium 31 BCE End of an era

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The Roman Empire

Caesar Augustus- purpose “to restore the republic”

27 BC Augustus become “First Citizen” Princeps ended strife- beginning of Pax Romanae tried to impact life- morality, building sculpture- deified him, literature as well Consolidation- of power/ Senate limited SPQR Senatus Populusque Romanus- banner

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The Roman World

Ever expanding- see maps- spread Pax Romanae Politically - emperor/ dictatorship Extended Roman citizenship as they spread The Roman family- gradual less influence for

fathers– family strong unit- run like the state– women become more independent- socially and

ownership– politically active as wives of emperors- Livia, wife of CA

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The Roman World (cont)

Golden Age- literature Horace, Virgil, Ovid and Livy

Religion- state religion, Roman gods reflected Greek emperor became “divine” connection to gods

– tolerant of other religions Mithras, Persian god of light

– Christianity-”And there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus”

– persecutions not as many as thought- made stronger

– sometimes combined with others- e.g. Celtic gods

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Slavery in the Roman World

Important to building projects and way of life Conquests supplied slaves so came from all over Not related to ethnicity or skin color Greek slaves educated and highly prized Rebellions like Sparticus 73BCE occurred-

Crassius– put down, crucified slaves and held a 10 day party for

Rome– Slaves gradually won freedom and numbers decreased

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The Roman Builders- All over the Empire

Amazing accomplishments- Roads that still last Aqueducts- bringing water to every important city Temples for the gods- copied Greek style- massive Forum- public area of the city- center- oration etc. Theaters- for entertainment- drama Coliseums- more fun, fights, gladiators, animals Baths- public places- series of rooms dif temps

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The Roman Emperors- the Good, Bad and Ugly

Good- Marcus Aurelius-phil “citizen of the world” Calm and unified- Trajan, Hadrian, walls and

rebels Bad- Caligula- named horse “consul”,

Commodus, fought gladiators with blunted weapons, Nero, mass murder- inc his mother, pregnant wife, brother

Many later emperors were generals- most powerful could become emperor

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The Roman legacy- writing and the law

alphabet- should look familiar to us Romans wrote down everything- very literate, passed on to use

use every day, alma mater, alter ego, per capita, vice versa, a.m/, p.m., RIP ,list goes on ad infinitum

some consider the statutes and case law most important legacy- took idea that a written law can protect one person from another- put it into practice- Because it’s the laws means something to us- not necessarily in other cultures.

tried to appeal to people through argument- idea of people deciding

magistrates important in Rome- e.g. of Apostle Paul

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The Roman Provinces- still impacted

Gaul- France today- many roads, aqueducts, theaters

The Rhine- no border- Trier and Wiesbaden Britain- difficult place, Bath and Hadrian’s wall Palestine- Masada- rebellion and magnificent

cities like Baalbek Africa- riches of Egypt and the granary of the

Empire

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Why a Roman “Fall”

Instability caused by no real plan of succession

Trouble on the borders Morally bankrupt? Division of Empire- Diocletian Later Constantine- new capitol-

Constantinople-

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Christianity and Rome

Helped Christianity spread- communication Appeal- unrest, questioning of polytheism

– explained spiritual aspects, Christ’s teachings– emphasis of eternal life– community exclusive (mystery religion)

Persecution- under Nero, blamed for fire– mostly tolerant, Christians refused to worship state

Effect- spread slowly- letters formed NT– officially tolerated 313 Edict of Milan

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The Barbarians at the Gates

Pressure from Germanic tribes looking for safety Huns pressured the Visogoths-410- ran into the

empire Vandals- 455- sacked Rome Series of invasions- physical damage, but also

intellectual– established German kingdoms in West- illiterate,look at art

The East survives- becomes Byzantium- keeps the learning from the ancient world