Mythical Version: about 800 BC

• Romulus & Remus• Left to die• Adopted by she-wolf• Raised by shepherd• Fought• Rome named after Romulus

Historical Version: • 1200 BC groups of people begin invading around Mediterranean.• One group, Latins, settle on Palatine - farmers• Around 800 BC Etruscans settle in Etruria• Feared as Pirates, admired as traders – more advanced culture• By 600 BC Etruscans dominated northern Italy, including the

Palatine• Etruscans taught Latins things like arch building, gods in human

form, an alphabet, slave fights at funerals, and the triumph.• Etruscans ruled Latins for more than 200 years – Latins had no

rights• 509 BC Latins overthrew Etruscan king (Rex)• Latins were afraid Etruscans would come back, so crossed Tiber

and conquered several other Etruscan cities. To protect their area, they either conquered or formed alliances with those around them.

• By 275 BC Rome ruled the peninsula.

Expansion of the Republic

• Social order in the Republic:– Patrician– Equestrian– Plebians

Expansion• By 264 BC Romans in Southern Italy and in contact with Carthage• Carthage controlled N. Africa, Spain, some of Sicily.• Romans felt threatened by Carthaginians• Punic wars started in Sicily• Rome builds a navy – but with a twist• 241 BC Carthage agrees to leave Sicily• 218 BC – Hannibal attacks via Spain & Gaul• Roams Italy for 15 years• Romans attack Carthage to get Hannibal out of Italy• 201 BC Carthage agrees to give Spain to Rome & pay• 149 BC Romans attack Carthage because becoming a threat• 146 BC Carthage destroyed completely• 146 BC Romans attack and burn Corinth to ground.• Romans rule Greece, Syria, Macedonia – the Mediterranean region.

Final Years of the Republic• By 135 BC problem – gap between rich & poor• Gracchi bros. – land & wheat to poor & hungry• Senate had them killed• Gen. Gaius Marius – power to army• Gen. Lucius Cornelius Sulla – power to Senate• 79BC – Sulla retires• The first triumvirate – Crassus, Pompey & Caesar• 58 BC Caesar governor of Gaul – expanded empire into Britain• 50 BC Senate orders him to disban• Caesar’s reaction – Pompey’s reaction• Caesar – good or bad?• March 15, 44BC

The Empire

• Another triumvirate – Octavian, Antony, & Lepidus

• Antony & Cleopatra in Egypt• Octavian wanted one Empire• 31 BC Octavian v. Antony• End of Antony & Cleopatra• Octavian becomes Augustus• Augustus & Pax Romana

After Augustus

• 5 good emperors – AD 96 – AD 186• Of the 5 – 3 outstanding, Hadrian, Trajan & Marcus

Aurelius• M. Aurelius – last of the good, dies in AD 186• Civil War – Army v. Senate – Emperors are puppets (26

in 50 yrs)• AD 284 Diocletian – wanted peace, established

successor & had himself proclaimed a god. Divided Rome in ½

• After his retirement, civil war again• AD 312 Constantine – moved capital to Constantinople,

religious freedom

• Why do some say the gladiatorial games are a sign of the decline of Rome?