Rome

From Romulus to RomulusThe Rise and Fall of Rome

Romulus and Remus

Legendary RomeAeneas and Trojan Refugees settle in Italy (Vergils Aeneid; wholly fictional)Romulus founds Rome 753 BCEAnother legendRomulus probably named for RomeRome may come from a word for riverSeven KingsTarquinius Superbus deposedRepublic founded 509 BCE

The Pre-Roman World

War With Carthage264-241 BCE: Rome wins control of Sicily238 BCE Rome takes advantage of revolt in Carthage to seize Sardinia218-201 BCE: Hannibal invades Italy, but Carthage loses Spain and N. Africa to Rome149-146 BCE: Alarmed by Carthages recovery, Rome launches a final war to destroy Carthage

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Many-Front War

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The Republic CrumblesTiberius and Gaius Gracchus try but fail to implement social reforms (land reform)130-122 BCESocial War 9188 BCE: Rest of Italy tries to secede from RomeCivil War 87-81 BCE, followed by purge by Lucius SullaCatilina 63-62 BCE: Failed coupFirst Triumvirate 60-53 BCE: Caesar, Pompey, Crassus

Julius CaesarBorn 100 BCEConsul 60 BCEFirst Triumvirate 60-53 BCE: Caesar, Pompey, CrassusConquest of Gaul 58-49 BCEAttempted invasion of Britain 55 BCE50 BCE: Caesar-Pompey alliance breaks up50-45 BCE: Civil War; Caesar wins44 BCE: Assassinated

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Empire!Civil WarAntony against Brutus and CassiusAntony and Octavian against Brutus and CassiusOctavian against Antony and CleopatraOctavian declared Emperor 27 BCE as Caesar AugustusTiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero69 CE: Year of the Four Emperors

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The Empire at its PeakFlavian DynastyVespasian (6979) Titus (7981)Domitian (8196)Five Good EmperorsNerva (96-98)Trajan (98-117)Hadrian (117-138)Antoninus Pius (138-161)Marcus Aurelius (161-180)

Roman Science and TechnologyLittle theoretical science or innovation (Lucretius-atoms) Encyclopedists (Pliny) Architectural virtuosity City planning--water, lead pipes, sewage, fire protection Bridges and aqueducts Law and administration

Roman Science and TechnologyConcrete (if a society can only introduce one invention, it could do no better than this.) Codex form of books Water mills (late in Empire)

Near Collapse 235-28420-25 emperors and many claimantsInternal dissension weakens frontiersDacia (modern Romania) lostEmpire fractures into three parts 258-275Economic stagnation and hyperinflationTwo tough general-emperors, Claudius Gothicus and Aurelian, stabilized EmpireDiocletian (284-305) created autocracy, reformed military, bought another two centuries for the Empire

Final DeclineConstantine the Great (306-337)Legalized Christianity 313Theodosius I (379-395)The last ruler of the whole empireMade Christianity official 391Empire divided East-West 395Eastern InvasionsRomulus Augustulus deposed 476Eastern half endures as Byzantine Empire to 1453

Roman Empire Splits, 395 A.D.

Fall of Rome

Did Anyone Try to Stop It?Majorianus 457-461The successor of Avitus presents the welcome discovery of a great and heroic character, such as sometimes arise, in a degenerate age, to vindicate the honor of the human species. (Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Ch. 36)

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1782Edward Gibbon suggested four reasons for fall of Rome:Immoderate greatness--growth of bureaucracy and military Wealth and luxury Barbarian invasions (cause or symptom?) Spread of Christianity

Persecution of ChristiansRome was generally tolerant of other religionsTended to incorporate other religionsTolerated Jews, who refused assimilationRoman religion was utilitarianMeans of maintaining unity and order (pietas)Securing favor for RomeChristianity threatened both aimsBlamed for decline of Rome

Persecution of ChristiansOther IssuesSecrecy bred suspicionOrganized among lower classesCompetition with other sectsSome early Christians were extremistsFreedom of conscience was not on anyones radar until about 1700

Persecution of ChristiansSometimes scapegoats for disaster (Nero)Most persecutions local and spottyImperial persecutions tended to happen under two types of emperorConscientious (Domitian, Diocletian, Julian)Oppressive (Nero)Mediocre emperors were apathetic or too busy surviving

An Alternate View of the Fall of RomeAmericans often idealize ancient RomeWe are impressed by its monuments. It's the first ancient state in the Western world that looks like a modern nation-state on the scale of the U.S. Latin was used as the intellectual language of Europe until recent timesMany "religious" films about the life of Christ are actually films about Rome with a pious veneer.

Reality Check: Rome was a stagnant, corrupt, brutal and petty societyTwo suggested antidotes to the romantic view of Rome: Robert Graves' I, Claudius H.G. Wells Outline of HistoryNot once did the local populace ever rise up to oppose the barbarian invaders.

Two Empires Face a Fateful ChoiceThe U.S., Northwest Ordinance - 1787 Provided for division of new territories into additional States Admission of new States incorporated into Constitution Hence no distinction whatever between original States and later States.Rome - 201 BCERome acquires Spain from Carthage Rome decides to exploit the new territories as source of tax revenue and slaves.

Results of Romes ChoiceNon-stop guerrilla war in Spain for over 300 yearsRome abandons its traditional citizen army for a permanent standing armyConscripted soldiers frequently became dispossessed while serving in Spain (Destroyed the middle class)Rome's erratic but real progress toward equality reverses. Power and wealth re-concentrate in the hands of the upper classSoldiers become dependent on generals for welfare and equipment

Conclusion:Like a baby born with AIDS, the Roman Empire was infected at birth with the disease that eventually killed it.

A Bit of Perspective

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Rome