Rome
What is the founding myth of Rome?
Romulus and Remus
How did the Roman Republic start?
509 BC: Patricians (wealthy, powerful landowners) overthrow the Etruscan king
Most popular reasoning: The Etruscans were giving too many jobs and military titles to immigrants, and as such, the immigrants were ignoring the Patricians
Republic: leader is not a king; more people have the right to vote
Roman Republic consistently fights and conquers north, central, and southern Italy from 509 BC to mid 250s BC, controlling almost all of Italy
Who were General Marius and General Sulla and what did they do?
General Marius first: changed military recruitment
Allegiance to the general, not the state/empire
General promised land
General Sulla replaces Marius; supports the Senate and helps give them back power in a civil war
Reign of Terror: has enemies killed
What does Pax Romana mean and what occurred during this time period?
Roman Peace
27 BC to 180 AD - 200 years after Augustus
Mostly peaceful, outside of transfer of power between Emperors
No clear-cut rules on such
Augustus Caesar’s achievements:
Civil service system – people of all classes can have jobs.
Uniform rule of law
Guaranteed safe travel/trade on Roman roads
Common coinage - made trade easier
PRAETORIAN GUARD- Police of Rome
Scope of World History: around the same time of:
Gupta India
Han China
What are the basic facts about Christianity?
Monotheistic
Largest religion today - around 2 billion followers
30,000 sects
Prophets: Jesus (6 BC - 36 AD)
Abraham still important
Center of Christianity: Israel (Bethlehem, Nazareth)
After death: Heaven vs. Hell
What is Rome's geography like?
Rome was built on the shallow part of the Tiber River
Trade caravans traveling north/south would pass through Rome, making the city wealthy.
Rome was built 15 miles inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea
Rome was protected from sea invasion
Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica were important trade colonies
control of the islands would lead to increased wealth and power
What were some problems the Roman Republic faced?
Land redistribution issues: latifundia (big plantations)
Class war: Plebeians vs. Patricians
Lack of representation in political offices
Based on property holding
War debt and differing class impacts from the Punic Wars
Slave revolts led by Spartacus
Who was Spartacus and what did he do?
Leader of slave revolt against Roman Republic
Slaves were previously gladiators and thus skilled at fighting
Revolt unsuccessful
Led to:
Need for better Roman military
Need for better Roman slave supervision
Need for better government
What did architecture and forms of entertainment look like during Pax Romana?
Architecture
Civic buildings to honor empire, with walls made of concrete
Rounded arches, realistic buildings that idealized officials and military triumphs
Forms of Entertainment
Colosseum: games, gladiator contests, executions, battle reenactments
Forum: center of importance in Rome: temples, schools, Senate meetings, debates
Roman Baths: place for political discussions, healing water?
Funeral processions, victory parades
Greco-Roman Civilization: Roman in the west, Greek in the east
What are the 2 major texts in Christianity?
Bible: Old + New Testament - life and teachings of Jesus
New Testament: God loves all no matter what
Use of Ten Commandments
Describe Roman expansion
Italy → West → East → North
Punic Wars
Campaigns of Caesar
Africa, Asia, Gaul, Britain, Hellenistic World
Treated conquered people with justice, possible citizenship
Roman Roads to connect
Describe the Punic Wars
Three wars fought between Rome and Carthage (264-146 BCE).
First Punic War: Rome gained control of Sicily.
Second Punic War: Notable for Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps, ended with Roman victory.
Third Punic War: Rome destroyed Carthage, ensuring dominance in the Mediterranean.
What were some of Julius Caesar's accomplishments?
J. Caesar is most successful - conquers Gaul (France) with his army
Senators fear J. Caesar’s popularity, support Pompey → try to take power from J. Caesar
J. Caesar returns with army, defeats Pompey’s army, and is named dictator for life
Supported citizenship for those from Gaul, redistributed land to the poor, expanded the Senate, implemented the Julian Calendar, built Roman road system
J. Caesar assassinated in 44 BC by senators who wanted old system back
What was religion like during Pax Romana?
Religion
Polytheistic
Tolerant of other religions
Temples built where rituals performed - statues of gods
Jupiter, Juno, Mars
Emperors made gods by Roman Senate
Quid pro quo
Who are the major figures in Christianity?
Jesus: Carpenter in Nazareth who became a preacher, focusing on the Ten Commandments, the need to love God, and God ending wickedness
Peter: Leader of the Apostles (Jesus’ disciples)
Paul: After vision from Christ, spread Christianity across Roman Empire, maintaining it was a religion for all classes. Helped convert many people to Christianity; Jesus was the Savior; people could be saved from sin
Paul and other later church councils provided letters and readings about how to follow Christianity and why following Christianity was important - life after death
Later: development of pope, bishops, and priests to provide leadership and the New Testament (300 AD) to be a part of the main Christian book
Who were the Etruscans and what did they do?
Peoples originally from Anatolia
12 fortified city-states on the west coast of Italy
Polytheistic religion
Cities based on locations related to the gods
Priests (augars) interpreted the will of the gods via bird flight → prophecy, signs of nature
Influence on Rome: grid street patterns, architecture, arches, alphabet
Rich Indo-European landowners of Rome dislike the Etruscans’ positive treatment of immigrants and revolt against the Etruscans
Later fully conquered by Rome
What was the Roman Republic's government and structure like?
Patricians: Wealthy, noble families, held most political power.
Plebeians: Common people, including farmers, artisans, and merchants.
Senate: Made up of Patricians, controlled foreign policy and financial matters.
Consuls: Two elected officials who led the government and army.
Assemblies: Elected magistrates and passed laws, with plebeians gaining more influence over time.
Consistent civil wars over power
Three man take charge
Crassus: super rich
Pompey: military hero
Julius Caesar: military hero
Who was Augustus Caesar, what was his real name, and what did he do?
Octavian;
Super popular
Named Augustus by Senate
Declared god after death
Maintained army of 150,000 with different legions of Roman citizens
Oversaw deputies and senatorial governors of provinces with consistent policy
Roman Empire expands into Spain, western Germany, northern Africa - turned back at central Germany
Constructs aqueducts and religious temples
What was Christianity like in the Roman Empire?
0s: Christianity starts
100s: Christianity persecuted
Not worshipping Roman gods or emperors, thus threat
Otherwise tolerant of religions
200s, 300s: Christianity more structured, popular
Clergy separate from church members
More personal messaging about salvation and eternal life
Jesus relatable
Sense of belonging
First main Roman Emperor to support Christianity: Constantine
Edict of Milan, 313: Official tolerance of Christianity
What were important aspects of Roman architecture?
Domes, arches, Pantheon (temple), Colosseum (stadium), Forum (economic center, 12 tables)
Classical, balanced art
Aqueducts
Roman road system
Who were the Gracchi brothers and what did they do?
Attempted to pass successful laws that redistributed land owned by large landowners to give to landless poor men
Senators angry → brothers killed
Describe the second Triumvirate and who was in it
Three new men take charge:
Octavian Caesar: Julius’ grandnephew, ruled west
Antony: Julius’ assistant, ruled east
Lepidus: commander of Julius’ soldiers
31 BC: Octavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra of Egypt, takes control of Rome
Cleopatra previously conquered Macedonia
What were the 3 phases of politics during Pax Romana?
Julio-Claudian Dynasty: 27 BC-68 AD
A mixed bag of leaders
Includes Augustus Caesar
Tiberius: continued the policies of Augustus
Fewer foreign wars, spending
Caligula: spent much more money
Wanted monarchy government
Games and spectacles
Tried to make horse Senator
Claudius: centralized the government
Public works: aqueducts, canals, ports
Nero: expanded empire
Did little while Rome burned
Killed all traitors or those he saw as traitors
Year of Four Emperors: 69 AD
Civil war - no system for selecting new emperor clear
Five Good Emperors: Height of Pax Romana: 96 AD-180 AD
Treated ruling class with respect, fewer executions, more focus on peace
Expansion of land - first 100 years
Then: defensive
Hadrian’s Wall
Domestic policies
Tolerant of other religions
Focus on arts, science, education
Public works: roads, aqueducts
Succession: best candidate
What caused the end of the Roman Empire?
Leadership issues
Diocletian, 284-305 AD
Imposed new economic rules like fixed prices; farmers cannot get new or more land; sons must complete father’s jobs
Empire divided into east and west
Two rulers for each side
Foreign invasions
Visigoths: Germanic tribe who destroy Rome
Huns: Central Asia tribe led by Atilla
Huns also attacked Gupta India
Vandals: Tribe from Scandinavia
Political Issues:
Strict, corrupt government
More allegiance to church, not emperor
Multiple leaders in a divided government
Social Issues:
Lack of loyalty
Plague
Reliance on luxuries
Economic Issues:
High taxes
Inflation
Shortages