AN02b3

Unit03: New Ideas of Organizing Society & Government

Ch.06

Timeline: 1st C. BCE - 4th C. CE

FS: Roman Civilization: Shaped and molded by Circumstances- Rise of an Empire
Main Idea: After 500 years of republican government, political and military circumstances within Roman
society undermine centuries of tradition and law. A successful policy of expansion made possible by the
training, discipline, and innovative tactics of the army, sow the seeds of the republic's collapse. The
fortunes of soldiers becomes increasingly tied to the general in command. Opportunistic commanders
take advantage of long-standing social unrest between Patrician and Plebeian to advance their own
cause. Often, that cause is the seizing of 'dictatorial' power (represented by the fasces).
CCSS

I. Military Reorganization (4th - 1st C. BCE)

The system of citizen-soldiery that came to Romes defense since the mythical days of Romulus
undergoes a drastic reorganization that reflects the increasing danger to the city-states survival and its
developing aspiration for empire building.
A. Military organization of citizenry.
B. Instituting Changes in Military Organization
1. Maniple vs. Phalanx
2. Legions (all figures are ~)
a. 10 Cohorts, Commanded by Tribunes
b. 51 Centuries (5 per Cohort, 6 in the Lead Cohort), Commanded by Centurions.
c. Lead Cohort = 6 Centuries of 160 Legionnaires each.
d. Remaining Cohorts = Centuries had 80 Legionnaires each.
C. Military Technology
1. Shield: Round, wooden, & leather sheathed vs. Scutum
2. Armor: Leather vest/ breast plate vs. Lorica Segmentata & Helmet
3. Weapon: Slashing or puncturing swords/ Spears vs. Gladius & Pilum
D. Gaius Marius and the Marian Reforms
1. Removed Property requirement for Legionnaires (refer to problem with Proletarii)
2. Increased Pay: Professionalization of Military
3. Standardized Training and Weaponry.
4. Government bares the cost.
5. Soldiers receive government pension & land grant.
6. Military service may lead to citizenship for non-Roman soldiers.
E. Use of Auxiliaries
II. Corruption & Crisis Contributes to the Concentration of Power (2nd - 1st C. BCE)
A. Tradition
1. The Fasces
2. Consular Rule
3. Pomerium
4. Tribunate (successor to the Assembly)
5. Military: Citizen-soldiers
B. Corruption of Tradition & Unwritten Rules
1. Usurping Delegated Authority (Plebeian Tribunate vs. Patrician Senate)
Tiberius & Gaius Gracchus (Brothers), as Tribunes, pushed forward political and land
reforms that empowered Plebeians and non-Roman allies politically and economically.
Senators (Patricians) angered by the reforms of Gaius, may have plotted his murder.
2. Marius' five consecutive consulships (~104-100 BCE)
3. Triumviri Authority
4. Rise of Proletarii (Expansion of Latifundia)

AN02b3

Unit03: New Ideas of Organizing Society & Government

Ch.06

C. Crisis: Civil Strife/ Wars (264 - 30 BCE)

1. Three Punic Wars, Hannibals Invasion and the conquest of the Mediterranean basin
(264 - 146 BCE)
2. Jurgurthine (Numidian) War (112-105 BCE)
3. Social War: Rome vs. Italian Allies. Peninsula under absolute Roman rule (91-88 BCE)
4. 1st Civil War: Lucius Sulla vs. Gaius Marius (88-87 BCE)
5. Slave Rebellion: Rome vs. Spartacus' Slave Army (73-71 BCE)
6. 1st Triumvirate- Pompei, Julius Caesar, Marcus Crassus
7. Julius Caesar's Quest for Consulship in Absentia
8. 2nd Civil War=> Julius Caesar vs. Pompei
9. Dictatorship awarded in Perpetuity => Caesar assassinated
10. 3rd Civil War=> Senate (Octavian), Mark Antony, and supporters of Julius Caesar
hunt for Caesars assassins.
11. 2nd Triumvirate=> Gaius Julius Octavianus (Octavian), Mark Antony, Marcus Lepidus
12. 4th Civil War=> Octavian vs. Mark Antony w/ Cleopatra. Rome conquers Egypt.
III. The Empire is Born ~27 BCE
A. Octavian given title of 'Augustus'
B. Future emperors take titles of Caesar and/ or Augustus.
IV. Summary Activity: TBA
Materials/Sources:Refer to the course calendar for additional materials, assignments and pertinent due dates.
Circumstance & Change (Mindmap)

SPQR: Movers & Shakers (Mindmap)

World History: Patterns of Interaction

Google Books: The Human Record. Volume 1, Fourth Edition. Rome Viewed from the Underworld

Slide Presentation