The Roman Republic

The Origin of Rome

• As Greece started to decline Rome started to emerge. Rome went from a small
settlement to a mighty civilization that eventually controlled the Mediterranean.
• Founded in 753BC. Legend believes founded by Romulus and Remus, twin sons
of Mars. They built the city near the Tiber River because of the strategic location
and fertile soil.
• (1) Built on seven rolling hills on Tiber River near the center of the Italian
peninsula. This was a strategic location as it was protected by Alps and
Mediterranean Sea. This location gave easy access to the riches of the lands
ringing the Mediterranean Sea. Hence the geography helped the expansion.
• Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans inhabited region and battled for control from 1000
to 500BC. Latins built original settlement in Rome and considered first Romans.
750-600BC Greeks established colonies along southern Italy and Sicily.
(3) Etruscans were native to northern Italy and strongly influenced Romans. They
were skilled metal-workers and engineers. They strongly influenced the
development of Roman civilization. They boasted a system of writing. They also
influenced Roman architecture, especially the use of the arch. They boasted a
system of writing, for example the Roman’s adapted their alphabet.
The Early Republic
• Etruscan became king of Rome, grew to city. Various kings ordered construction
of Rome’s first temples and public centers. Most famous- forum, heart of
Roman political life. Last king, Tarquin the proud, after him declared would
never be ruled by king again. Established republic means “public affairs”.
Citizenship with voting rights granted to free-born male citizens.
• Roman society comprised of 3 social groups struggling for power; patricians
(aristocracy, wealthy landowners who held most of power.) they inherited power
and social status, Plebeians (common people who made up majority of
population) citizens who could vote but couldn’t hold important government
positions according to law. (4) Later Roman leaders allowed plebeians to form
own assembly and elect representatives called Tribunes. Third group was the
Slaves.
• (5) Government under the republic. Made up of Senate, Assembly and consuls.
Rome had two officials called consuls. Consuls commanded the army and
directed the government. Term was 1yr long. Same person couldn’t be elected for
another 10yrs. Consul could veto (overrule) other. Senate was aristocratic branch
of Roman government made up of patricians. Had legislative and administrative
functions of the republic. Had 300 members. Exercised influence on foreign and
domestic policy. Tribal Assembly represented more democratic side of
government. They made laws for the common people, and later for the republic
itself. In times of crisis republic could appoint a dictator with power for 6months,
chosen by consuls and elected by senate.
• Roman army. Romans placed great value on their military. All citizens that
owned land had to serve in the army. Citizens who wanted to hold public offices
had to serve in the military for 10yrs. Roman soldiers organized into large units
called legions, made up of 5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers (infantry) and a
 group of soldiers on horseback (cavalry). Legions divided into smaller groups of
80men called centuries. Military organization and fighting skill of the Roman
Army were key factors in the Roman’s rise to greatness.
Rome Spreads its Power
• Expanded territories through trade and conquest. By 265BC Romans were
masters of nearly all Italy. Defeated Etruscans to the north and Greek city-
states to the south. Different laws and treatment for different parts of its
conquered territory. Latins on the Tiber became full citizens of Rome. In
territories further from Rome conquered people enjoyed all rights of Roman
citizenship but voting. All other conquered groups fell into a third category
known as allies of Rome. Rome didn’t interfere with allies as long as they
supplied troops to the roman army and didn’t make treaties/friendships with
any other state. New citizens and allies became partners in Rome’s growth.
This lenient toward defeated policy helped Rome to build a long lasting
empire.
• Rome’s Commercial Network. Location gave easy access to Mediterranean
Sea. Roman merchants moved by land and sea. Traded roman wine and olive
oil for a variety of food, raw material and manufactured goods from other
lands. (7) However, other powerful cities interfered with Rome’s access to
the Mediterranean, one such city being Carthage, which led to the Punic
Wars.
• (8) War with Carthage. Located on peninsula of north African coast and its
rise to power soon put it in direct opposition to Rome. In 264BC Rome and
Carthage went to war which was the beginning a long series of wars known
as the Punic Wars. Fought three wars between 264-146BC. (9) First war for
control of Sicily and west Mediterranean that lasted 23 years from 264-
241BC, where Carthage was defeated. (10) Second war began in 218 by a
Carthaginian general named Hannibal. Hannibal wanted to avenge Carthage’s
earlier defeat, which was the cause of the second war. Hannibal surprised
Romans by leading army through Alps and marched his forces up and down
the Italian peninsula. Won his greatest victory at Cannae in 216 BC. Inflicted
enormous losses on Romans, Romans regrouped and with help of many allies
prevented Hannibal from capturing Rome. Finally Roman general named
Scipio devised a plan to attack Carthage. In 202BC at Zama near Carthage
the Romans defeated Hannibal. (11)During third Punic war 149-146BC
Romans laid siege to Carthage and burned city and sold 50,000 inhabitants
into slavery. Its territory was made into a roman province. (12)Rome’s
victory in the Punic war gave it dominance over the western Mediterranean
and then they went on to conquer the eastern half. By 70BC Rome’s
Mediterranean empire stretched from Anatolia in the east to Spain in the
west.
• (6) In Rome the executive branch was comprised of two consuls elected by
the assembly for one year. In US the executive branch is comprised of a
president elected by the people for four years. In Rome citizenship was given
to all adult male landowners, in the US all native born or natural born
citizens. The legal code in Rome consisted of 12 tables (a list of rules that
 was the basis of the roman legal system) in the US it is the US constitution
(basic law of the United States). Both governments have three branches of
government. The executives in both governments controlled the army and
government. In both only the citizens vote.

The Roman Empire

• (13) Problems Rome experienced as a result of expansion: As republic grew
Senate and assembly were less able to control and the republic increasingly
became unstable. The military order broke down and generals began seizing great
powers for themselves. The gap between rich and poor grew wider; the rich
landowners lived in huge estates, while the enslaved persons were forced to work
on these estates (latifundias). Small farmers found it difficult to compete with
large estates run by the labor of enslaved people so they sold their land to wealthy
land owners and became homeless and jobless. They worked as seasonal migrant
laborers.
• (14) Describe the reforms made by various people
o Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus- attempted to help Rome’s poor. As tribunes,
they proposed such reforms as limiting the size of the estate and giving
land to the poor.
o Spartacus- led a slave revolt in 73BC. He raised a massive army of slaves
and fought desperately for two years before the revolt was crushed in 71
B.C. They were crucified for their efforts.
o Lucius Cornelius Sulla- wanted to kick out corrupt senators, all attempts
failed
• (15) A group of three rulers.
• (16) Julius Caesar a military leader, Crassus a wealthy roman, and Pompey a
popular general. Julius Caesar was elected consul with these two’s help and they
dominated Rome for the next 10 years.
• (17) What is the main province that Caesar conquered and made Roman territory?
Gaul which is modern day France.
• (18) What does Caesar do to make him a rebel/enemy of the state? He defied the
senate’s order to return to Rome. He defeated Pompey’s army and then returned
to Rome to become a dictator. He governed as an absolute ruler and started many
reforms. Many nobles and senators expressed concern over Caesar’s growing
success, power and popularity, some feared losing their influence and other
considered him a tyrant. Thus making him a rebel/enemy of the state.
• (19) A number of senators led by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius plotted his
assassination. On March 15th, 44BC he was stabbed to death in the senate
chamber.
• (20) Caesar’s grand-nephew/adopted son Octavian, Mark Anthony an experienced
general, and Lepidus a powerful politician ruled for the next 10yrs.
• (21) Lepidus was the first one to be eliminated, Octavian forced him to retire.
• (22) How does Octavian get rid of Anthony? Anthony met Queen Cleopatra of
Egypt and followed her to Egypt. Octavian accused Anthony of plotting to rule
Rome from Egypt, and another civil war erupted. Octavian defeated the combined
 forces of Anthony and Cleopatra at the naval battle of Actium. Later Anthony and
Cleopatra commit suicide.
• (23) Octavian being the last one standing takes the name Caesar Augustus and
becomes the first emperor. This marks the fall of the republic and the birth of a
Roman Empire.
• (24) Pax Romana was the 200year period of peace in which there were several
achievements in art, literature, science, technology etc. which is started with
Augustus and ends with Marcus Aurelius.
• (25) Achievements during Pax Romana.
o Literature/entertainment
 In literature as in philosophy, Romans found inspiration in the
work of their Greek neighbors. Romans wrote excellent prose,
especially history. Livy compiled a multivolume history of Rome
from its origins to 9BC. He used legends freely creating more of a
national myth of Rome rather than a true history. Tacitus another
roman historian presented the facts more accurately. Latin the
language of the Romans remained the language of learning in the
west. Stoicism, the philosophy of Greek teacher Zeno was
influential. It encouraged virtue, duty, moderation and endurance.
Virgil was a poet who spent 10yrs writing most famous work of
Latin literature the Aenid, the epic of the legendary Aeneas.
o Science and Technology
 A complex network of roads linked the empire. Roads were
constructed of stone, concrete, and sand. Visitors from all over the
empire marveled at the architecture of Rome. The arch, dome, and
concrete were combined to make spectacular structures such as the
Coliseum. Arches also supported bridges and aqueducts, designed
by roman engineers to bring water into roman cities and towns.
o Roman Government
 Augustus was the ablest emperor. He stabilized the frontier,
glorified Rome with splendid public buildings one being the
forum. He set up civil service, paid workers to manage affairs of
government such as grain supply, tax collection and postal system.
Rome’s most lasting and widespread contribution was its law.
Roman law dealt most with strengthening the right of roman
citizens. They believed that laws should be fair and apply to all
people rich and poor. Certain standard of justice greatly influenced
by the teachings of stoic philosophers were recognized.
• Section 3: Christianity
• (26) Christianity was born as a movement within Judaism and emphasized a more
personal relationship between god and people.
• (27) Jesus teaching
o Monotheism
o Principles of the ten commandments
o God’s personal relationship in each human being
 o States the importance of people’s love for god, neighbors, enemies, and
themselves
o Taught God would end wickedness in the world and would establish an
eternal kingdom after death for people who sincerely repented of their sins
• (28) Were simple and direct and ignored wealth and status so message had special
appeal to the poor. It also appealed to those who were repelled by the
extravagances of imperial Rome.
• (29) why did Romans persecute Christians
o Posed a problem for rulers because they refused to worship roman gods,
which was seen as opposition of roman rule
o Roman rulers also used Christians as scapegoats for political and
economic troubles
o Romans exiled, imprisoned and executed Christians for refusing to
worship roman deities
• Christianity a world religion. Christianity grew worldwide because
o Embraced all people
o Gave hope to the powerless
o Appealed to those who were repelled by the extravagances of imperial
Rome
o Offered a personal relationship with a loving god
o Promised eternal life after death
• (30) The edict of Milan was issued by Constantine, and in this he declared
Christianity to be one of the religions approved by the emperor. He announced an
end to the persecution of Christians.
• (31)The emperor Theodosius was a roman emperor who made Christianity the
official religion in 380AD
• Section 4: Fall of the Roman Empire
• Marcus Aurelius was last great emperor of Pax Romana which ended 180AD, as a
result Rome began to decline
• Economic Reasons
o Hostile tribes outside the boundaries of the empire and pirates on the
Mediterranean Sea disrupted trade.
o Having reached their limit of expansion, Romans lacked new sources of
gold and silver. Desperate for revenue, the government raised taxes. It
started minting coins that contained less and less silver with the hope to
create more money.
o Suffered from inflation; a drastic drop in value of money coupled with rise
in prices. Agriculture faced serious problems. Overworked soil had lost its
fertility. Years of war had destroyed much farmland. Food shortages and
disease spread, and population declined.
o Widening gap between rich and poor. Increasingly impoverished western
empire.
• Political/Military reasons
 o Roman military in disarray by 3rd century. Roman soldiers had become
less disciplined and loyal. They gave their allegiance not to Rome but to
their commanders who fought for the throne.
o To defend empire the government began to recruit mercenaries, foreign
soldiers who fought for money. Felt little sense of loyalty to the empire.
o Feelings of loyalty weakened among average citizens, causing them to
lose their sense of patriotism.
o Threat from northern European tribes, low funds for defense
o Political office seen as burden not reward
o Military interference in politics
o Civil war and unrest
o Division of empire
o Moving of capital to Byzantine
• Social reasons
o Decline of interest in public affairs
o Low confidence in empire
o Disloyalty, lack of patriotism, corruption
o Contrast between rich and poor
o Decline in population due to disease and food shortage
• Emperors attempt at reform. Diocletian, an army leader became the new emperor.
He divided the empire into Greek speaking east (Greece, Anatolia, Syria, and
Egypt) and Latin speaking west (Italy, Gaul, Britain, and Spain).
• After his death civil war broke out and four rivals competed for power,
Constantine being one of them.
• Constantine secured control of both east and west and restored the concept of a
single ruler. He moved the capital from Rome to the greek city of Byzantine, now
in Turkey. The new capital was located on Bosporus Strait, strategically located
for trade and defense purposes on a crossroad between west and east. City
renamed Constantinople.
• The western empire crumbles.
• Western roman empire eventually collapsed because of
o Worsening internal problems
o Separation from wealthier eastern part
o Outside invasion
o