archeological evidence indicates that during the paleolithic era, hunting- foraging bands of humans...
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Archeological evidence indicates that during the Paleolithic era, hunting-foraging bands of humans gradually migrated from their origin in East Africa to Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas, adapting their technology and cultures to new climate regions.• Economic structures focused on small kinship groups of
hunting foraging bands that could make what they needed to survive. However, not all groups were self-sufficient; they exchanged people, ideas, and goods.
A. Hunter-Gathering 1. Locations: East Africa to Eurasia – Australia –
Americas2. Technologies / Cultures individual3. Kinship groups4. Exchange (people – ideas – goods) Cultural
Diffusion
I. Paleolithic Era
Broad Themes of the Paleolithic / Neolithic Period• Hunter and gatherers gradually migrated around
the world adapting their technology and cultures to the new
• Interactions were limited to groups that were geographically nearby but cultural diffusion did occur.
• Agriculture is the second great human process after settlement of the globe. The Neolithic (New Stone Age) / Agricultural Revolution started about 12,000 years ago.
• Agriculture brought new relationships between humans and other living things. Humans actively changed nature, instead of using what they found. They shaped the landscape and selectively bred animals.
1. Migration/Adaptation2. Cultural Diffusion3. Agriculture
a. second great processb. new relationship changes naturec. bred animals
B. Themes
OPTIC: Tassili-n-Ajjer rock art is at least 9000 years old, Algerian section of the Sahara desert.
Neolithic Revolution: The changeover from food gathering in human history to food producing and the resulting transformation of human society and the natural environment. • Global Warming 16,000 – 10,000
B.C.E.• Settling down occurred 12,000 –
4,000 B.C.E. among some populations• Population:
70,000 yrs. Ago: 10,000 humans30,000 yrs. Ago: 500,000 humans10,000 yrs. Ago: 6 million humans5,000 yrs. Ago: 50 million humans101 yrs. Ago: 250 million humans
1. Gathering to producing 2. Global Warming = Settling
a. 16,000- 12,0003. Rapid population rise with agriculture
a. increase birth rates = catalytic cycle
C. Neolithic Revolution
Possibly as a response to climatic change, permanent agricultural villages emerged first in the lands of the eastern Mediterranean. Agriculture emerged at different times in Mesopotamia, the Nile River Valley and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indus River Valley, the Yellow River or Huang He Valley, Papua New Guinea, Mesoamerica, and the Andes.
1. Eastern Mediterranean: MesopotamiaTigris/ Euphrates
2. Egypt: Nile River3. Sub-Saharan Africa: Niger River4. India: Indus River5. East Asia: Yellow/Huang He River6. Southeast Asia: Papua New Guinea7. Mesoamerica: swamplands8. Andes: Intermountain zones
D. Agricultural Villages
• Between 7,000 B.C.E. and 4,000 B.C.E. villages had grown into towns. These aren’t quite cities, but they are foreshadowing what’s to come.
• Jericho on Jordan river – mud/brick houses surrounded by a big wall
• Catal-Huyuk, in Turkey – joined houses together so that people couldn’t invade them
• Organized – start trading from other towns, as far as Sinai for Turquoise (Jericho)
• Villages practiced relative gender equality and a mix of matrilineal and patrilineal social structures
• Chiefdoms develop: 6,000 B.C.E.: descent from some ancestor. Tribute collected for redistribution. Division of labor and surpluses created.
1. Fertile Crescent: Mesopotamia (The Land between two Rivers)
a. This was the first region to develop agriculture around 11,000 B.C.E. b. Catal-Huyuk: Southern Turkey: 7,000 B.C.E.
1. pueblo style architecture c. Jericho: Jordan River: 7,000 B.C.E.
1. mud brick round houses 2. twelve foot wallsd. Both cities relied on agriculture and trade 1. gender equality 2. matrilineal/patrilineale. Chiefdoms 6,000 B.C.E. 1. ancestor connection 2. Tribute 3. Division of labor 4. Surpluses
E. Earliest organized cities
Cultural Hearths: The areas where civilizations first began to radiate the ideas, innovations, and ideologies that culturally transformed the world.
Features of Civilization- monumental architecture - large population- powerful state – able to wage war- economic and social inequality
II. River Valley CivilizationsA. Features of Civilization
1. monumental architecture – large pop. 2. powerful state – able to wage war3. economic and social inequality
B. Urban Revolution 1. cities 2. specialized industries
C. Social Classes and inequalities 1. Upper class: great wealth – no physical labor
– top positions in political, military, and religious life
2. Free commoners: artisans – low level officials – police – servants, and farmers, their surplus used to support upper class
3. Slaves: bottom – first generation = prisoners of war – criminals - debtors
TIGRIS-EUPHRATES
Mesopotamia (land between rivers) Harsh heat, drought; unpredictable floodsFew natural resources; no woodNo natural defensive areas such as hillsArea open to invasion by nomads
People in area mustProvide permanent food supplyRegulate, provide permanent water supplyProvide defense against invadersAcquire materials such as timber, minerals
TIGRIS-EUPHRATES “Necessity is the mother of invention” Sumer in S. Iraq: first civilization (5000 bce)
Create cuneiform, the first writingCity-states ruled by priests and kings
Wars over irrigated farmlandLand-owning aristocracy dominate; most of the
population were farmers or slavesPolytheistic religion tied to nature
LATER MESOPOTAMIANS
Cycle of CivilizationNomads come in and conquer sedentary peopleConquerors assimilate local sedentary cultureNew civilization blends cultures, thrives for a while“New” civilization grows old, invaded by nomads
Akkadian “First” First EmpireSargon conquered all of Sumer
Babylonian “First”City at junction of Tigris-EuphratesHammurabi’s Law Code
Epic of Gilgamesh
MESOPOTAMIA AS A CHART
THE NILE RIVERSociety very different from Sumer
Nile flooded regularly, predictablyProvided rich soil, Easy soil to farmCivilization regulated flooding, surveying
Location isolatedPharaoh was considered god-king
Theocracy, almost absoluteBuilt pyramid tombs for deadEgypt unified for most of historyQueen Hatsheput
Achievements Mathematics especially geometry; architecture Astronomy and medicine Hieroglyphics
HUANG-HE (YELLOW) RIVER
Developed in isolationAlong lower Yellow RiverRich loess soilConstantly flooding
First DynastiesControl of flooding criticalXia Dynasty (Mythical?)
God-like kingsTaught irrigation, silkmaking
Shang DynastyWarlike kings, landed aristocracy; few priestsMost people worked land as peasantsElaborate bronze workings; naturalistic art
CHINESE WRITINGOriginated during ShangIdeographic
Writing denotes ideasFirst used on Oracle Bones
Priests asked gods questionsWrote questions on bonesTossed into fireCracks read by priests (divination)
Elitist technique = scholar-bureaucratsExtremely difficult to readRequired well-educated class to useOnly elite had time to learn
Cuneiform, hieroglyphs had similar effects
MANDATE OF HEAVEN
Chinese political ideaRulers exercise power given by heavenRulers continue to rule if heaven pleasedHeaven will take back mandate to ruleHeaven will replace ruling dynasty
Indicators of a Lost MandateWars, invasions, military disastersOver-taxation, disgruntled peasantsSocial, moral decline of elite classesIncreased crime, banditry
DYNASTIC CYCLE
One ruling family replaces anotherThe Dynasty ChangesDue to the loss of the Mandate of Heaven
Stages in CycleNew dynasty arises, takes control of ChinaStrengthens rule, reestablishes prosperity, peaceWeakens, becomes lazy, problems ariseInvasions, revolts toss out reigning dynasty
Shang replaces Xia, Zhou replaces Shang
HOWTHE
CYCLE AND
MANDATEWORK
TOGETHER
INDUS VALLEY
Arose around 2,500 BCEMain Cities
Mohenjo DaroHarappaHundreds of other settlements
Independent city-states, strong governmentExtremely well-planned, coordinated citiesElaborate writing system (undeciphered)
Religion Worshipped mother goddessEvidence of priestly class and temples
CollapseLittle evidence of warfare until endDevastated by environmental upheavalsDestroyed by Indo-European (Aryan) nomadsCities abandoned
MEANWHILE, IN AMERICAS
Olmec around Gulf of Mexico, 1200bce Used rainfall for agriculture Cities are centers of trade, religion Priests and ruling class over others Giant stone heads (as tall as 2 Mr. Storcks!)
Chavin off coast of Peru, 900bce Two major regions:
mountains and coast Trade routes running
through mountains CONTRAST: Neither are river valleys
HERITAGES
First heritages Passed thru children Writing systems inheritedIntellectual systems, art copiedReligious, philosophical systems copiedUseful inventions rarely forgotten, easily spread
River valley civilizations decline by 1000BCEAll subject to nomadic invasionsIndo-Europeans and Semites were strongestGeographical centers shifted (all except China)
Political Structures often not continued
CIVILIZATION SPREADS
Phoenician Sailors in Lebanon City-states traded across Mediterranean Invented 22-letter alphabet
Asia Minor Hittites introduced Iron Lydians introduced coinage to area
Hebrews in Palestine Large Semitic migration in area There is only one God speaking through prophets, priests God made a covenant with the Jews, his Chosen people Ethical monotheism
Conduct determines salvation Man is not eternally damned if he follows God’s rules, repents
NOMADS: BARBARIANS?Pastoralism
Domestication of animals Way of life based on herding Often on fringes Bordered settled areas
Seen as savagesInteraction vs. conflict
Nomads traded, coexisted with settled areas Nomads warred on, conquered settled areas Often protected merchants, allowed trade
Prior to 1500 BCE little major threat Chariot Peoples (Central Asian Indo-Europeans)
Domesticated horse, invented chariot, iron weapons Pushed into SW Asia, S. Asia, E. Asia, Europe
Responsible for spread of ideas, trade
Greeks, Persians, Guptas, Mauryans, The Han, The Qin, Romans
Classical Civilization
8000 BCE – 600 BCE = ANCIENT6 0 0 B C E – 6 0 0 C E =
C L A S S I C A L
Classical Periodization
PHYSICAL MAP OF AREA
Ancient: 2000 BCE – 1100 BCEMinoansMycenaeans
Classical Greeks will inherit language, gods, technology, trade routes, early political and social structure from their two predecessors.
Cosmopolitan Mediterranean at this timeGreek Dark Age: 1100 BCE – 800 BCE
Iliad/Odyssey composed by Homer in this periodInvasion of TroyPhoenicians begin to reconnect Greece with the
rest of the MediterraneanResult: Greece trades again ~800 BCEResult: Greeks borrow the Phoenician alphabet &
make their own
Ancient & Classical Greece
ANCIENT GREECE
Oral tradition kept Greek culture alive Imagine keeping the Odyssey or Iliad alive through
memory and speech…disgusting, right?Polis (pl. poleis) – city-state. Autonomous. Geography!Colonization – Black Sea, Southern Italy, Sicily,
Anatolia, Aegean Islands, North Africa, Southern FranceEconomically motivatedTook fire from hearth of home city to hearth @ colony
Greeks = Hellenes. Non-Greeks = BarbaroiCouncils of nobles = pol. dominant, owned lots o’ land
Peasants/debt slaves worked landSmall middle class of merchants, craftsmen
Religion – anthropomorphic gods. Athena, Zeus, etc.Humanism – celebration of the individual
Greece slowly moving from monarchy/oligarchy to democracy
Archaic Greece: 800-480 BCE
RATIONITY AND PHILOSOPHY The formation of Greek cultural traditions
From the 8th century, drew inspirations from Mesopotamia and Egypt About 800 B.C.E., adapted the Phoenicians' alphabet to their own
language The Greek cultural feature: a philosophy based on human reason,
rationality Socrates (470-399 B.C.E.)
Athenian philosopher, determined to understand humans Encouraged reflection on ethics and morality
Integrity was more important than wealth and fame "The unexamined life is not worth living"
Critical scrutiny to traditional ethical teachings Condemned to death for corrupting Athenian youths
Plato (430-347 B.C.E.) A zealous disciple of Socrates The theory of Forms or Ideas His Republic expressed the ideal of philosophical kings
Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.) Plato's disciple, but distrusted theory of Forms or Ideas Devised rules of logic, scientific method, father of western science His Nicomedian Ethics became later basis in Christianity
Legacy of Greek philosophy Intellectual authorities for European philosophers until 17th century Intellectual inspiration for Christian and Islamic theologians. Provided a powerful intellectual framework for future generations
GREEK TRIBES
THE GREEK WORLD
Athens & Sparta = politically dominant poleis Sparta:
professional army, people existed to support Sparta Isolated mostly, few political alliances Women: raise strong children, voices welcomed in public debate
Athens: 4 classes of people, classes 1-3 = participated politically, class 4 = no
political participation. Really, only about 15% of people participated. Classes separated by amount of wealth/land holdings Pericles later will alter system to let lower classes hold office
Strong navy – secured trade routes, used to hold down Delian League members
Women: produce children, stay at home, no political rights Hoplite – Greek footsoldier. Fought in phalanx.
Persia comes into the picture Ionian Greek rebellion @ Mitelene. Persia squashes it.
Athens had supported Ionian Greeks. Persia goes after Athens. Darius’ Invasion
The battle of Marathon, 490 B.C.E. Greeks led by Spartans and Athens battled Persia to a draw
Xerxes Invasion To fight Persians, Athenians build a wall of wood, or a navy Xerxes seized, burned Athens Athenian navy destroys Persian in the battle of Salamis, 480 B.C.E. Persian army retreated back to Anatolia, 479 B.C.E.
Classical Greece: 480-323 BCE
POLIS OF ATTICA
LACONIA: SPARTA
MAPPING THE PERSIAN WARS
Peloponnesian War (431 ~ 404 BCE): everyone hates Athens.Athens = greedy, tyrannical towards Delian League.
Rebuilt by PericlesSparta, Delian League, money from Persia go to war w/Athens.Fighting rampant, even goes as far west as Sicily.Sparta wins, even w/lesser navy than Athens.
Plague in Athens helped, too.
Spartan rule was no better than Athenian rule.Political unrest in Greece continued.Spartan hegemony soon replaced by Theban hegemony.
Meanwhile, in Macedonia…King Philip II (359-336 BCE) – great military leader/strategist
Father of Alexander the GreatLonger spears, cavalry, catapultsDefeats southern Greece, tries to launch attack vs. PersiaHowever, is assassinated before he can see it through.
Classical Greece (cont.)
THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR
Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE)Avenges Persian attacks on Greece, conquers the known world.Conquered an empire that expanded from Greece, to Egypt, the
Levant, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, Persia, and even into India.How do you manage a beast this big?
Put loyal Greek officials in charge of conquered poleis. Later, this changed to Persian officials, much resented by Greek soldiers.
Saw himself as the rightful heir to the Persian throneBegan dressing in Persian clothing, adhering to Persian culture
Again, this is VERY unpopular with his Greek friends and fellow soldiersDies at the age of 32.Other than the military conquests, why is he important?
Later kings, Caesars will develop an “Alexander complex” Julius Caesar is known to have cried on his 32nd birthday because his
achievements were nothing like Alexander’s.Tomb/body of Alexander – relic site long ago, unknown
whereabouts now.Greek Hellenistic age ends after Rome finally subjugates Greece.
Hellenistic Greece: 323-30 BCE
ALEXANDER’S EMPIRE
HELLENISTIC WORLD
TEMPLES AND THEATRES
THE PERSIAN EMPIRE
From modern Iran, largest empire to this date in historyTook over Neo-Assyrian empire
Medes: Persians who challenged Neo-Assyrian ruleEmpire: Greece to India, as far north as Caucasus Mntns, as
far south as North AfricaCyrus I: Founder – conquers Anatolia/Babylonia.
Lets Jews in OT go home. (end of Babylonian Captivity)Darius I: Organizer & Lawgiver Divides empire into 23
satrapies (satrap = governor related to royal family) satrap: collect taxes, oversee territory, lots of autonomy further from
the capitalConquered IndusDecentralized system. Conquered lived according to own traditions.Est. new capital @ PersepolisZoroastrianism – Heaven/Hell, 1 supreme god, reward/punishment,
“messiah.” Monotheistic polytheism – Ahura Mazda – supreme deity, over lesser deities.
Standardized coins, big empire, roads, stability brought forth good trade
Persian Empire: 550-330 BCE
PERSEPOLIS
Pre-classical IndiaIndus->Aryans, or Harappan Age-> Vedic AgeVarna: 4 social classes (castes)
Priests/scholars (Brahmin), warriors/govt officials (Kshatriya), merchants/artisans (Vaishya), peasants/workers (Shudra)5th class: untouchables, given demeaning jobs
Rigid social hierarchy threatened by 8th Cent BCEBrahmins – most powerful classJainism – nonviolence, self-denial, value of all living thingsBuddhism – Siddhartha (Kshatriya)
Four noble truths: life is suffering, suffering comes from desire, suffering will end if desire ends, way to end desire is the Eightfold path.
Reach nirvana at the end cycle of reincarnationWill spread to much of India, Asia after 483 BCE
Mahayanas – worshipped Buddha as a god & bodhisattvas (enlightened men and women who gave up nirvana to help lead others). Central/Western Asia.
Theravadas – no Buddha images, no worship of Buddha. Basics. SE Asia.
Classical India
Buddhism’s popularity forces Vedic religion to evolve to Hinduism Brahmins – still powerful, but gave people more personal connection to
gods. Hinduism borrowed much from Buddhism, even drove it from its land of
origin.Outside pre-Mauryan intrusions: Persians – 520 BCE(Indus satrapy),
Alexander – 327 BCE (left local rulers to their own)Political unification – tough in India
Geography, rigid social hierarchy, diverse languages, customs, varied economies, castes
324-184 BCE – Mauryan Empire – all of India except southern tip Founded by Chandragupta Maurya – Arthrashastra (political handbook) Coinage, govt controlled mines, large army, ¼ of peasant crops paid to king Spoils system – gave positions to allies/relatives Ashoka – most famous Mauryan. Est. new capital at Pataliputra
Brutal in warfare, extends Mauryan empire to its height Reflects on brutality, gives it up for nonviolence & tolerance of Buddhism (260)
Moral codes inscribed on pillars throughout empire Roads/maritime trade routes made India a hub for trade from SE/Central Asia/China
w/Mediterranean, Middle East, even the Philippines Collapsed due to outside invaders, high cost of empire/maintaining borders
Classical India (cont.)
SPREAD OF BUDDHISM
Mauryan Guptan
Gupta Empire (320-550 CE) – Golden Age of HinduismLeaders controlled agriculture/mining like MauryansSubjects donated labor for big projectsTrade/industry brought wealth to shudras/vaishyasMore decentralized than Mauryans
Local leaders were autonomous But, could keep some profits from trade
Gave them incentive to stay loyal to GuptasBig army helped keep order, but wasn’t enough
Invented concept of ‘0’ (zero). Invented “Arabic” numeralsCollapsed after Huns attacked in 550 CE. Result: fragmentation
Women in Classical India: role changed w/economic changes Increased trade->urban middle class->value on property-> women
couldn’t own propertyExpected, like under Confucianism, to obey male family membersSati –throwing one’s self on your husband’s funeral pyreBuddhism/Jainism – gave women a little more freedom than
HinduismUpper class women could be educated
Classical India (cont.)
End of Zhou: Warring States PeriodPolitical fragmentation, feudalism, warlords!
Qin (350-206 BCE) – led by Shi Huangdi defeat ZhouChina’s first empire – unification!Legalism – strict rule, little care for subjectsTotalitarianism – state/leader is the end of all things.
Controls political life, economics, military, religion, etc.Slavery abolished to create free labor/taxable
citizens/military conscriptsStandard coinage, laws, 1000’s of miles of road, canals,
wallsHelped secure & consolidate power @ home & vs. outsiders
Also held noble sons hostage, destroyed noble castlesHad 460 Confucian scholars buried alive for opposing the Qin.
Iron technology. Used in warfare, agriculture.After Shi Huangdi dies, people revolt vs. oppressive QinsQin royal afterlife: Terracotta soldiers protected Shi
Huangdi’s tomb. All individual faces.
Classical China – more Qins than a Chinese phonebook
Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE)Located by eastern river valleysTax system: based on cropsMen donated 1 month of labor to build infrastructure & 2
years military serviceConfucianism – clear hierarchy, ppl saw themselves
having a role in the family/societyExpansionist: conquered modern Vietnam & KoreaEmperor: Son of Heaven. Just like the Zhou.Local leaders: taxed, organized labor, defended empireGovernment meritocracy: young men went to universities
in order to get gov’t positions. Really, only the wealthy had time/money to send sons to university. They then became part of a massive bureaucracy.Result: Peasants, alienated by high-ranking Confucianism, turn
to Daoism, which was principally opposed to Confucianism.
Classical China (cont.)
MAPPING HAN CHINA
Women under the Han: subjugatedBan Zhao – Admonitions for Women
Achievements of Han: crossbow, cavalry, horse collar, road system, watermill, paper, silk & the silk road!
Fall of Han: empire was too costly. Too much frontier, too much corruption in government, too few troops left to garrison, too many regional warlords, & peasant rebellions.Expansionist expeditions wasted gov’t coffers,
defense money spent fighting outside nomadsWide gulf between rich and poor.Land possessed by few people, unlike early Han.
China fragments once again after the Han
Classical China (cont.)
THE ROMANS
FROM KINGDOM TO REPUBLIC TO
EMPIRE
EARLY ROMEThe Etruscans
Probably migrated from Anatolia Dominated Italy from the 8th to 5th centuries B.C.E.
City-states were constantly at warSimilar in own way to Greek society
Arch, religion, alphabet, early traditions given to Rome Declined, attacked by Gaul and defeated by Greek fleets
Romulus and Remus Legend: twins rescued by a she-wolf Founded Rome in 753 B.C.E. Indo-European migrants settled in Italy from 2000 B.C.E. Came from Latins, a tribe of the Italics
The kingdom of Rome A small kingdom on the Tiber River, ruled by monarchies Easy access to the Mediterranean, trade routes led to
Rome Agriculture, warfare were typical Society dominated by aristocracy called patricians
THE WORLD OF EARLY ROME
EARLY ROMAN REPUBLIC
Establishment of the Republic Rome nobility deposed the last Etruscan king in 509 B.C.E. Republican constitution
Included two consuls: civil and military Consuls elected by an assembly dominated by the patricians The Senate advised the consuls and ratified major decisions Senate and consuls represented the interests of the patricians
Conflicts between patricians and plebeians Plebeians' threat to secede from Rome Patricians granted plebeians the tribunes Tribunes' power to intervene and veto decisions Tribunes dominated Roman politics, early 3rd century
B.C.E. In times of crisis, ruled by short-term dictatorship
Elected for six month term Given unlimited power
ROMAN REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT
Monarchical Aristocratic Democratic
2 Consuls and Magistrates
Senate(Senators)
Assembly of Tribes(10 Tribunes)
Directed government Control army
Acted as judgesCould issue edicts
Acted as chief priest
Controlled state budget
Could pass laws
Approved/rejected laws; Decided on War
Tribune could veto actions of magistrateActed as final court
Basis of power:possess imperium,
the right to ruleneed for leadership
Basis of power:members were richest
men in Rome.
Basis of power:provided most of the
soldiers
Limits on power:one year term
each could veto
Limits on power:could not control
army; needed majority as soldiers.
Limits on power:Could not suggest
laws;often paid as clients by
the elite
EXPANSION OF REPUBLIC The Legion gave Rome incredible power
Roman military formation of 5,000 men Extremely organized; all officers well trained Shields, swords (two edged) were revolutionary Subunits could operate on own without central commands
Consolidated position in Italy BY 4th centuries B.C.E. Conflict with Italics and Greeks in S. Italy New Roman colonies founded – with Roman rights Created alliances with Italics – given Latin rights Expanded Roman territory to include choice lands Makes local aristocrats Roman citizens, allow to retain
their lands The Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.E.)
Battled descendants of Phoenicians for control of Sicily, Spain
Built navy to challenge Carthage Defeated Carthaginians and conquered Africa
Conflicts with Antigonids and Seleucids, Five major wars Created alliances as with Italy, colonies of Roman settlers
Rome became a preeminent power in the Mediterranean
ROMAN LEGION
THE PUNIC WARS
Hannibal’s Elephants Hannibal
Scipio Africanus
THE END OFTHE REPUBLIC
Social Tension Long wars ruined most small farmers
During war could not plant or harvest, debts increased Forced to sell land to patricians, move to city as day laborers Poor often sold into slavery
Increased slavery more profitable than hiring Roman poor Migration of poor to cities produced lawlessness
The Gracchi brothers Tiberius Gracchus represented interests of Rome's lower classes
Served as a tribune, passed a law that set limits for landholding Assassinated in 132 B.C.E.
The younger brother, Gaius Gracchus, continued the reform Was branded as a outlaw, killed by mercenaries Republican government could no longer maintain power balance
Marius and Sulla Gaius Marius recruited a private army from landless residents Conservative aristocratic class supported Lucius Cornelius Sulla Both raised troops illegally under Roman law
Civil War Marius seized Rome in 87 B.C.E. Sulla seized Rome in 83 B.C.E. after Marius died, 5 years of terror
EXPANSION OF THE REPUBLIC
FOUNDATION OF EMPIRE
Julius Caesar Marius's nephew Favored liberal policies and social reform Gained fame by sponsoring public spectacles Conquered Gaul, became more popular
First Civil War Seized Rome in 49 B.C.E. Claimed the title "dictator for life," 46 B.C.E. Social reforms and centralized control Assassinated in 44 B.C.E.
Second Civil War to Avenge Caesar’s murders Augustus
Octavian, nephew of Caesar, brought civil conflict to an end The Senate bestowed upon him the title Augustus, 27 B.C.E.
Augustus's administration A monarchy disguised as a republic
Preserved traditional republican forms of government Took all the power into his own hands
Created a new standing army under his control The imperial institutions began to take root
EMPIRE AT ITS HEIGHT
THE PAX ROMANA Roman expansion had effects in Gaul, Germany, Britain, Spain
Romans sought access to resources Built legionary camps to defend; Roman officials ran provinces Provincial elite began to build estates and control resources
Came from two sources: Roman colonists, local ethnic elites Elites became largely Romanized
Cities emerged, roads built, common currency, laws Allowed locals to retain customs, traditions if paid their taxes
The pax romana Meant "Roman peace," lasted for two and half centuries Facilitated trade and communication World linked from Mesopotamia to Atlantic Ocean
Roman roads Roman engineers as outstanding road builders Roads and postal system linked all parts of the empire
Roman law Tradition: Twelve Tables enacted in 450 B.C.E. Principle: innocent until proven guilty Judges enjoyed great discretion
TRADE & URBANIZATION Commercial agriculture
Owners of latifundia focused on production for export Commercial agriculture led to economic specialization, integration Slavery preferred over labor saving devices and paid labor
Mediterranean trade Sea-lanes linked ports of the Mediterranean Roman navy kept the seas largely free of pirates The Mediterranean became a Roman lake
The city of Rome Wealth of the city fueled its urban development Statues, pools, fountains, arches, temples, stadiums First use of concrete as construction material Rome attracted numerous immigrants City attractions
Public baths, swimming pools, gymnasia Enormous circuses, stadiums, and amphitheaters
Other Cities Most large cities were in Eastern part of empire Eastern cities largely dominated by Greeks Cities include Alexandria, Antioch, Athens, Pergammum,
Thessalonika
CLASSICAL ROME
ROMAN FAMILY, SOCIETY
The pater familias Roman family: all household members living together Pater familias or "father of the family" ruled Women wielded influence within their families Many women supervised family business, estates
Wealth and social change Rich classes built palatial houses, lavish banquets Cultivators, urban masses lived at subsistence level Poor classes became a serious problem in Rome and other cities No urban policy developed, only "bread and circuses“ Merchants tolerated but not given much social recognition
Slavery Slaves - 1/3 of Roman population Chained together in teams, worked on latifundia Spartacus's uprising in 73 B.C.E. Working conditions for city slaves were better Epictetus, an Anatolian slave, became a prominent Stoic
philosopher Urban slaves could hope for manumission The gladiator or a slave trained to fight in the arena was popular
ROMAN WORLD VIEW Veritas and Gravitas
Honesty and Seriousness Symbolized Roman cultural values
Roman Polytheism Early deities: Jupiter, Mars, Ceres, Janus, Vesta Newly adapted deities: Juno, Minerva Borrowed, co-opted foreign deities into pantheon Religion was agricultural, state oriented, important to family Very little emotional attachment to gods
Greek influence represented by Philosophy Stoicism appealed to Roman intellectuals Cicero (106-43 B.C.E.) established Stoicism in Rome Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius wrote extensively
Religions of salvation and Cults Flourished in Rome and the Mediterranean basin Roman roads served as highways for religious spread Mithraism
Mithras, a god of sun and light in Zoroastrian mythology Roman soldiers adapted it, associated it with military value Moral teaching of Mithraism, only for men
Goddess Cybele and goddess Isis were also popular
JUDAISM & CHRISTIANITY
The Jews and the empire Jews considered state cults to be blasphemy Romans ruled through Jewish elites, tolerant of Judaism Constant rivalry between Pharisees, Sadducces, Zealots Roman Jewish provinces ruled by client kings such as Herod
The Essenes A new sect of Judaism, founded in Palestine during the 1st century
B.C.E. Strict moral code, baptism, and ritual community meals
Jesus of Nazareth Charismatic Jewish teacher, taught devotion to God, love for human
beings The teaching "the kingdom of God is at hand" alarmed the Romans Crucifixion in early 30s C.E.; Became "Christ," or "the anointed one" New Testament and the Old Testament became the holy book of
Christianity Paul of Tarsus
A Jew from Anatolia, zealously preached his faith beyond Jewish communities
Was Roman citizen by birth in a Greek city; from Pharisee family Paul who spread the faith in Mediterranean through missions Was finally executed by Roman officials
66 – 70 CE The Jewish War (66-70 C.E.) Roman forces defeated the Jewish rebels Jews expelled Christians from the temple (from Judaism)
EARLY CHRISTIANITY
Roman repression Peter and Paul both executed in Rome by Nero in 67 CE Romans followed very tolerant policy: pay taxes, do not revolt Christians refused to worship emperor, state gods = treason Romans worried that Christians were anti-social Some emperors persecuted Christians to increase patriotism
Christianity grew rapidly in the empire Strong appeal to lower classes, urban population, and women
Accorded honor and dignity to lower standing individuals Provided a sense of spiritual freedom Taught the spiritual equality of the sexes Promised future glory for true believers
All converts were equal Most influential faith in Mediterranean by the 3rd century
C.E Egypt, Asia Minor, Greece heavily Christian including many
aristocrats Influence in west limited to cities, especially Africa Armenia, Ethiopia, Egypt were first truly Christian countries
Rome became traditional head of church but not only leader Primus inter pares = first among equals Petrine Doctrine = Peter the first pope and head of the Church
CHRISTIANITY & ROME