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Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome. And Early Christianity. The Beginnings. Legend has it: Founded in 753 B.C. by Romulus and Remus, twin sons of the god Mars and a Latin Princess. Abandoned on Tiber River as infants and raised by a she-wolf. In Reality:

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Ancient Rome

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  1. Ancient Rome And Early Christianity

  2. The Beginnings Legend has it: Founded in 753 B.C. by Romulus and Remus, twin sons of the god Mars and a Latin Princess. Abandoned on Tiber River as infants and raised by a she-wolf.

  3. In Reality: Rome developed because of strategic location and its fertile soil. Seven rolling hills at a curve on the Tiber River. Near the mid point of Mediterranean Sea.

  4. Earliest Settlers • Latins (1000 B.C.) • Built original settlement at Rome • The first Romans • Greeks (750-600 B.C.) • 50 colonies on southern Italy & Sicily • Closer contact with Greek civilization • Etruscans (600-509 B.C.) • Native to northern Italy • Strongly influenced Roman civilization • Writing, alphabet, religious ideas

  5. Etruscan King 600 B.C. • Grew to city nearly 500 square miles • Rich agricultural land • Construction of Rome’s first temples and public buildings • The Forum: heart of Roman political life • Tarquin the Proud – last king • Harsh tyrant • Driven from power in 509 B.C. by Roman aristocrats

  6. Ruins of the Roman Forum

  7. “Res Publica” • A form of government in which power rests with citizens • Vote to select their leaders • Citizenship with voting rights = only to free born male citizens

  8. Struggle for Power • Patricians – aristocratic land owners • Had most of power • Inherited their power and social status • Plebeians – common farmers, artisans and merchants • Majority • Right to vote but barred from holding important government positions

  9. The Twelve Tables 451B.C. • Plebeians forced the creation of written laws • Laws carved on 12 Tablets (Tables) and hung in the forum. • Established the idea that all citizens had the protection of the law.

  10. Government under the Republic • Executive = 2 Consuls • Commanded army and directed government • Power limited • Term of one year • Could not be elected again for 10 years • One consul could overrule or veto the other

  11. Legislative • The senate: aristocratic branch • 300 members from upper class • For life • The assemblies • Centuriate Assembly – citizen soldiers, life • Tribal Assembly- organized by plebeians, elected tribunes and made laws for common people • Judicial • Praetors, judges chosen for one year by Centuriate

  12. Dictator • Appointed by republic in times of crisis • Absolute power to make laws and command the army • Six months • The Roman Army • All citizens who owned land required to serve • Legions: large military units

  13. Roman Legion

  14. Rome conquers Italy • By 265 B.C. masters of all Italy except Po Valley • Treatment of conquered territory • Neighboring Latins along Tiber = full citizens • Farther from Rome = Roman citizenship but no vote • All others = allies of Rome • Rome did not interfere in their affairs as long as sent soldiers to Roman army and did not make treaties with other states.

  15. From city-state to Italian Empire

  16. The Punic Wars264-146 B.C. • Came into conflict with Carthage over control of the Mediterranean • 264 B.C. went to war with Carthage • Fought 3 wars

  17. First Punic War • Lasted 23 years • Ended in defeat for Carthage • Rome took island of Sicily – first province overseas

  18. Second Punic War • 218 B.C. • Mastermind: Carthaginian general named Hannibal • 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, 60 elephants • Spain across France and through the Alps • Invaded northern Italy • Inflicted enormous losses on Romans • Stood firm and prevented Hannibal from capturing Rome

  19. Hannibal crossing the Alps

  20. Third Punic War • Scipio – daring military leader • Devised a plan to attack Carthage • Hannibal had to return to defend his native city • 202 B.C. Romans finally defeat Hannibal • 146 B.C. Carthage set afire and inhabitants sold into slavery • Territory made new province of Africa

  21. Rome Controls Mediterranean

  22. Expansion = Problems • Widening gap between rich and poor • Huge estates called latifundia worked by slaves (captured people from wars) • Small farmers could not compete • Many became homeless and jobless • Joined ranks of urban poor (1/4 of Roman society) • Discontent among slaves & resentment among the poor

  23. The Republic Collapses • Period of civil wars • 60 B.C. Julius Caesar joins forces with Crassus (wealthy Roman) and Pompey (popular general) • Next 10 years rule as triumvirate • 44 B.C. Caesar named dictator for life

  24. Julius Caesar“absolute ruler” • Granted citizenship to many provinces • Expanded the senate • Created jobs • Started colonies so landless could own land • Increase pay for soldiers • Rivals have him killed 44 B.C.

  25. Second Triumvirate • Caesar’s adopted son Octavian joins forces with Mark Antony and Lepidus • Take control in 43 B.C. and rule for 10 years • Jealousy and violence • Mark Antony meets Cleopatra of Egypt • Octavian defeats combined forces of Antony & Cleopatra 31 B.C.

  26. Antony & Cleopatra

  27. Augustus“exalted one” • Octavian becomes unchallenged ruler of Rome • Takes title of Augustus

  28. PaxRomana“Roman Peace” • 27 B.C – 180 A.D. • 207 years • 3 million square miles • 60-80 million people • 1 million in Rome

  29. Sound Government under Augustus • Augustus Rome’s ablest emperor • Stabilized the frontier • Glorified Rome with splendid public buildings • Set up a lasting government • Set up a civil service • Civil servants administered the empire

  30. Honorable Mention(5 Good Emperors) • Nerva 96-98 AD • Trajan 98-117 AD • Hadrian 117-138 AD • Antoninus Pius 138-161 AD • Marcus Aurelius 161-180 AD

  31. Dishonorable Mention(3 Bad Emperors) • Caligula 37-41 AD (Crazy) = assassinated • Nero 54-68 AD (Crazier) = suicide • Domitian

  32. Decline of the Roman Empire Marcus Aurelius was the last of the Five Good Emperors Reasons for decline: 1) economic 2) military 3) political

  33. Economic • Lost the ability to feed the population • Hostile tribes outside the empire and pirates on the Mediterranean disrupted trade • Wealthy spent $ on luxury goods drained the money • Inflation : value of $ goes and prices go • Food shortages • Disease spread and population declined

  34. Military • Germanic tribes from north • Discipline and loyalty collapse; soldiers loyal to commanders and not Rome • Recruit mercenaries (paid soldiers from other countries)

  35. Political • Lost patriotic feelings • Indifferent to empire’s fate • Lack of interest in holding office • Loyalty a key problem

  36. Emperors Attempt Reform Diocletian • Absolute ruler • Claimed to be descendant of gods • Divided empire into East and West • Greek speaking East • Latin speaking West • Limited personal freedoms • Doubled size of army; hired German mercenaries • Fixed prices on goods • Viewed Christians as threat and persecuted them

  37. Constantine • Moved capital in 330 A.D. to Byzantium (what is now Turkey) • Power shifts from West to East • The East will survive and the West will fall after death of Constantine • Renamed city Constantinople

  38. Invaders Overrun the Western Empire • Germanic invasions • Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Angles, Saxons, Burgundians, Alemanni, Vandals • Fleeing the Huns (Mongol nomads from central Asia)

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