Rome SPQR Senatus Populusque Romanus the Senate and

Rome SPQR Senatus Populusque Romanus (the Senate and the people of Rome)

Eras Roman History n n n Early Rome - Creation Carthage - Competition from Africa Punic Wars - Rise to dominance Republic - Government and expansion Empire - Julius and Augustus Caesar Fall of the Empire - Descent into… Darkness?

Aeneas begins the legend… n n n Aeneas fights for Troy in the Trojan War, escapes with twelve shiploads of refugees after the Achaens destroy Troy. Drifts westward for seven years, until they land at the Phoenician colony of Carthage, where the Phoenician Queen Dido has settled. Dido falls in love with Aeneas, but he is commanded by Jupiter to leave and fulfill his destiny - to found Rome - and Dido kills herself as he sails away.

The Aeneid and Carthage “’Traitor, did you expect to conceal the crime you were planning, and quietly sneak away from my land? Was our love unable to hold you, or the mutual vows that we gave, or the thought of Dido abandoned, doomed to a piteous death… have you no heart? ’ So Dido poured out her pain, but Aeneas, by Jupiter’s order, displayed no trace of emotion and repressed the anguish of his heart. ” Virgil, The Aeneid lines 305 -312

The Aeneid and Carthage Night covers the earth with misty shadows and darkness, But stars never rise in the east to march on their fiery courses… And last, great Jove himself - I swear by your head and my own Has sent his herald to bring my orders down through the tempest. By the clearest light of the day I saw him enter the city, And when he addressed me I listened with all my closest attention. So please, give over inflaming both yourself and me with your protests; Though not by my own free will, to Italy I make my venture!” Virgil, The Aeneid lines 334 -345

Early Rome: Twins and Aeneas n Romulus and Remus - descendents of Aeneas n n n Vestal Virgin gave birth to the twins, father was Mars (miraculous birth) Twins sent in a basket down the Tiber River Founded Rome where they were found by shepherd’s wife. Romulus killed Remus, becoming Rome’s first king Abduction (sometimes Rape) of the Sabine Women - populating the new city

Worldly (Not Legendary) Roman Beginnings n Latin speakers descending from the Alps; Indo-European descendents n Lived closely with Etruscans, Latins, and Greeks

Worldly Beginnings of Rome n n n Rome thought to have been a collection of villages around 1000 BCE Around 600 BCE, Etruscan kings conquered Rome and areas beyond Tribal people, selected chiefs democratically, but eventually grew under influence of many kings. Senate - an advisory council of elders Capitol - like a Greek acropolis; temple and meeting place Forum - the heart of Roman political life

Worldly Beginnings of Rome The last Etruscan King was Tarquin the Proud. A tyrant who was driven from power around 509 BCE n The Romans declared they would never be ruled by a king again n Established a new government called a Republic - more about the republican government system will be described later n

Challenges to the Growth of Rome As Rome grew, she had easy access to the Mediterranean trade routes Eventually, they came into conflict with Carthage, the other trading power in the Mediterranean Fought three wars over the course of one hundred years. [We will work on a packet tomorrow where we will go into more depth on this subject]

Punic Wars 1 st Punic War: Fought over control of Sicily 2 nd Punic War: led by Hannibal brilliant general from Carthage. 50, 000 men, 9, 000 cavalry, 60 Elephants n Although victorious on many occasions, unable to win decisively and ultimately loses when Scipio leads an attack against Carthage itself 3 rd Punic War: Rome is not happy about the re-growth of Carthage, decide to destroy her. n Sold 50, 000 inhabitants into slavery and burnt the city n Territory made into a new province in Africa

Problems after the Punic Wars n n The Punic Wars, though Rome emerged victorious, led to problems The Wealthy lived on the large estates called latifundia n n n Romans made slaves of many of the conquered peoples n n Many of these estates were from taking land left by soldiers who went to war Many returning soldiers became homeless and jobless Slaves became 1/3 of Rome’s population The urban poor became 1/4 of Rome’s population n Class tensions grow

The Roman Army n All citizens who owned land were required to serve ten years in the army n n Roman farmer-soldiers were motivated to fight for Rome, increased morale Army was organized into groups called legions n 5, 000 heavily armed men n. Each legion divided into centuries of 80 men n. Each century could act independently of the legion

More Post-Punic Wars Problems (after 146 BCE) n Some Tribunes attempted to help the poor by proposing reforms: the Gracchus Brothers n n n These reforms were strongly opposed by other senators, and these Tribunes met violent deaths in 133 BCE and 121 BCE Civil War erupted, resulting in very powerful military leaders (Sulla and Marius) Generals began recruiting the poor and homeless by promising land n These soldiers fought for pay and were loyal to their commander

Move Toward Empire n n n His political rivals ordered Caesar to disband his legions and return home n Caesar disobeyed, brought his army and defeated Pompey, now his rival, eventually marching into Rome Was appointed dictator for life in 44 BCE However, as an absolute ruler, he gained many enemies, and on March 15 th, 44 BCE, he was stabbed to death in the Senate chamber

Move Toward Empire n n In order for politicians to be successful, they now had to be supported by military Caesar with the help of Crassus, a wealthy Roman, and Pompey, a popular General created a triumvirate - a group of three rulers n Caesar was a brilliant military leader and after his year as Consul he governed Gaul n Conquered Gaul and won the loyalty of his troops n Became very popular with the Romans

The First Triumvirate n Julius Caesar n Marcus Licinius Crassus n Gaius Magnus Pompey

Julius Caesar n Caesar had absolute power n n n n He granted citizenship to many people in the provinces Expanded the senate Created jobs with construction of new public buildings Created new colonies where the landless could own land Increased soldiers pay Many nobles and senators were concerned about Caesars growing power On March 15, 44 B. C. Caesar was stabbed to death by Brutus and Cassius(his friends)

The Empire n Civil War broke out after Caesar’s death n n n Caesar’s nephew, Octavian, a General, Marc Antony, and a politician – Lepidus - took control and created the Second Triumvirate This triumvirate killed Caesar’s assassins After the triumvirate controlled Rome Octavian and Marc Antony became rivals n n n Octavian accused Antony of attempting to conquer Rome n n Marc Antony met Queen Cleopatra of Egypt while in Anatolia He fell in love with her and followed her to Egypt Octavian fought and defeated the combined forces of Antony and Cleopatra Octavian restored the republic with a few changes n He took the title of Augustus or exalted one n Became the imperator or supreme military commander - the emperor

The First Roman Dynasty

Roman Roads Worksheet

A vast and Powerful Empire n Augustus’ rule was the beginning of 207 years of peace n Minimal fighting along the borders of the empire n This period was called Pax Romana, or Roman Peace n Roman Empire n n n Covered approximately 3 million square miles Included 60 to 80 million people 1 million living in the city of Rome

A vast and Powerful Empire n Agriculture n Most important industry n 90 percent of the people farmed n Most Romans survived on local produce n Additional food items and luxury goods were acquired through trade n Trade n Huge trading network n Had common coins made of silver n Protected by the roman Navy n Roman cities became wealthy n Rome traded with China and India n Roads originally used for the military became successful trade route

Managing the Empire n n n Borders extended 10, 000 miles n Reached from Spain to Mesopotamia and from Britain to North Africa n Many cultures became part of Roman life n All had to serve in the Army regardless of citizenship Augustus was the most able Emperor n The system of government he created lasted for centuries n The government was run more by Plebeians than by the senate Most Roman emperors during Pax Romana were able but some were not n Caligula n Nero - believed to have burnt down Rome n Both were either insane or unstable

Roman Empire: Pax Romana

Roman Empire: Pax Romana In the film we saw about Carthage, Rome’s empire was called “Rome’s Private Lake. ” Why is that?

Examples from: The Twelve Tables Table IV: 1) A dreadfully deformed child shall be quickly killed 2) If a father sells his son three times, the son shall be free from his father 5) A child born after ten months since the father’s death will not be admitted into legal inheritance. Table V: 1) Females will remain in guardianship Even when they have attained their majority Table VII: 1)Let them keep the road in order. If they have not paved it, a man may drive his team where he likes. 10) A man might gather up fruit that was falling down onto another man's farm.

Examples from: The Twelve Tables Table VIII: 3) If one is slain while committing theft by night, he is rightly slain. 23) A person who had been found guilty of giving false witness shall be hurled down from the Tarpeian Rock. Table XI: 1. Marriages should not take place between plebeians and patricians. Table XII: 5) Whatever the people had last ordained should be held as binding by law.

Cicero n n …Right reason is Law, [and] we must believe that men have Law also in common with the gods. Further, those who share law must also share justice; and those who share these are to be regarded as members of the same commonwealth… Justice and all things honourable [sic] are to be sought for their own sake. And indeed all good men love fairness in itself and Justice in itself…. Therefore Justice must be sought and cultivated for her own sake. Marcus Tullius Cicero