The Roman Republic

The Legend of Rome time it’s founding in the year 753 BC by twin sons named Romulus and Remus by the god Mars and a Latin princess. The boys were abandoned and raised by a she-wolf.

Rome the city was built on the hills by the Tiber River in the middle of the Italian Peninsula and was chosen for its Strategic location and fertile soil. Protected in the north by the mountains of the Alps Protected in the south, east, and west by the

Mediterranean Sea

The people who built Rome were members of an Indo-European tribe called the Latins around 1000 BC The city prospered due to its location on the Tiber

Three groups inhabited the area and battled for control. These were the Latins, the Greeks, and the Etruscans. Both Greeks and Etruscans influenced the Latin’s, but it was an Etruscan who became king of the Roman.

A series of Etruscan kings constructed many of Rome’s temples and public centers including the famous Forum, which is the heart of Roman Political Life.

heavily influenced by the Greeks The toga, gladiator games, and Chariot races Introduced the alphabet and number system, also

built Rome’s first walls and sewer, the arch

In the year 509 BC, Rome drove the last Etruscan king from power and declared they would never again be ruled by a king and instead established a Republic – power of the government rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders (only free-born mail citizens had the right to vote)

At first Rome had two groups struggle for power, the Patricians = rich landowners who controlled the gov’t and society and the Plebeians = commoners, mostly farmers and merchants

Men in both groups were citizens who could vote but in the beginning, only patricians could be elected to governmental offices.

Slowly changes were made and the plebeians set up their own assemblies called the Plebeian Council to protect their rights. One important victory for them was the written law code the the Twelve Tables - Rome’s first written law code, was displayed in the Roman Forum (central square)

The patricians and plebeians created an unwritten and flexible constitution – framework for gov’t or political structure.

Executive

Who was in charge? Consuls – two elected each year, one to run the gov’t

and one to lead the army Censors – recorded the city’s population and how much

property people owned

What did it to?

In charge of enforcing civil law

Recorded the city’s population and property ownership

Ran the gov’t and lead the army

Legislative What did it do?

Advised elected officials, handled all foreign relations, and controlled public finances

By the third century it had the force of law

Who was in charge? The Senate = a select group of 300 hundred patricians

who served for life Various popular assemblies – Tribal Assembly,

Centuriate Assembly All citizens voted on/make laws and elected officials

Judicial Praetors – magistrates that could act as consuls when the

consuls were away at war

8 judges choses for one year by the Centuriate Assembly - 2 to oversee civil and criminal courts, 6 to govern other provinces.

Times of Crisis The republic could appoint a dictator – leader

who had absolute power to make laws and command the army.

The dictator’s power only lasted for 6 months and they were chosen by the consuls and elected by the senate.

Roman Military might

All men between the ages of 17 and 46 with a minimum amount of property were required to serve in the army during times of war

Army was organized into units called legions

The backbone of the legions were centurions

Centurions = commissioned officers who usually commanded a century of a 100 men

Conquests

Romans defeated the Etruscans and the Greek cities in southern Italy by 256 BC

Rome fought and defeated the Hellenistic kingdoms of Macedonia and Persia, making them Roman provinces

Rome also annexed Greece as another province

Annex = incorporate territory into an existing country

Adopted many elements of Greek culture, especially religion

Why was Rome successful Romans were good diplomats

Extended Roman citizenship and allowed states to run their own internal affairs

Only had the conquered people supply troops Romans excelled at military matters

Accomplished and persistent soldiers Fortified towns and built roads Defeated the enemies surrounding Rome

Rome sought to expand its territories through trade and conquest.

One city, Carthage, that was former colony of Phoenicia and located on he Northern coast of Egypt, interfered with Rome’s goals.

Rome fought three wars with Carthage collectively known as the Punic Wars between the years 264 and 146 BC.

First Punic War- Carthage Lost Romans sent an army to help some allies in

Sicily – Carthage considered Sicily a part of their empire. Roman nave defeated the Carthaginian navy off the coast of Sicily. Carthage gave up all rights to Sicily and vowed revenge.

Second Punic War- fought by Hannibal, the greatest Carthaginian general, famous for using elephants to go over Alps but was defeated by the brilliant Roman general Scipio.  

Third Punic War- Rome laid siege to Carthage and won, enslaved all of its people, set its city on fire (for 10 days), and established Rome’s dominance in the area. Carthage became a Roman province called Africa.

As the empire grew so did its instability. They had problems with social class struggles and military order.

The republic of Rome became a Dictator-ruled empire.

Slaves made up about 1/3rd part of the population who were used as labor on farms and made it difficult for small farmers (many of whom were former soldiers) to compete.

They were then forced to sell their land and became homeless and jobless. Although many stayed in countryside to work as seasonal farm help (migrant laborers), many went to Rome where the others were and became known as the Urban Poor, which made of 1/4th of the society of Rome.

Two brothers, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus tried to make changes but were both Violently Killed and the country went into a Civil War.

• tried to redistribute public land and were quite popular

• The Roman elite, especially the Senate, were unhappy about this

– The Senate urged mobs to kill the two brothers

– For the first time, the blood of Roman citizens was intentionally shed in the Forum

• Violence had become a political tool

During the unstable period, military leaders were able to gather troops loyal to their Commander and not to Rome – Poor people joined in hopes of sharing in the plunder from war.

Three of generals (Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus) were able to gain control by becoming the first Triumvirate with one (Julius Caesar) leader serving as consul (for one year) and then as the governor of Gaul (now France)

Caesar added Gaul – modern France Pompey added Syria and parts of Asia Minor Crassus was one of the wealthiest men in Rome but

dies. Took over Rome in 60 BC

On his way back from Gaul, Julius Caesar was told to stop and disband his army by the senate and his rival Pompey. Julius Caesar defied the senate and marched his troops across the Rubicon River and into Rome. He defeated his rival and with the support of his troops and the senate he was appointed Dictator for Life in 44 BC

As ruler, Julius Caesar started many reforms, such as:

Granted Roman Citizenship to people in the provinces

Created Jobs for the poor (many through the construction of new public buildings)

Started colonies for people to own land (if they didn’t own land before)

Increased pay for soldiers.

Many concerned with his growing power, success and popularity, plotted his assassination in the senate, where he was brutally stabbed to death [in the senate chamber on March 15 (the Ides of March)], when he uttered these last words… “et tu Brutus”.

Again civil war broke out and a new (2nd) Triumvirate was set up (43 BC) with Marc Antony, Lepidus and Octavian (Caesar’s 18 year old grandnephew and adopted son).

They ruled for ten years until jealously and violence ended with Lepidus being forced out, Marc Antony siding with his girlfriend Queen Cleopatra of Egypt to take over and rule both Rome and Egypt.

Another civil war resulted in Octavian accused Antony of plotting to rule Rome from Egypt, so Octavian defeated the combined forces of Marc Antony and Queen Cleopatra who both later committed Suicide.

Octavian became the unchallenged ruler of Rome and accepted the title of Augustus (exalted one), and Rome was ruled by one man and ushered in the time known as Pax Romana – Roman Peace for 207 years.

He was able to stabilize the frontier, glorified Rome with splendid public buildings, and set up a system of government that lasted for centuries.

Divided power between himself and the senate

Created a police force and fire brigades

Restored old temples and built new ones

Sponsored Latin literature

Pax Romana = Roman Peace Age of peace and prosperity Started off with the reign of Augustus in 27 BC and

ended with the death of the last Good Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, in 180 AD Stable gov’t, strong legal system, widespread trade Not much war or invasion

The Roman gov’t was the strongest unifying force in the empire Maintained order and enforced the laws

Extensive road network – 50,000 miles

How did people become slaves in the Roman world?

Most were conquered people from Roman victories – men, women, and children.

Children born from slaves became slaves.

They could be punished, rewarded, set free, or put to death.

Many were not treated well. Many strong, healthy males, were forced to become gladiators (professional fighters).

More than 1 million slaves died trying to become free. The most famous slave revolt was led by Spartacus and involved 70,000 slaves – they managed to defeat several armies before being caught and crucified

 

What role did Roman gods and goddesses’ play?

Government and religion were linked in Rome. The deities were symbols of the state. Romans were expected to honor and worship them in rituals to gain favor and avoid misfortune

Jupiter – Father of the gods

Juno – Jupiter’s wife who watched over women

Minerva – goddess of wisdom and of the arts and crafts

What was Roman society like? Classes had little in common. Very rich or very poor. Rich – homes, gardens, slaves, luxuries, banquets that lasted for hours – boiled ostrich and parrot-tongue pie Poor – barely had the necessities. Unemployed. Rations of government grain.

What did the government do to distract and control the masses?

Provided free games, races, mock battles, and gladiator contests (in the coliseum)

What ”new” religion spread through Rome during this time? Christianity

How did the Romans persecute Christians? Christians would not worship Roman gods. So they were exiled, imprisoned, and executed – Crucified, burned, and killed by wild animals in circus arenas. Some people considered these killed Christians martyrs – people willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of a belief or cause.

What ruler ended Christian persecution with the Edict of Milan? Constantine

What ruler made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire? Theodosius

Whose rule ended the Pax Romana? Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD)

1st Ruler Diocletian – 284 AD

Reforms severely limited personal freedoms, restored order, increased strength, doubled the size of the Roman army, controlled inflation (a drastic drop in the value of money and a rise in the price of goods) by setting fixed prices for goods, created elaborate ceremonies to present himself as godlike. Divided the empire into Greek-speaking East, and Latin-speaking West each with its own leader.

Results – civil war broke out as soon as he retired in 305 AD. By 311 AD 4 rivals were fighting for power.

2nd Ruler - Constantine

Reforms – continued mnay of the social and economic policies of Diocletian, gained control of the East restoring a single ruler, moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium (in what is not Turkey) and was renamed Constantinople

Results – the empire is divided after Constantine’s death and the West falls.

Causes of the fall of Rome:

Political – Weak leadership after 200 AD. Civil War. Division of the empire. Moving the capital from Rome to Byzantium. Between 235 to 284 there were 20 emperors, all but one died violently

Social – Disloyalty, corruption, widening gap between the rich and the poor, decline in population because of disease and food shortages.

Economic – bad harvests, no wars so no plundering, inflation, tax burdens, widening gap between the rich and the poor.

Military – Invasions from northern European tribes. Lack of money for defense, not enough citizens to recruit, decline in patriotism and loyalty among soldiers and citizens.

How were the Huns part of the immediate cause of the fall of Rome? The Huns (feared nomadic warriors from Asia) moved west destroying everything in their path, causing Germanic tribes to enter Roman territory around 370 AD.

Who was Attila The Hun? Chieftain of the Huns in 444 AD with 100,000 soldiers. He terrorized the entire Roman empire. 

14 yr old Romulus Augustulus was the last emperor of the Western Empire in 476.

The Byzantine Empire or eastern empire continued to flourish until taken over by the Ottoman Turks in 1453.