Aim: How should ancient Roman civilization be remembered?

Do Now: What do you know about ancient Rome? What would you like to know?

I The Geography of ancient Rome

A) Like Greece, the modern nation of Italy is located next to the Mediterranean Sea, is a peninsula, and is very mountainous.B) Unlike Greece, Italy’s mountains are less rugged. This helped the Romans conquer Italy.

ALPS

APPENINE MOUNTAINSCORSICA

SARDINIA

SICILY

AFRICA

II How did Roman Civilization Begin?

A) In the 8th Century BCE, the Latins settled by the Tiber River in the Italian peninsula. B) The Latins were not the only people there! The Latins “borrowed” technology, religious beliefs, and culture from the Greeks and the Etruscans.

1. From the Greeks, the Latins “borrowed” Greek gods and goddesses, the use of columns, art, and philosophy.

2. From the Etruscans, the Latins “borrowed” the arch.

How did the Roman Civilization Begin? Continued…

An Etruscan Arch

How did the Roman Civilization Begin? Continued…

C) According to Roman legend, twin brothers Romulus and Remus were abandoned as babies. They were fed by a she-wolf and were raised by a herdsman. As adults, they founded the city of Rome. In a fit of jealousy, Romulus killed his brother Remus. However, historians cannot prove this story! We do know that the Latins moved into Rome, and found Greeks and Etruscans already living there. In 509 BCE the Latins overthrew the last Etruscan King and created the Roman Republic.

III The Roman Republic 509 BCE – 27 BCEA) In 509 BCE the Romans founded the first Republic.

- A Republic is a type of democracy- Unlike the Athenian Direct Democracy where the citizens vote on major issues directly, in Rome the citizens voted for Senators to represent them in the Roman Senate.

PATRICIANS: Citizens of High

Status

PLEBIANS:Citizens of Low

Status

Senators: 300, served for life. Created and voted on laws.

2 consuls, 1 year terms. Supervised government workers and the army.

By 494 BCE due to protests of not enough voice in the Republic, the plebeians were now able to elect

Tribunes. They could not make laws, but they could veto them.

During a time of crisis the Senate could elect a Dictator to have complete

control for up to 6 months.

The Roman Republic 509 BCE – 27 BCE Continued…B) 450 BCE the 12 Tables (Roman laws engraved on tablets, and divided into 12 tables or sections) was placed in the Roman Forum (open marketplace and place for political discussions). It guaranteed some basic rights.

Read the following excerpts from the 12 Tables and try to figure out what they mean. Also, is it a fair law?

1. “One who has confessed a debt, or against whom judgment has been pronounced, shall have thirty days to pay it in. After that forcible seizure of his person is allowed.”2. "Whoever is convicted of speaking false witness shall be flung from the Tarpeian Rock."

The Roman Forum Today

The Roman Republic 509 BCE – 27 BCE Continued…C) The Romans expanded into all of Italy quickly by building roads, and granting

citizenship to many conquered peoples in exchange for loyalty and taxes.D) A threat to Rome were the Phoenicians; seafarers who had city-states throughout the Mediterranean. The most powerful Phoenician city-state was Carthage in northern Africa. This rivalry led to the Punic Wars (3 wars fought between 246 BCE – 146 BCE). By 146 BCE the Romans had conquered Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and Carthage, making the Romans the most powerful empire in the Mediterranean Sea!

The Roman Republic 509 BCE – 27 BCE Continued…

Hannibal was the leader of the Phoenicians during the 2nd Punic War. He surprised Rome by coming by land across the Alps on horses and elephants.

He had hoped to gain the help of Rome’s enemies, but he could not find many, as Rome tended to treat its conquered people well. Hannibal almost won the war, until Rome changed strategy and attacked his home-city of Carthage.

Hannibal returned to Carthage, where he was defeated. In revenge, the Romans destroyed Carthage and salted the ground so nothing would grow for

years.

Rome AFTER The Punic Wars

The Roman Republic 509 BCE – 27 BCE Continued…

E) After the Punic Wars, Rome began to import grain and luxury goods from across the empire. This led to debt. The gap between the patricians (wealthy) and the plebeians (poor) grew.F) Two Tribunes, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus attempted to make reforms to help the poor. The Senate felt threatened and clubbed Tiberius to death in 133 BCE.

A CIVIL WAR BETWEEN THE PLEBIANS AND

PATRICIANS…IT’S ON!!!

G) In 82 BCE, Sulla, a Roman general, became dictator for 2 years! (Dictators were only supposed to rule for 6 months).

Ptolemaic Empire

Parthian Empire

Roman Empire

III Julius Caesar 100 – 44 BCE “Veni vidi vici”A) Julius Caesar was a popular military commander. By 60 BCE Caesar, Crassus (a wealthy man), and Pompey (a friend of Sulla) formed a secret political alliance, known by historians as the First Triumvirate. Together, they made most of the political decisions in Rome for 10 years. B) 58 BCE Caesar conquered Gaul (what is France today). Pompey feared he was becoming too powerful. Pompey ordered him to return to Rome. Caesar paused at a bridge across the Rubicon (a stream). Caesar knew that if he crossed the stream with his army, he would be starting a Civil War. If he didn’t, he risked being stripped of his powers as general. He crossed the Rubicon.

[Caesar] snatched a trumpet …and ran to the river with it; then sounding the "Advance!" with a piercing blast he crossed to the other side. At this Caesar cried out, 'Let us go where the omens of the Gods and the crimes of our

enemies summon us! THE DIE IS NOW CAST!‘ - Seutonius, Roman Historian

Julius Caesar Continued…F) After Caesar crossed the Rubicon, Pompey fled to Greece to prepare for war.G) Caesar returned to Rome. He was very popular as he made reforms; he gave public land to

the poor, and introduced the Julian Calendar (365 days, 12 months, leap year every 4 years!) Due to his popularity, the Senate was forced to make him a dictator.

F) Pompey fled to Egypt, where he was killed by the Ptolemy XIII (brother/husband of Cleopatra VII, and co-Pharaoh).

G) Cleopatra VII was the last Macedonian ruler of Egypt. In 48 BCE Caesar and Cleopatra VII had an affair, formed an alliance, and killed her brother. Together they were a threat to the Roman Senate.

According to legend, Cleopatra had herself rolled up in a carpet to surprise Caesar. They had a

son, Caesarian, in 47 CE. Historians believe she was ethnically Macedonian and

Egyptian.

Julius Caesar Continued…H) Even though Caesar had refused to be crowned King, many in the Senate believed he acted as a King, and was destroying the Roman Republic. On March 15, 44 BCE [the Ides of March] Caesar was stabbed to death on the steps of the Senate.

… All quickly [the Senators] unsheathed their daggers and rushed at him. First Casca struck him with the point of the blade on the left shoulder a little above the collar-bone... Caesar rose to defend himself, and in the uproar Casca shouted …to his brother. The latter heard him and drove his sword

into the ribs. After a moment, Cassius made a slash at his face, and Brutus pierced him in the side… Under the mass of wounds, he fell at the foot of Pompey's statue. Everyone wanted to seem to have had some part in the

murder, and there was not one of them who failed to strike his body as it lay there, until, wounded thirty-five times, he breathed his last. " - Nicolas of

Damscus

IV After the Death of CaesarA) Following the death of Caesar in 43 BCE, a new alliance was formed,

known by historians as the Second Triumvirate. (Mark Antony – Caesar’s 2nd in command, Marcus Lepidus and Octavian- Caesar’s grand-nephew.) *Unlike the First Triumvirate, the Second Triumvirate was given official powers by the Senate.

B) Mark Antony fell in love with Cleopatra (she had returned to Egypt after Caesar’s assassination). This led to a civil war with Octavian & Lepidus.

C) In 31 BCE the Senate declared war on Mark Antony and Cleopatra. After a major defeat in Alexandria, Egypt by Octavian, Cleopatra committed suicide by an asp (deadly snake). Mark Antony stabbed himself to death with his sword.

V The Roman EmpireA) In 27 BCE the Senate gave Octavian the title of “Augustus” (Exalted One). The Senate still existed, but their power was minimal. Octavian was now the most powerful man in Rome. Many historians believe this is the official end of the Roman Republic, and the beginning of Rome under an Emperor.

Augustus claimed that he had brought back the

Roman Empire. Why would he say that when he had more power than

the Senate?

II The Early Roman EmperorsTHE GOOD THE BAD

Augustus (Ruled 27 BCE – 14 CE )Began the Pax Romana (era of Roman Peace). It lasted from 27 BCE - 180 CE. Rome continued to conquer new lands, but the government was more stable than it had been in a long time.

Caligula (Ruled 37 – 41 CE)1. Declared himself a God2. Opened a brothel in his palace3. Tried to make his racehorse a Roman

consul"Incitatus [Caligula’s horse] owned a marble stable, an

ivory stall, and a jewelled collar; also a house, furniture, and slaves - to provide suitable entertainment for guests whom Caligula invited in its name. It is said that he even planned to award Incitatus a consulship. - Suetonius

Claudius (Ruled 41 – 54 CE)1.He survived a possible assassination when he was young by drooling, stuttering, and pretending to be mentally ill.2.He added Britain, Thrace (the Balkans) and Mauritania (Northern Africa) to the Roman Empire.

Nero (Ruled 54 – 68 CE)1.Blamed the Christians when Rome burned in 64 CE. 2.He tried to murder his mother 5 times.3. He would not allow pregnant women to leave during his music concerts.“…those people called Christians… they were killed by dogs by having the hides of beasts attached to them, or they were nailed to crosses or set aflame, and, when the daylight passed away, they were used as nighttime lamps.” - Tacitus

III Roman AchievementsThe Roman Pantheon was a building that

used Greek Columns, as well as a Roman invention, the dome. It housed all of the Roman gods and goddesses.

Aqueducts were bridges built on a slight slant, that carried fresh water for miles. The water from the aqueducts was then piped to water fountains, bath houses, and the bathrooms of the wealthy.

Romans of all social classes (even slaves) went to the Bathhouse to clean

themselves, and to socialize! They would sweat and scrape their dirt off.

The Romans perfected the arch from the Etruscans, and used it in their

aqueducts.

Roman Entertainment Gladiators (professional fighters) and slaves fought

to the death in amphitheatres. If they survived, they gained wealth and celebrity status.

The following are exotic animals that were imported from across the Empire to “battle” slaves and gladiators in the Coliseum: Giraffes, Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Cheetahs, Panthers, Elephants, Crocodiles, Jaguars,

Chimpanzees, Apes, Baboons, Hippopotamus, Rhinoceros, and Crocodiles. As many as 1000 animals were killed in a single day. Nearly

1 million people were killed.

Roman Entertainment Continued…

Underneath the coliseum were elevators and pulleys, to bring the animals, slaves and gladiators up to the stage

level.“It was really mere butchery…men were thrown to lions and to bears: but at midday to the audience. There was no escape for them... "Kill him! flog him! burn him alive" was the cry…Do not, my Lucilius, attend the games, I pray you. Either you will be corrupted by the multitude,

or, if you show disgust, be hated by them. So stay away. – Seneca

Romans watched chariot racing at the Circus Maximus. It held up to

160,000 spectators. Driving a chariot earned ancient Roman

racer Gaius Appuleius Diocles the equivalent of $15 billion. In

Roman terms, Diocles’ lifetime earnings were 35,863,120

sesterces.

The Romans imported exotic spices and silk from Asia. Due to the distance, these spices were very expensive.

Roman Achievements Continued…

The Romans copied the art of the Etruscans and the Greeks. *Most of the Greek sculptures that exist today are actually

Roman copies. Romans also loved portraits.

Virgil, a Roman poet, wrote The Aeneid in 30 BCE. It was about the survivors from the Trojan

War, who helped to found the city of Rome.Why do you think he wrote this, if it was not

based on truth?

IV The Later Roman Empire and Why it FellA) In 284 CE Emperor Diocletian divided the Roman Empire into 2 halves to make it easier to rule. In 312 CE Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and made it the official religion of Rome. Rome remained the capital of the Western Empire, while Constantinople became the capital of the East. The West spoke Latin, while the East spoke Greek. The Empire was no longer unified, and Christians are loyal first to God, not the Emperor.

The Later Roman Empire and Why it Fell

B) As the Roman Empire grew, it spent more money. INFLATION (Inflation is when the value of money decreases)C) Members of the military, including the Praetorian Guard, often plotted against the Emperor. Between 235 and 284 CE, 26 Emperors were assassinated! When there were not enough soldiers, Rome hired German mercenaries (soldiers for hire). MANY ROMAN SOLDIERS WERE NOT LOYAL TO THE EMPIRED) Lead pipes LEAD POISONINGE) Barbarian tribes pushed further into the Empire, including the Angles, Saxons, and Visigoths. Many of these tribes were moving west to escape from the Huns, a fierce tribe from Asia. INSTABILITYF) In 476 CE the Western Roman Empire fell to Odoacer, a Germanic Barbarian.

V But Rome Continued in the East!After the fall of Western Rome in 476 CE, Eastern Rome (the Byzantine Empire) survived almost another 1000 years!

HW Questions1. Describe the legend of Rome’s beginnings, as well as how

historians believe it was founded.2. Describe the Roman Republic. What were its achievements? How

did it differ from Athenian government?3. How and why did Rome transition from a Republic to an Empire?4. Describe any 4 achievements of Rome in the arts or sciences.5. Why did Rome fall in the West? Describe at least 2 most important

reasons.6. Do you think Rome was better off as a Republic or as an Empire?

Explain.7. What should the legacy of Rome be?