Beginnings Legendary Beginnings Romulus Remus Actual Beginnings 3
Beginnings • Legendary Beginnings – Romulus & Remus • Actual Beginnings – 3 groups (Latins, Greeks, & Etruscans) – Latins were original inhabitants, Greeks built colonies, Etruscans invade from N. Italy & rule as kings in 600 s BCE • Last Etruscan king, Tarquin the Proud was ousted in 509 BCE; Rome sets up a Republic
Republic • Patricians – rich nobles/aristocrats • Plebeians – farmers, artisans, merchants, etc. – Both could vote, only Patricians could hold office • Plebeians elect representatives called Tribunes; similar to lobbyist today • Executive branch called Consuls – 2 people, elected every year – Run gov’t & military of Rome, could veto each other • Legislative branch was the Senate – 300 members (Patricians)
Punic Wars • Series of Wars between Rome & Carthage • 1 st Punic War – Carthage threatens Rome; Rome wins – Rome gets Sicily & indemnity (war payment) • 2 nd Punic War – – – 218 BCE the Carthaginian general Hannibal attacks Rome Takes 60+ Elephants & 60, 000 men; crosses Alps to attack Rome Beats Rome for 15 years, threatens to invade the city Scipio forces Hannibal back to Carthage; defeats him @ Zama Rome gets Spain and indemnity • 3 rd Punic War – Approximately 50 years after 2 nd Punic War – Carthage regains prosperity…Rome fears attack, they attack and destroy Carthage – City burnt and all 50, 000 inhabitants sold into slavery – Rome continues expansion, taking Macedonia, Greece, & parts of Anatolia (Turkey)
Problems & Reforms • Roman gov’t designed for small area, not vast empire • Divide between rich & poor gets larger – Rich bought huge plots of land – Latifundas produce crops cheaper w/ slave labor; small farmers can’t compete – Many farmers lose land, move to city (creates overpopulation) • Reform – Patrician named Tiberius proposes reforms- limit size of latifundas, redistribute land to poor • Murdered by opponents – Gaius continues reforms, sells grain at lower prices to poor • Also murdered • General Marius begins enlisting poor in army – Poor paid & promised land upon retirement – Professional army created, BUT they are loyal to commander (not Republic)
1 st Triumvirate • In 70 BCE General Pompey & Marcus Crassius were elected Consuls • Julius Caesar forms political alliance between the 3 • Each gained land & power • While Caesar is in Gaul (France), Crassius dies – Pompey fears Caesar’s power, joins with Senate against Caesar – Leads to civil war • Caesar wins civil war against Pompey; takes over as dictator of Rome • Caesar is popular with the people, but Senate doesn’t trust him. • Senators assassinate Caesar on March 15, 44 BCE
2 nd Triumvirate • Formed by Caesar’s friends/allies to hunt down and defeat Caesar’s assassins – Consists of Marc Antony, Marcus Lepidus, & Octavian Caesar • After assassins are defeated in 42 BCE, a power struggle ensues between Antony & Octavian • A final civil war between Antony (& Cleopatra) against Octavian results in a victory for Octavian – Antony & Cleopatra commit suicide • Octavian becomes Emperor of Rome & changes his name to Augustus Caesar (27 BCE)
The Empire • Augustus – 1 st emperor – Establishes several reforms (new roads, imported grain from Africa, hired permanent gov’t employees, etc. ) – Begins period known as Pax Romana- Roman peace that lasted from 31 BCE until 180 CE – Main failure was not setting up rules for imperial succession • Julian Emperors – – – 4 emperors, lasted from 14 -68 CE Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, & Nero (insane), cruel & wasted money Blamed Christians for a fire to Rome- had them killed Committed suicide instead of being executed by the Senate
• Good Emperors – Begins in 96 CE with Nerva – Includes Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius, & Marcus Aurelius – Known for effective administration & support of large building improvements – Empire brought to economic height by Marcus Aurelius • Rule under Emperors – Professional governors begin w/ Augustus (in provinces) – 2 sets of laws, those for citizens (jus civile) and those for all noncitizens (jus gentium) – By 200 CE, all free males will be considered citizens & laws will be combined – Gladiatorial events became common by 160 CE…form of entertainment for poor in Rome – Rome known for building achievements: Roads (Appian Way), buildings (Coliseum), & engineering (aqueducts)
Rise of Christianity • Roman Problems w/ Jews – Rome takes control of Israel – Several rebellions by Jews (Romans afraid of uprisings) • Christian Beginnings – Jewish prophecy of messiah (savior) to help gain freedom; dated back to time of Chaldean/Babylonian slavery – Romans treat Jews cruelly, many look for a messiah – Jesus began teaching • Taught kindness and repentance for sins • Said God is loving and forgiving – Some view Jesus as messiah; others doubt the claim – There is turmoil within the Jews over Jesus (Pharisees) • Religious leaders (Pharisees) don’t like Jesus • Romans fear strong Jewish leader – Pharisees arrest Jesus for blaspheme; Romans cooperate with execution & crucify him (appx. 29 or 30 CE) – Followers (disciples) spread teachings of Jesus, saying he rose from the dead & was Son of God
Spread of Christianity • Most of teachings were spread by Peter & Paul – Peter is main disciple who spreads church – Paul was a convert • Religion was 1 st accepted in eastern Mediterranean, then spreads throughout empire • Roman roads system helped in spread of the religion • Paul is main person responsible for spread – – Born as Saul (high ranking Jew); persecuted Christians Has conversion experience, name changed to Paul Preaches & starts new churches throughout Roman empire Many of New Testament books are letters written by Paul to fledgling churches throughout the empire
Conflict with Rome • Christianity begins as minor “cult” in Roman empire • Christian ideas/beliefs begin to conflict w/ Romans; not worshipping Roman gods (including emperor) • Romans begin persecuting Christians – Some fed to animals in Coliseum – Some crucified alongside Roman roads • Practice of Christianity remains small until 300 s CE • Emperor Constantine converts in 312 CE – Legend of flaming cross in the sky – Freedom of religion for all beliefs • Becomes official religion in 392 CE
Split within the Church • By 400 s CE, church had grown, possessing a hierarchy of priests • Bishop in Rome claimed authority over all others; known as Pope • Eastern churches reject idea of pope, leads to a split between Eastern & Western churches – West continues to be known as Catholic church – East is known as Orthodox church
Decline of Rome • Political troubles – Begin w/ Emperor Commodus (after Marcus Aurelius) – Commodus spends most of treasury on personal pleasures • Killed by own troops in 192 CE – From 192 -284 CE, there are 28 different emperors – Instability leads to outside attacks – Economic problems from the wars- farmland destroyed, trade disrupted, etc. – Leads to gov’t minting more coins, which leads to inflation & higher taxes
• Empire is divided in ½ with a second emperor • Constantine moves eastern capitol to Byzantium (Turkey) & renames it Constantinople • Empire officially splits in 395 CE • Outside invaders continued to attack Rome; most notable was Attila & the Huns in 450 s CE • Western empire finally ends in 476 CE when Germanic invaders take city of Rome
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