Rome Before Caesar
I. Relationship of Greece to Rome A. No divide between Greece and Rome
1. political systems: Democracy (different form) • Direct Democracy-Greece• Republic-Rome
2. social organization similar3. Art, architecture, and culture
B. Differences between Greece, Rome 1. Geography
a. Greece mountainous, Rome flat (effect politics)
b. Greece little farming, Rome agriculturally-based
2. Political differences a. Fewer city-states Italy (geography) b. Took over where Greeks had left
off c. Spread its empire not from need of
land, but for security of its borders
II. Romulus to Roman Republic A. Rome starts as a village on Tiber river 700s BC
1. Romulus 753 BC, founded Rome (linked to a Trojan warrior)
2. Simple and insignificant
B. Early Influences1. Greeks southern peninsula 2. Etruscans in north: warlike culture 3. Rome became city-state under
Etruscan king 650 BC4. Romans overthrow Etruscuns 509BC5. Time for a change: created RepublicRepublic
of Rome 6. Started grand adventure of living the
Greek lifestyle
C. Republic Social Organization 1. Two elected consuls, one year terms 2. Senate 3. Patricians
4. Tribunes 5. Plebeians (plebes) 6. Non citizens
III. Early Imperial expansion A. Driven by need for security B. Celts wipe out Roman army and almost
destroy city by fire (390 BC). Rebuilt: 800 years before conquered again
C. conquest of peninsula - 264 BCD. Defeat Macedonians and Phillip in
197BC
G. Punic Wars (264-146BC) Rome vs. Carthage
1. Rome and Carthage two dynamic powers in Mediterranean 264BC
2. Carthage - near modern day Tunis, founded by Phoenicians, rich traders
3. Fight for control of Mediterranean
H. Second Punic War: (247-183BC) 1. Hannibal great Carthaginian leader 2. 40,000 men, 9000 cavalry,
elephants.3. Take battle to Rome three wins in
three years. 4. Ends in siege of city and stand down.
I. Third Punic War: 146BC 1. Rome defeats Carthage 2. Salt the city3. No serious rivals for Rome in
Mediterranean
Rome: From Republic to Empire
The extent of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire;
██ 133 BC
██ 44 BC (late Republic, after conquests by republican generals)
██ AD 14 (death of Augustus)
██ 117 (maximum extension)
I. Problems of the Republic A. Expansion
1. harder to administer from the capital (large)
2. Communication problems3. leaders were off in the field-no
decisions4. rebellion inside and out
B. Political Loyalty 1. Military leadership
a. Leaders in the field b. Under Marius (military leader) non-
landholders were recruited • loyalty to the general, not the
Republic• receive land taken from someone
else c. rivals (using the army on each other)
2. Ineffective Senate a. Calls for reform unansweredb. starts to lose controlc. "dictators"—given temporary power to
reform
3. Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) a. Started as triumvirate (ruled by three)
with Crassus and Pompey - The First Triumvirate
b. Dictator in 47 BC • Expanded Roman citizenship • Sent poor to colonies
c. Murdered at the Senate - Brutus and group of Ex-Pomeians
4. The Second Triumvirate 1. Octavian (nephew of Caesar) forms alliance
with Marc Antony (Caesar's general) and Lepidus
2. Defeat Brutus and conspirators 3. Octavian (west) and Antony (east) go to
war 4. Antony, love affair with the queen of Egypt,
Cleopatra 5. 31BC, Octavian won 6. Named imperator (supreme military
commander)
a) Began the period of the Roman Empire b) Became known also as "Caesar Augustus," (sole
victorious, imperial majesty : Semi-Divine)
II. Early Empire – Forces StabilityA. Augustan Age (31BC-14AD) -100 million
people 1. Not a true republic - a military
dictatorship 2. Strong control over the empire--
governors of provinces directly loyal to Emperor
4. Deceiving the massesa. Recreated traditional classes:
senatorial, patrician, and plebian (nothing is wrong)
b. Senate: all laws were passed to them by the emperor - rubber stamp
c. Continued expansion (something to think about and be entertained by – ESCAPE from reality)
d. Cult of Roma - worship of Roman power
e. Stabilize Roman society
B. Pax Romana: “The Peace of Rome”1. End of expansion2. The five "good" emperors (96-180
AD)3. Rebellions in the provinces4. Empire begins to shrink.
5. The home front: Bread and Circuses a. Economic prosperity (free bread) b. Social ignorance of the situation
(entertainment driven)c. Disillusioned: “Eat drink and be
merry”
THREE IDEALS OF EARLY ROME
INDIVIDUALISM
DEMOCRACY
INTELLECT (NOT EMOTION)
LARGELY ALL GONE BY NOW.
