Roman Republic Founding of Rome The Roman Race

Roman Republic

Founding of Rome – The Roman Race • The tale of Aeneas (The Aeneid) – Dido at Carthage and other travels (like The Odyssey) • Historical evidence – Settlements from 11 th Century BC

Founding of Rome – The Roman Race • Wars against the Latins (like The Illiad) • Rape of the Sabine Women (Jacques Louis David)

Founding of Rome – The City (Kingdom) of Rome • Romulus and Remus – – – Latin princess was Vestal virgin Raped by Mars, bore twin boys Ordered killed by non-Latin king Suckled by a wolf Grew and founded a city (753 BC) Romulus killed Remus • Historic Evidence – The Etruscans conquered the Romans (non-Latin king) – Romans eventually overthrew Etruscans and established kingdom – Ruins of home of king (Romulus? ) date from 8 th Century BC

Regal Period • Began with war of independence from Etruscans (500 BC) – War heroes exhibit desired qualities of Romans – Horatio at the bridge (Oath of the Horatii by Jacques Louis David) – Stories became legends for Romans throughout their history – Compare to American War of Independence • Regal period – Ruled by 7 kings – Revolted against last king to found the republic

Republican Government • Ruled by a senate and the people – SPQR= Senate and the People of Rome – Senate (patricians) appointed consuls (1 year) • Foreign affairs and the military • Direct access by the people to the consul – People (plebs) organized by tribes and they elected 10 tribunes • Governed local affairs • Had veto power (individually)

Constitution (balanced power) • Senate – Never made laws but advice was accepted – Had power to appoint a person to solve a specific problem (He was a "speaker" or "dictator") – Appointed censors (moral guardian/rank judge) – Appointed governors • Concilium plebis – Made all the laws (called plebecites) – Elected magistrates (administrators) and judges • Comitia Curiata/Centuriata – plebs and patricians – Committed the emporium (military power) • All met in the forum (looked over each other) • Pontifex Maximus – Religious leader

Government Comparisons with US government – Balance of power – Senate and House of Representatives – Consul (= president) – Tribune (veto power) – Courts (independent) – Military power (? ) – Censor (? )

Military Organization • Centuries — 100 armed men – Headed by Centurian (from the ranks) • Maniples— 3 Centuries – Could move quickly through difficult terrain (better than phalanx) – Independent decisions (tribunes) • Legions—groups of Maniples – 6000 men – Supported by light cavalry • Discipline – Death for individual insubordination – Decimation for cowardice

Roman Expansion (in Italy) • Conquest of Italy – Took 200 years – Granted full or partial citizenship • Tax and legal benefits • Developed loyalty in conquered Italian areas – Invasion by King Pyrrhus (pyrrhic victory) • Roman colonies – Established in strategic locations – Established by treaty – Troops sent when needed – Customs of the area left intact – Colonies were mostly for trade, with some military purposes

Roman Expansion (outside Italy) • Punic Wars – Phoenicians (Poeni) – Sicily – Hannibal attacked Rome – Help of non. Roman Italians(? )

Roman Expansion (outside Italy) • Conquest of the East and West – Allies rather than servants or slaves – Toleration – Corruption in the Greek kingdoms – Some states given to the Romans – Fast, direct attacks with strong determination and discipline – Outnumbered in most battles – Victory over Parthia (parthian shot)

Building an Empire • Structure of the "empire" – Still a republican form of government – Checks and balances – Two parties emerged • Optimares (conservatives, Cato and Cicero) • Populares (power to people) • Family • Values (according to the Romans) – – – Piety Discipline Frugality Not greedy Righteous wars Never quit

Building an Empire • Status of Women – Absence of men at war – Women gained economic power – Ability to divorce and retain property – Morals eventually eroded, in part because home-life eroded

Building an Empire • Slavery – Conquests increased the number of slaves – Constituted 40% of the population – Conditions were poor – Romans feared slave uprising – Slaves took jobs from the plebs so plebs were given food and other benefits

Collapse of the Republic • Gracchus brothers – Violence used to impose one's will • Marius – Re-election to consulate (many times) – Standing army • Sulla – Assumption of dictator powers – Use of the army to override councils – Proscription list

Julius Caesar 100 -44 BC • Early Life – Born to aristocratic family • Caesarian section • Legend that he descended from the gods – Known for partying and sexual appetite – Captured by pirates and held for ransom • Returned to area and killed pirates – Appointed to a series of government jobs • Statue of Alexander

Julius Caesar • Triumvirate – Praised for his work in Spain – Appointed governor in Gaul (conquest) – Alliance with Crassus and Pompey to form the triumvirate (not initially, but later elected) – Rivalry with Pompey after death of Crassus • Crossing the Rubicon – Uprising in Asia • Veni, vidi, vici—I came, I saw, I conquered – Conquest of Egypt • Cleopatra

Julius Caesar • Returned to Rome as a conquering hero – Procession for each territory on a different day (Gaul, Africa, Spain, Asia) and games for many additional days – Offered crown (as emperor) twice and refused it when people didn't respond favorably • Dictator (rule by one man) – Appointed for 10 years and then for life – Caesar’s plans for Rome • Calendar (July) • Libraries, theaters, other public works • Gave citizenship to people in Spain and Gaul

Julius Caesar • Murder of Caesar – Killed by senatorial opponents – Instigated by his usurpation of power and their fear that he would become emperor – Died March 15, 44 BC • Stabbed by 20 senators • Brutus—illegitimate son – Mark Anthony and Octavian • Rallied against the conspirators

Collapse of the Republic • Violence used to eliminate enemies and impose one’s will – Gracchus • Re-election to consulate (many times) and standing army – Marius • Assumption of dictator powers, use of the army to override councils, proscription list – Sulla

Roman Republic • Rome conquered Greece 150 BC • Romans took on much Greek culture – Gods and goddesses parallel each other – Gods had Indo-European roots

The Fall of the Roman Empire

The Roman Empire at its Height • The Roman Empire became huge • It covered most of Europe, North Africa, and some of Asia • The Empire reached its height under Emperor Diocletian (284 -305 CE)

Expansion: Good or Bad? • What are some problems that an empire or country might have by being stretched out too far?

The Decline Begins Commodus from the movie Gladiator • 180 CE Marcus Aurelius died • His son, Commodus, took control of Rome • Commodus was a poor leader, killed by his bodyguard • Time of disarray follows

Political Problems • Poor leaders weakened the government • Frequent fights for power • Many officials took bribes • Talented people chose not to serve due to dangers of government life

Social Problems • Taxes were too great, many rich people stopped paying • People stopped attending school • Large number of people enslaved • Plague (disease) spread throughout Rome, killing 1 in 10 • Famine: There was not enough food to feed people

Economic Problems • Farmers lost land, unable to grow and sell crops, out of work (and famine) • People bought fewer goods, shops closed • Inflation occurred: Rapidly rising prices. Money lost value because fewer taxes paid. • Coins lost value: Less gold put in, people found out (caused inflation) • Bartering grew: sell goods without using money • No taxes, no money

Military Problems • Military only in it for money (mercenaries) • No money to pay military = weak military • Constant threat of invaders on empire’s borders • Weak military, unable to stop border invasions

Diocletian • 284 CE, Diocletian became emperor • Tried reforms (political changes) • Set price limits (if a person went beyond limits, put to death) and ordered workers to stay in jobs to death

Dividing the Empire • Diocletian felt that the only way to save the empire was to divide it in half • Created two empires: Western and Eastern • Western Empire: Europe/ North Africa and city of Rome • Eastern Empire: Turkey/ Asia and city of Byzantium • Two emperors, emperor in charge of Rome was senior

Constantine • Diocletian retired and Constantine took his place as emperor • Constantine (312 CE) united the empire again under one ruler • First Christian emperor • Edict of Milan? • Attempted reforms • Main reform: sons had to follow fathers’ trade

Constantinople • Rome continued to decline • Constantine moved the capital from Rome to city of Byzantium • City name changed to Constantinople (today is Istanbul)

Current Day

Theodosius • Constantine died in 337 CE, replaced by Theodosius • Theodosius could not rule the empire, divided in two again • Western Roman Empire with capital in Rome • Eastern Rome Empire with capital in Constantinople

Rome invaded • Western Empire unable to hold off German tribes on its borders • Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Vandals, Saxons • German tribes wanted warmer area, Roman riches, and to flee the Huns

Visigoths • Rome agreed to allow the Visigoths to live inside of Roman boundaries • Romans treated Visigoths badly • Visigoths rebelled and defeated the Romans • Visigoth leader, Alaric, captured Rome in 410 CE

Vandals • Vandals followed Visigoths and spent 12 days stripping Rome of valuables (vandalism) • Many more German invaders followed • Finally, a German general named Odoacer defeated the western emperor Romulus Augustulus (14 years old, little Augustus)

The Fall • Augustulus was defeated in 476 CE • For this reason, this date is given as the fall of the Western Roman Empire • Western Empire was divided into many kingdoms that adopted many of the customs of Rome

Odoacer

Eastern Roman Empire • Although the Western Empire fell in 476 CE, the Eastern Roman Empire continued to prosper for 1, 000 more years • Became known as the Byzantine Empire