Chapter 6 Ancient Rome and Early Christianity

1. Chapter 6 Ancient Rome and Early Christianity

3. Section 1: The Roman Republic • The Italian Peninsula • Centrally located in the Mediterranean. • Mountains and highlands comprised ¾ of the terrain with much of the remainder containing rich dark soil. • Cut off from Europe by the Alps to the north. • Gallia Cis-Alpina and Gallia Trans-Alpina. • Early Peoples • Probably inhabited early on by Neolithic peoples who were semi-nomadic. • Indo-Europeans • Multiple migrations of Indo-European peoples entered into Italy. • Umbrians- north • Latins-central plains called Latium • Oscans- south • The Etruscans • Scholars are uncertain of the origins of the Etruscans who did not speak an indo-European language. • Borrowed the Greek alphabet but largely un-deciphered. • Very expressive art and sculpture.

4. Probably had a society with wealthy overlords, aristocratic priests, peasant class, and a slave labor force. • Developed what would become the gladiatorial games. • The Rise of Rome • Ab Urbe Condita – “From the founding of the city” • Takes place around 753 B.C. • Legend of Romulus and Remus • Communities of the Seven Hills of Rome unite to form what become the city. • Etruscan Rule • After a period of rule by Latin Kings, the Etruscans gain control of the city. • During the reign of the Tarquin Kings, the Latins learned to build with brick and to use tile roofs. • The swampy lowland was drained and city streets were built as well as the center known as the Forum. • Economic and political center of Rome. • Under the rule of the Tarquin the Proud, the people revolted and expelled the Tarquins from the city. • Legend of the Rape of Lucretia

5. Fasces: symbol of authority • Social Groups • Patricians – noble class that traditionally controlled the Senate. • Plebeians – wealthy middle class, merchants, farmers, and workers. • All had the right to vote ( at different degrees) and had to pay taxes and serve in the military. • Plebeians could not hold public office like the Patricians. • The Roman Republic • The Patricians organized a legislative and judicial branch. • The Executive Branch consisted of the Consulship. • Two consuls selected from the Senate, served for a one year term. • Each had the power to veto the other. • Responsible for overseeing other officials such as praetors and censors. • Dictators: Temporarily elected during times of crisis. • Senate: 300 patricians elected for life. • Assembly of the Centuries: Elected from the plebian class but less powerful than the Senate.

6. Plebeians against Patricians • 494 B.C.- Plebeians succeed from the city in order to gain more political power. • Tribunes:chosen representatives elected by the Assembly of the Tribes. Protected by the law and could veto government decisions. • 451 B.C.: The Twelve Tables/ written laws located in the Forum. • By 287 B.C. plebeians could reach high public office and make laws in the Assembly of the Tribes. • Religion • Fortune telling; augury, soothsayers • Heavily influenced by the Greeks. • Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Pluto, Saturn, Neptune… • Ancestor worship. Vesta: hearth • Family • Large extended family. • Pater Familias: head of the household/ absolute authority. • Women generally had more freedoms than Greek women. • Strict discipline of children and family members. • Thrift, discipline, self-sacrifice, devotion to family, honor, and duty were traditional Roman values.

7. Section 2 Expansion and Crisis • Roman Legions • Male citizens who owned land had to serve in the military. • The Romans adapted the Greek phalanx formation. • Legions: 6,000 men • Smaller divisions of 60 – 120 soldiers. • Strict discipline. (Decimate) • Conquered peoples were treated well if they cooperated. Offered various forms of citizenship. • Coloniae: permanent military settlements/colonies • Roads built to link colonies/trade routes. • Roman against Carthage • By 300 B.C. Carthage was the most powerful Mediterranean city. Known to the Romans as Punici. • The First Punic War • Carthage threatened to seize the Strait of Messina. • Carthage had naval superiority forcing the Romans to build a navy of their own. • Grappling hooks to board the enemy ships. • Romans win forcing Carthage to pay a huge indemnity.

8. The Second Punic War • 221B.C. Hannibal became the Carthaginian General in Spain. Father- Hamilcar – Oath • Captured a Roman allied city. • Marched 40,000 soldiers and 40 elephants across Gaul, over the Alps and into Italy. • Lost half of his forces and most of his elephants. • Defeated Roman legions at every turn nearly destroying the entire army at Cannae. • Romans regrouped under Scipio. • Scipio attacked Carthage to protect Rome. • Defeated Hannibal at Zama in 202 B.C. • Scipio Africanus – Forced yet another indemnity and forced Carthage to hand over most of their navy. • The Third Punic War • Carthage regained strength despite the indemnity. • Rome wanted to eliminate Carthage once and for all. • Started another war by convincing an ally to attack Carthage. • 146 B.C.: Carthage was burned, population sold into slavery, and fields sowed with salt. • Rome now controlled the Western Mediterranean.

9. The Republic in Crisis • Expansion caused problems in governing the provinces. • Nearly all of the Mediterranean was under Roman rule or in friendly alliance with Rome. • Mare Nostrum – “Our Sea” • Roman government designed to manage a city-state, not an empire. • Exploiting the provinces • Provinces paid tribute to Rome. • Proconsuls were appointed by the Senate to govern the provinces. • Often accepted bribes and stole from the treasuries. • Tax collectors also took money from the provinces. • Provinces often rebelled forcing the Romans to place standing garrisons and legions in the area. • Romans put down Jewish revolt and sacked Jerusalem in 70 A.D. • Changing the Countryside • Latifundia – plantations/ slave labor • Produced grains at a cheaper price. • Forced small farmers of the farms and into the cities. • Latifundia captured the market in grains, olives, grapes, and livestock.

10. Crowding in the Cities • Landless farmers enter the cities looking for jobs that were already taken by slaves. Equites – “knights” wealthy merchants/ not nobility. • Reformers and Generals • The Gracchi • Tiberius Gracchus – grandson of Scipio – elected to the Tribunate in 133. B.C. • Passed agrarian legislation to give land to the poor despite opposition from the Senate. • Murdered along with 300 supporters by angry Patricians. • Gaius Gracchus – brother – elected Tribune 10 yrs. later. • Passed laws giving land to the poor and organized programs to sell grain at cheaper prices. • Also murdered in a riot organized by his opponents. • Marius and Sulla • Gaius Marius was elected Consul in 107 B.C. • Provided jobs in the army. • Paid soldiers and promised them land on retirement. • Soldiers owed allegiance to the General not the State. • Lucius Cornelius Sulla – Arguing over control of the eastern armies, used his army to attack Rome and push Marius into exile.

11. The First Triumvirate • Gnaeus Pompey and Marcus Licinius Crassus elected consuls in 70 B.C. • Gained support of Julius Caesar in 60 B.C. forming a Triumvirate. • Caesar took control of the legions in Gaul and soon conquered the Celts as he pushed further north into Europe. • Crassus killed in battle in 53 B.C. • Pompey and the Senate recall Caesar and force him to leave his legions north of the Rubicon river. • Caesar crosses the Rubicon with his soldiers and within two months captured all of Italy and drove Pompey and his allies out and finally defeated him. • Julius Caesar • 45 B.C. – Caesar took the title of Dictator for Life. • Gave jobs to the unemployed, public land to the poor, granted citizenship to many people in the provinces. • Julian calendar. • Despite great popularity among the people, Senators led by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius assassinated Caesar on his way to the Senate.

12. End of the Republic • Caesar’s grandnephew Octavian joined with Marc Antony and Marcus Lepidus and formed a Second Triumvirate and defeated the armies of Caesar's assassins in 42 B.C.. • Octavian took command of Italy, Antony ruled in Greece, and Lepidus took control of North Africa. • Octavian forced Lepidus into retirement and convinced the Romans that Antony wanted to invade Italy with his and Cleopatra’s army. • Octavian soundly defeated Marc Antony’s navy at the battle of Actium in Greece. A year later, Antony and Cleopatra both committed suicide to avoid capture. • Octavian became the sole ruler of Rome.