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Chapter 11

Mediterranean Society: The Roman Phase


Establishment of Rome

n  Legend of Romulus and Remus n  Rome Founded 753 BCE n  Indo-European migrants c. 2000 BCE n  Bronze c. 1800 BCE, Iron c. 900 BCE


The Etruscans

n  Originally from Anatolia n  Colonized Roman regions n  Society declines late 6th c. BCE

q  Greek maritime attacks q  Celtic invasions from north


The Kingdom of Rome

n  Monarchy through 7th-6th c. BCE q  Streets, temples, public buildings

n  Major center of trade routes


Establishment of the Republic

n  509 BCE Romans overthrow last Etruscan king

n  Roman forum built n  Republican constitution n  Executive: 2 consuls n  senate


Social Conflict

n  Patricians (aristocrats) n  Plebeians (commoners) n  Major class conflict 5th c. BCE n  Plebeians allowed to elect tribunes for

representation n  Rights expanded through 3rd c. BCE n  Yet 6-month appointments of dictators


Expansion of the Republic

n  Dominated Etruscans n  Took over iron industry 5th-4th c. BCE n  Expansion via military threat and incentives

q  Tax exemptions q  Trade privileges q  Citizenship


The Punic Wars

n  Conflict with Carthage, 264-164 BCE n  Three major wars over Sicilian grain supply n  Later conflict with declining Hellenistic Empires n  Rome dominates Mediterranean by middle of 2nd C.

BCE


Imperial Expansion and Domestic Problems n  Land distribution

q  Perennial problem q  Development of large latifundia q  Unfair competition for smaller landholders


The Roman Empire to 146 BCE


The Gracchi Brothers

n  Tiberius and Gaius n  Attempted to limit land holdings of aristocrats n  Assassinated n  Development of private armies made up of landless

peasants q  Gaius Marius (with reformers) q  Lucius Cornelius Sulla (with aristocrats)


Civil War

n  87 BCE Gaius Marius takes Rome n  Lucius Cornelius Sulla drives Marius out 83

BCE n  Reign of terror follows


Julius Caesar

n  Nephew of Marius n  Escapes Sulla’s terror

q  Relatively young, well-timed trip abroad n  Rises to popularity

q  Public spectacles, victories in Gaul n  Attacks Rome 49 BCE n  Names self Dictator for life in 46 BCE


Caesar’s Policies

n  Centralized military, governance under personal control n  Redistribution of land to war veterans, other allies n  Major building projects reduce urban unemploymnent n  Extended citizenship to provinces n  Aristocrats threatened, assassinate Caesar in 44 BCE


Augustus

n  Civil conflict follows death of Caesar n  Nephew Octavian fights Mark Antony &

Cleopatra n  Takes title Augustus 27 BCE


Augustus’ Administration

n  Monarchy disguised as a republic n  Increasing centralization of political, military

power n  Stablilized empire n  Death in 14 CE


Expansion and Integration of Empire

n  Roman occupation of increasingly remote areas q  Gaul, Germany, Britain, Spain

n  Coordination of crop production, transport of natural resources

n  Developed infrastructure, cities emerge


The Roman Empire, c. 117 CE


Pax Romana: “Roman Peace”

n  27-250 CE n  Facilitated trade, communication n  Roadwork

q  Curbs, drainage, milestones q  Postal service


Roman Law

n  Twelve Tables, c. 450 BCE n  Adapted to diverse populations under Roman

Rule q  Innocent until proven guilty q  Right to challenge accusers in court


Commercial Agriculture and Trade

n  Latifundia: production for export n  Regional specialization increases n  Integration of Empire-wide economy n  Mediterranean Sea: Mare Nostrum, “our sea”


The City of Rome

n  Cash flow q  Taxes, tribute, spoils, commerce

n  Massive construction projects q  Statuary, monumental architecture, aqueducts

n  Technology: concrete


Roman Attractions

n  Imported goods n  Underground sewage n  Circus Maximus

q  250,000 spectators n  Colosseum n  Gladitorial Games


Family and Society

n  Pater Familias: “father of the family” q  Right to arrange marriages, sell children into

slavery n  Women not allowed to inherit property

q  Rarely enforced


Wealth and Social Change

n  Newly rich challenge aristocracy n  Yet poor class increasing in size n  Distraction: “Bread and Circuses”


Slavery

n  2nd c. CE: estimated at 1/3 of Empire population q  Customary manumission at age 30

n  Agricultural work, quarries, mines n  Chain labor n  Revolt under Spartacus, 73 BCE


Roman Deities

n  Polytheistic n  Major gods n  Tutelary deities n  Absorption of gods from other cultures


Cicero and Stoicism

n  Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-46 BCE) n  Major orator, writer n  Influenced by Greek thought n  Proponent of Stoicism


Mithraism

n  From Zoroastrian myth: god of Sun, light n  Roman version emphasizes strength, courage,

discipline n  Women not admitted into cult n  Appealed to military n  Cult of Isis also popular


Judaism in Early Rome

n  Jewish monotheism at odds with most ancient cultures

n  Refusal to recognize state gods n  Repeated Jewish rebellions n  Romans finally crush Jewish self-governance in

Jewish Wars (66-70 CE)


Synagogue at Capernaum


The Essenes

n  Messianic Jewish Cult n  Baptism n  Ascetic lifestyle n  Dead Sea Scrolls


Jesus of Nazareth

n  Jewish teacher n  Moral code, reputation for miracle-working n  Romans fear instigation of rebellion, crucify

Jesus


Jesus’ Early Followers

n  Belief in Jesus’ resurrection, divine nature n  Title Christ: “Anointed One” n  Teachings recorded in New Testament


Paul of Tarsus

n  Extends teachings far beyond Jewish circles n  Intensive travel, missionary activity


Early Christian Communities

n  Local leaders: Bishops n  Regional variation in doctrine and ritual

q  Nature of resurrection q  Role of women

n  Gradual acceptance of core texts


Growth of Early Christianity

n  Roman persecution n  Yet dramatic expansion of Christianity

q  Especially with dispossessed, disenfranchised classes n  Urban poor n  women

chapter 11 bentley - lpswp.lps.org/tlarson/files/2013/08/chapter-11_bentley.pdf · title: chapter...

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