The RomansThe Romans

I. Background I. Background InformationInformation

• Italians came into contact w/ the Greeks when the Greeks sailed along the coast– Set up colonies in the South– The Greeks introduced their alphabet

• Italy was the ideal center for trade• Neolithic cultures existed around 5000

B.C.• Indo-Europeans (Latins) arrived @

1500 B.C.• Etruscans

Influence of the EtruscansInfluence of the EtruscansInfluence of the EtruscansInfluence of the Etruscans§ WritingWriting§ ReligionReligion§ The ArchThe Arch

FoundingFounding• 1500BC-Latins crossed

Alps – Founded Rome on 7 hills

by Tiber River

• Agricultural• 750BC-Conquered by

Etruscans• Latins (Romans) learned

to:– Build roads, walls, &

buildings– Make metal weapons

II. The Rise of RomeII. The Rise of Rome• Legend of Romulus/Remus• Factual start (800-700 B.C.) – Latins agreed

to form one community• Etruscan Rule (the Tarquins)

– Provided kings; were driven out in 509 B.C.• Social Groups

– Patricians: Latin nobles; declared Rome a republic

– Plebeians: wealthy non-nobles (majority of pop.)

• The Roman Republic (two branches of govt.)– Legislative: The Assembly of Centuries &

Senate– Executive: headed by two consuls

• Dictators in time’s of crisis

RepublicanRepublican Government GovernmentRepublicanRepublican Government Government

2 Consuls(Rulers of Rome)

Senate(Representative body for patricians)

Tribal Assembly(Representative body for plebeians)

FascesFasces

FascesFasces

FascesFasces

III. Roman LifeIII. Roman Life• Government: Plebeians vs. Patricians

– Plebeians resented their lack of power– 494 B.C. plebeians refuse to join military– Tribunes were selected to represent plebeians– The Twelve Tables: basis of all Roman Law

• All free citizens had a right to the law’s protection

• Family: basic unit of Roman society– Men: absolute head of the household

• Could sell family members to pay a debt• Felt deep responsibility for welfare of family

– Women: had few legal rights• More freedoms than Greek women• Wealthy women could gain some education

IV. Roman ExpansionIV. Roman Expansion

• Italian Peninsula– 340-270 BC– Well-trained

citizen-soldiers– Wise treatment of

conquered peoples

• Military: organized into legions (smaller)– Centurions led a

century of 100 men– Very disciplined;

able to conquer w/ ease

Effect of ConquestsEffect of Conquests

• Spread Greek culture • Officials/Nobles gained large

fortunes• Roman virtues disappeared• Ruined small farmers &

workers– Farmers migrated to cities– Politicians offered free

programs• Citizen-soldiers replaced by

professional soldiers

Carthaginian EmpireCarthaginian EmpireCarthaginian EmpireCarthaginian Empire

Hannibal’s RouteHannibal’s Route

• First Punic War: (264-241 B.C.)– Carthage threatened to seize Strait of Messina– Used land tactics on ships (grappling hooks)

• Second Punic War: (221 B.C.)– Hannibal tried to invade from the North– Scipio forced Hannibal to retreat to Africa– Defeated Hannibal at Zama – pay an indemnity

• Third Punic War: (146 B.C.)– Rome entered Carthage and burned it to the

ground– Scattered survivors into slavery

Punic WarsPunic Wars

V. Roman Crisis and ReformV. Roman Crisis and Reform• 130 B.C – Rome controlled the Med.

region• Social discontent was a growing problem

– Unemployment increased– 100 B.C. – slaves made up 30% of the

population– Wealthy enlarged their latifundia (estates)– Widening of the social gap

• Reform Efforts– Gracchus Brothers: limit the size of

latifundias and redistribute land to the poor– Marius: became consul in 107 B.C.

• Wanted the poor to serve in the military

• 73-71 B.C. – slave revolt led by Spartacus

VI. Julius Caesar (100-44 VI. Julius Caesar (100-44 B.C.)B.C.)

• Allied with Pompey & Crassus: 1st Triumvirate

• Military victories = advancement of career– Took command in Gaul– Crossed the Rhine and fought Germanic

tribes

• Positives from time in Gaul:– Away during times of disorder/corruption– Became wealthy from conquests– Gained support of soldiers (pay and

promotion)

• Hailed as a hero by the lower classes

VI. Julius Caesar (continued)VI. Julius Caesar (continued)• 50 B.C. – Crassus was killed in battle• 49 B.C. – the Senate ordered Caesar to

surrender his army and return to Rome– Crossed the Rubicon: “No Turning Back”– Defeated Pompey in Greece

• 45 B.C. – took over Rome’s govt. as dictator– Great Ruler or Tyrant?

• Crushed opposition, but treated them mildly

• 44 B.C. – Cassius and Brutus had him killed• His changes to centralize the govt. were

never reversed

Caesar’s Roman Republic

Beware the Ides of Beware the Ides of March!March!44 BCE44 BCE

Beware the Ides of Beware the Ides of March!March!44 BCE44 BCE

VII. Octavian (VII. Octavian (Caesar Caesar AugustusAugustus))

• Joined forces with M. Antony & M. Lepidus– Second Triumvirate– Divided the Roman Empire among

themselves

• Lepidus was forced to retire• Antony married Cleopatra

– Octavian convinced the Senate that Antony intended to rule on his own with Cleopatra at his side

• 31 B.C – Octavian defeated Antony at Actium– Became the undisputed ruler of Rome– “the first citizen” avoided being the

king/dictator

VII. Octavian (continued)VII. Octavian (continued)

• His rule marked the beginning of an “Empire”– Began Pax Romana

• Was appointed consul, tribune, and commander for life

• 27 B.C. – gave himself the title “Augustus” - The Majestic One

• Was interested in the arts/architecture in Rome– “… I found Rome a city of

brick and left it a city of marble.”

VIII. VIII. Pax Romana Pax Romana (31 B.C. – A.D. (31 B.C. – A.D. 180)180)

• Time of “peace” in the Roman Empire• Family became less significant

– Fewer children– More divorces & remarriages

• Middle-class able to gain more money/power– Patricians could go bankrupt– Plebians could make a fortune in

manufacturing• Majority of the population was still poor

– Harsh overcrowded conditions• Lived in multilevel apartment housing

– “Free bread and circuses” lessened revolts– 130 holidays a year

VIII. VIII. Pax Romana Pax Romana (cont.)(cont.)

• Architectural Advances– Circus Maximus

• Chariot Racing– Colosseum

• Amphitheater: two-theaters• Gladiatorial Games

– Pantheon • Rebuilt by Hadrian• Built in honor of the Pantheon of Roman gods

– Roman Baths• Included frigidarium, caldarium, natatorium, etc.

– Aqueducts and network of roads were very advanced

Circus MaximusCircus Maximus

ColosseumColosseum

PantheonPantheon

Roman Roman BathBath

AqueductAqueduct

Roman RoadsRoman Roads

Pax RomanaPax Romana: 27 BCE – : 27 BCE – 180 CE180 CE

Pax RomanaPax Romana: 27 BCE – : 27 BCE – 180 CE180 CE

IX. EmperorsIX. Emperors• Julio-Claudians (members of Caesar’s

family):– Tiberius: able leader; accused people of treason– Caligula: became mentally ill; killed by a guard– Claudius: renowned scholar; difficulty focusing – Nero: cruel and “insane”; persecuted the early

“Christians”; sentenced to death for treason

• Good Emperors (administrative skills):– Trajan: increased the size of the Empire– Hadrian: strengthened the frontier– Antonius Pious: maintained prosperity– Marcus Aurelius: “the philosopher ruler”;

brought the empire to its height of prosperity

X. The Roman EmpireX. The Roman Empire• Imperial Rule:

– Augustus improved the working of the empire; kept the Senate “uninvolved”

– Augustus appointed himself Pontifex Maximus

• The Law:– jus gentium: law that dealt with noncitizens– jus civile: law that dealt with citizens– Formed the basis for Church and Western

law

• An Imperial Army:– Standing army was reduced in size due to

peace– A.D. 160s – invasions by outsiders become a

problem

X. The Roman EmpireX. The Roman Empire• The Economy:

– Artisans made commodities that were sold throughout the empire

– Traded commodities for “luxury” goods• Educational

Advances/Accomplishments– Galen:

• Formed the basis of Roman medical science which influenced medicine for the next 1400 years

– Ptolemy:• Egyptian astronomer whose work later

allowed others to predict the planets’ motions

XI. The Rise of ChristianityXI. The Rise of Christianity• Christianity was practiced in the Med. region

– Jews were oppressed under Roman rule– Hoped for a “messiah” to deliver them

• Jesus of Nazareth (ministry = A.D. 30-33)– Preached that God was loving/forgiving to all– Controversy troubled Roman and Jewish officials– Pontius Pilate sentenced him to crucifixion

• Believed that Jesus’ teachings would die with him

– A.D. 100 – Gospel preached in all of Roman Empire• Jews and Gentiles both began to est. churches

XI. Rise of Christianity XI. Rise of Christianity (continued)(continued)

• Two Main Disciples– Peter: primarily ministered to the Jews

• Believed that he founded the church in Rome• Crucified upside down

– Paul: primarily ministered to Gentiles• Was once a persecutor of “Christians”• Nero had him beheaded

• Persecution of Early Christians– Taught that their religion was the only way– Were accused of treason (did not honor

emperor)– Often were killed as martyrs (in the

Colosseum)– Christianity was mainly practiced in the

cities

The Spread of ChristianityThe Spread of ChristianityThe Spread of ChristianityThe Spread of Christianity

XII. Roman Adoption of XII. Roman Adoption of ChristianityChristianity

• A.D. 312 – Constantine led his army into battle under the sign of the “flaming cross”

• A.D. 313 – Edict of Milan– Allowed for freedom of religious worship

• A.D. 325 Council of Nicaea– Decided on official doctrine/teachings– Jesus had both human and godly qualities

• A.D. 392 – Theodosius I made Christianity the official religion of the empire– Banned old Hellenistic and Roman religions

XIII. The Early ChurchXIII. The Early Church• Needed clearly stated, unified teachings

in order to prosper (Council of Nicaea)• Augustine – City of God and Confessions• Church Structure (hierarchy)

– Priests, Bishops, Patriarchs– 400s: the Bishop of Rome claimed authority

over all of the other bishops– Greek churches did not recognize his auth.– The Great Schism: a large split in the church

• Latin (Western) churches became Roman Catholic

• Greek (Eastern) churches became Eastern Orthodox

XIV. Roman DeclineXIV. Roman Decline

• A.D. 200s – Germanic tribes begin to invade in the west

• Empire’s Problems:– End of the Good Emperor’s– Political instability– Economic decline

• Empire Reformers– Diocletian (284): issued the Edict of

Prices– Constantine (312): job reforms;

Constantinople– Theodosius I (337): divided the Empire

XIV. Roman Decline XIV. Roman Decline (continued)(continued)

• Barbarian (German) Invasions– Reasons to invade: climate, wealth, fleeing

Huns– The Visigoths: led by Alaric; later retreated to

Gaul– The Huns: Led by Attila – Eastern Empire

• The End of the Western Empire:– Vandals raided/sacked Rome– Odoacer seized control of Rome– Roman culture was adopted by the “barbarians”– In the Byzantines, Hellenistic culture prevailed

Attila the Hun:Attila the Hun:“The Scourge of God”“The Scourge of God”

Attila the Hun:Attila the Hun:“The Scourge of God”“The Scourge of God”

The Legacy of RomeThe Legacy of RomeThe Legacy of RomeThe Legacy of Rome

§ Republic Government§ Roman Law§ Latin Language§ Roman Catholic Church§ City Planning§ Romanesque Architectural Style§ Roman Engineering

• Aqueducts• Sewage systems• Dams• Cement• Arch