ROME ROMES BEGINNINGS Legends Much of Romes early
ROME
ROME’S BEGINNINGS
Legends Much of Rome’s early history comes from legends. The legends may not be totally accurate but are useful in giving the qualities and values the early Romans admired.
Romulus Founder of Rome in 753 BCE First of seven kings Started Rome’s first army and government
Numa Pompilius Rome’s second king Brought peace to Rome Founded Rome’s religion
Etruscans Rome’s powerful neighbors to the north from Etruria Were wealthy traders Controlled Rome from 575 – 509 BCE Gave the Romans their alphabet and the “arch” Rome becomes a walled city with paved roads Built Circus Maximus, Temple of Jupiter, Cloaca Maxima
Tarquin the Proud Seventh and last king Was cruel and terrorized his people Ignored the Senate 509 BCE Romans rebel and send him into exile
GEOGRAPHY of ROME
1) Rome was a city-state in Italy 2)Rome’s climate is a Mediterranean climate with summers being hot and dry and winters being wet and mild
3) known as Latins, spoke Latin, were herders and farmers, harvested wheat, grapes, and olives
4) Etruscan city-states were to the north of Rome and south of Rome were Greek colonies
5) Built on hills – made it hard to attack On Tiber River – transportation route, resources 15 miles from the sea – safe from others’ navies and storms Center of Italy – could easily get to other places in Italy and in the Mediterranean
Mare Nostrum means “our sea” – eventually Rome controls all of the lands around the Mediterranean Sea
Roman Daily Life
POOR ROMAN Kids worked Adults had several jobs and women worked ~ tended to livestock and grew crops, did construction work and sold goods at the market, etc. Ate simple meals from thermopolia ~ takeout Sat on wooden benches far away at events Lived in one/two room apartments in tall apartment buildings in the city In the country they lived in shacks WEALTHY ROMAN Kids went to school Had a high, well paid job and wives ran the household and may also have a business job Ate elaborate meals and meals from thermopolia Tried not to travel at night because of the crime Had box seats for events and were close up Would go on trips/vacations Had lots of luxury items Homes were made of stone or marble May own a country estate
THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
• • PATRICIANS The upper class – wealthy landowners Very small group – 5% of the population Chose the king’s advisors Controlled the most valuable land, held the key military and religious offices • • PLEBEIANS The lower class – peasants, laborers, artisans, shopkeepers Very large group – 95% of the population Very few privileges and say Paid most of the taxes and served in the army.
A Republic form of government’s purpose is to serve the people. It was established in Rome when the Patricians overthrew the last monarch/king Tarquin the Proud because King Tarquin wanted more power and was cruel. The Conflict of the Orders is when the Plebeians demanded more political rights because the Patricians were controlling almost everything since Tarquin’s removal.
Some Major Differences Between the Patricians and the Plebeians • Patricians could only be consuls or senators, they made and interpreted the laws, small group, wealthy, etc. • Plebeians paid the heavy taxes, were the soldiers, had no political powers, were the labor force, large group
The conflict between the Plebeians and the Patricians was resolved over time by the Plebeians would leave Rome and refuse to work or serve in the military and the Patricians would compromise with the Plebeians by giving them some power and say in the government each time this happened.
Rights gained by the Plebeians over the years: • Tribunes of the Plebs to represent their interests to the Senate • Council of Plebs that could make laws only about themselves • All laws were written down – The Twelve Tables • One consul had to be a plebeian – in this way it was possible for a plebeian to become a senator • Eventually could make laws that everyone (patricians and plebeians) must obey/follow
The Roman Republic
CONSULS • One patrician and one plebeian • Head/leaders of the Republic • Run the day to day affairs of Rome and command its army
SENATORS • Three hundred patricians and ex-plebeian consuls • They can make and veto laws about everyone • Advised the consuls
Tribunes of the Plebs • Ten plebeians who represent plebeian interests to the senate • Advised the consuls • They can make and veto laws about everyone
Citizens Assemblies • Made up of all adult male Roman citizens • Nominated people to be the consuls, to be members of the senate, and to be a Tribunes of the Plebs • Approved or rejected all new laws
ROME’S EXPANSION
509 264 BCE All of Italy Defeated other Latin neighbors, Etruscans, and Greek colonies Rome was looted and burnt down Fought Punic Wars North Africa 264 against Carthage and Spain, Sicily destroyed them Macedonia 146 BCE Greece 145 46 BCE on Asia Minor Egypt Gaul Controlled land around Mediterranean and named it “our sea” Pushed borders to natural boundaries Added other territories Republic government falls, Emperors rule, Octavian was the first emperor, stretches from Britain to past the Red and Black Seas
1) took great pride in their Republic and defended it 2) treated conquered groups as allies which led them to be loyal 3) the Roman army was large, disciplined and experienced 4) military success was greatly valued and admired by Romans 5) winning wars was a great source of wealth to the Romans – land, valuables, slaves, etc.
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) Soldiers were farmers away fighting Wealthy bought up land High numbers of unemployed and poor Slaves taking jobs and rebelling Large gap between rich and poor Greedy, dishonest government leaders Conflicts between rich and poor Army began to only fight for generals Civil War to control government
The Republic falls after Julius Caesar wins a three year Civil War and declares himself dictator. After that Rome is governed by Emperors.
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Economic Reasons • High taxes wiped out the middle class • Trade and businesses went down • High unemployment due to slave labor
Political Reasons • All of the fighting to be “emperor” • Many different Emperors over a short time span
Social Reasons • Crime • Moral decay • Lack of interest in the government
Military Reasons • Army grew weak • People did not enlist • Recruited non. Romans to defend them • Army became undisciplined
ROMAN CONTRIBUTIONS
Architecture • Buildings • Aqueducts • Roads
Authors/Writers • • • Cicero Horace Virgil Livy Plutarch
Law • Justinian Code ~ all people are equal and you are innocent until proven guilty
Language • Latin is the basis for the Romance languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian) • Given us many of our English words we use
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