Ancient Rome

4. According to the Roman legend, Romulus was the founder of Rome and Remus was his twin brother. Their story begins with their grandfather Numitor, king of the ancient Italian city of Alba Longa, was deposed by his brother Amulius. Numitor's daughter, Rhea Silvia, was made a Vestal Virgin by Amulius - this means that she was made a priestess of the godess Vesta and forbidden to marry. Nevertheless, Mars, the god of war, fell in love with her and she gave birth to twin sons. Amulius, fearing that the boys would grow up to overthrow him, had them placed in a trough and thrown into the River Tiber. At that time the river was in flood, and when the waters fell, the trough, still containing the two boys, came ashore. They were found by a she-wolf who, instead of killing them, looked after them and fed them with her milk. A woodpecker also brought them food, for the woodpecker, like the wolf, was sacred to Mars. Later the twins where found by Faustulus, the king's shepherd. He took them home to his wife and the two adopted them, calling them Romulus and Remus. They grew up as bold and strong young men, laeding a warlike band of shephards. One day Remus was captured and brought before Numitor for punishment. Numitor noticing how unlike a shepherd's son he was, questioned him and before long realized who he was. Romulus and Remus than rose against Amulius, killed him and restored the kingdom to their grandfather. Deciding to found a town of their own, Romulus and Remus chose the place where the she-wolf had nursed them. Romulus began to build walls on the Palatine Hill, but Remus jeered at them because they were so low. He leaped over them to prove this, and Romulus in anger killed him. Romulus continued the building of the new city, naming it Roma (Rome) after his own name. It's first citizens were outlaws and fugitives, to whom Romulus gave the settlement on the Capitoline Hill. Ther were however not enough wives for all these men, and so Romulus decided to steal women from the Sabines, an Italian tribe. He there proclaimed a festival and invited many Sabines to it. While the attention of the men was elsewhere Romulus' men rushed in and carried off the women. This was the famous "Rape (carrying off) of the Sabine women", which later became a subject for painters. The Sabine man where furious and, led by their king Titus Tatius, made war on Romulus. When the fighting had reached its peak the Sabine women, who had grown fond of their Roman husbands, rushed between the ranks and begged both sides to make peace. So the battle was stopped, Romulus and Titus Tatius ruled together over the two peoples until Titus Tatius was killed in battle. For the rest of his life Romulus ruled alone, proving himself a great leader in peace and war. He did not die but disappeared one day in a violent storm. The Romans believing he had been taken up to heaven worshipped him under the name of Quirinus. It seems unlkely that any part of this legend is true. Almost certainly it is a copy of a Greek tale, invented to explain the name of Rome and certain customs. For instance Roman brides were taken from their families on their wedding days with a pretence of force, and this probably accounts for the story of the Sabine women. According to the Roman legend, Romulus was the founder of Rome and Remus was his twin brother. Their story begins with their grandfather Numitor, king of the ancient Italian city of Alba Longa, was deposed by his brother Amulius. Numitor's daughter, Rhea Silvia, was made a Vestal Virgin by Amulius - this means that she was made a priestess of the godess Vesta and forbidden to marry. Nevertheless, Mars, the god of war, fell in love with her and she gave birth to twin sons. Amulius, fearing that the boys would grow up to overthrow him, had them placed in a trough and thrown into the River Tiber. At that time the river was in flood, and when the waters fell, the trough, still containing the two boys, came ashore. They were found by a she-wolf who, instead of killing them, looked after them and fed them with her milk. A woodpecker also brought them food, for the woodpecker, like the wolf, was sacred to Mars. Later the twins where found by Faustulus, the king's shepherd. He took them home to his wife and the two adopted them, calling them Romulus and Remus. They grew up as bold and strong young men, laeding a warlike band of shephards. One day Remus was captured and brought before Numitor for punishment. Numitor noticing how unlike a shepherd's son he was, questioned him and before long realized who he was. Romulus and Remus than rose against Amulius, killed him and restored the kingdom to their grandfather. Deciding to found a town of their own, Romulus and Remus chose the place where the she-wolf had nursed them. Romulus began to build walls on the Palatine Hill, but Remus jeered at them because they were so low. He leaped over them to prove this, and Romulus in anger killed him. Romulus continued the building of the new city, naming it Roma (Rome) after his own name. It's first citizens were outlaws and fugitives, to whom Romulus gave the settlement on the Capitoline Hill. Ther were however not enough wives for all these men, and so Romulus decided to steal women from the Sabines, an Italian tribe. He there proclaimed a festival and invited many Sabines to it. While the attention of the men was elsewhere Romulus' men rushed in and carried off the women. This was the famous "Rape (carrying off) of the Sabine women", which later became a subject for painters. The Sabine man where furious and, led by their king Titus Tatius, made war on Romulus. When the fighting had reached its peak the Sabine women, who had grown fond of their Roman husbands, rushed between the ranks and begged both sides to make peace. So the battle was stopped, Romulus and Titus Tatius ruled together over the two peoples until Titus Tatius was killed in battle. For the rest of his life Romulus ruled alone, proving himself a great leader in peace and war. He did not die but disappeared one day in a violent storm. The Romans believing he had been taken up to heaven worshipped him under the name of Quirinus. It seems unlkely that any part of this legend is true. Almost certainly it is a copy of a Greek tale, invented to explain the name of Rome and certain customs. For instance Roman brides were taken from their families on their wedding days with a pretence of force, and this probably accounts for the story of the Sabine women.

7. Etruscans Conquer Romeca.600 BCE The Romans adopt Etruscan culture: The Etruscan Alphabet Art (sculpture, pottery, frescoes, etc) Gods / Goddesses (polytheistic religion) building techniques (including the arch) Rome under the Etruscans resembled a Greek city. Like Greek cities, it had a senate: an advisory council of elders who were mainly patricians. Rome's most important temple and meeting place was a building like a Greek acropolis, called the capitol. The capitol had a Greek-like public assembly called the comitia - where plebeians were a minority and outvoted. Rome stood at crossroads of major trade routes and was a major center of trade. It had an urban center, approximately one mile wide and four miles long, with paved streets, impressive buildings, and sewers. Under the Etruscans, Roman crafts grew. From the Etruscans the Romans borrowed vase styles and the use of bronze. From the Etruscans they borrowed religious practices, including reading the future by examining the livers of sacrificed animals. From the Etruscans the Romans acquired a twelve-month calendar, and they acquired the use of a personal first name that through Rome was to become the first name and surname commonly used among Europeans. The Romans learned from the Etruscans what Etruscans had learned from the Greeks: the growing of grapes and olives. The Roman alphabet was perhaps an Etruscan adaptation of the Greek alphabet. And from the Etruscans, Rome's aristocracy acquired a familiarity with military organization that included a unit called a legion, which warred in phalanx positions like Greek hoplites.Rome under the Etruscans resembled a Greek city. Like Greek cities, it had a senate: an advisory council of elders who were mainly patricians. Rome's most important temple and meeting place was a building like a Greek acropolis, called the capitol. The capitol had a Greek-like public assembly called the comitia - where plebeians were a minority and outvoted. Rome stood at crossroads of major trade routes and was a major center of trade. It had an urban center, approximately one mile wide and four miles long, with paved streets, impressive buildings, and sewers. Under the Etruscans, Roman crafts grew. From the Etruscans the Romans borrowed vase styles and the use of bronze. From the Etruscans they borrowed religious practices, including reading the future by examining the livers of sacrificed animals. From the Etruscans the Romans acquired a twelve-month calendar, and they acquired the use of a personal first name that through Rome was to become the first name and surname commonly used among Europeans. The Romans learned from the Etruscans what Etruscans had learned from the Greeks: the growing of grapes and olives. The Roman alphabet was perhaps an Etruscan adaptation of the Greek alphabet. And from the Etruscans, Rome's aristocracy acquired a familiarity with military organization that included a unit called a legion, which warred in phalanx positions like Greek hoplites.

11. Consequences of Freedom The Romans lost trade with the Etruscans and with Greek colonies in southern Italy. What little there had been in imports ended. Rome's plebeian merchants and craftsmen suffered. Rome experienced economic depression and grain shortages

12. Rome Becomes a Republic In 509 BCE, a group of Roman nobles, who were fed up with their Etruscan king, Tarquin, drove him from Rome and into early retirement. Leading patrician families among the Romans took power and ruled as members of the Senate. Without a king, Rome had become a republic. The Senate, or council of elders, had long been accustomed to watching developments and advising the king at his request, and now the Senate was ready to serve as the supreme organ of government. What the Senate created would develop into a model in some regards for those founding the United States of America. It was common among the nobility of Greek cities in southern Italy to choose one among them as an executive - a president. And in place of a king, the Senate chose not one but two as executive administrators in order to avoid the unreliability of a single administrator. Each executive was a patrician, and each was called a consul. Each was to serve one-year - as among the Greeks - and each was given the power to veto a move by the other. The selection of the consuls had to be ratified by an assembly of clan leaders (the Comitia Curiata). And, as leaders of the Senate, the consuls decided who would be promoted within the Senate. The consuls could declare an emergency and acquire absolute power for six months. But the consuls' powers were limited in that they could not declare war. War was thought too important to be left to two men. Declaring war would be a prerogative of the Senate. But the consuls would be commanders-in-chief of the military, including the power to have soldiers executed for lack of discipline. And during war, if it was time for elections and both consuls were away on military missions, the Senate could appoint a dictator to preside over the elections. When there was no war the consuls were occupied with city administration, public finances, and civil and criminal justice. By now, apparently, the crime of murder was no longer dealt with by one's clan but by the state. The consuls could sentence citizens to death, but citizens had the right to appeal such sentences before a special assembly of plebeians.Rome Becomes a Republic In 509 BCE, a group of Roman nobles, who were fed up with their Etruscan king, Tarquin, drove him from Rome and into early retirement. Leading patrician families among the Romans took power and ruled as members of the Senate. Without a king, Rome had become a republic. The Senate, or council of elders, had long been accustomed to watching developments and advising the king at his request, and now the Senate was ready to serve as the supreme organ of government. What the Senate created would develop into a model in some regards for those founding the United States of America. It was common among the nobility of Greek cities in southern Italy to choose one among them as an executive - a president. And in place of a king, the Senate chose not one but two as executive administrators in order to avoid the unreliability of a single administrator. Each executive was a patrician, and each was called a consul. Each was to serve one-year - as among the Greeks - and each was given the power to veto a move by the other. The selection of the consuls had to be ratified by an assembly of clan leaders (the Comitia Curiata). And, as leaders of the Senate, the consuls decided who would be promoted within the Senate. The consuls could declare an emergency and acquire absolute power for six months. But the consuls' powers were limited in that they could not declare war. War was thought too important to be left to two men. Declaring war would be a prerogative of the Senate. But the consuls would be commanders-in-chief of the military, including the power to have soldiers executed for lack of discipline. And during war, if it was time for elections and both consuls were away on military missions, the Senate could appoint a dictator to preside over the elections. When there was no war the consuls were occupied with city administration, public finances, and civil and criminal justice. By now, apparently, the crime of murder was no longer dealt with by one's clan but by the state. The consuls could sentence citizens to death, but citizens had the right to appeal such sentences before a special assembly of plebeians.

13. The Roman Republic (509 B.C. � 27 B.C.) STRUGGLE FOR POWER: CLASS CONFLICT Patricians- wealthy landowners who held most of the power: inherited power and social status Plebeians- (Plebs) common farmers, artisans and merchants who made up the majority of the population: can vote, but can�t rule Tribunes- elected representatives who protect plebeians� political rights.

14. The Roman Republic (509 B.C. � 27 B.C.) THE TWELVE TABLES 451 B.C., officials carve Roman laws on twelve tablets and hung in Forum. Laws confirm right of all free citizens to protection of the law Become the basis for later Roman law

20. Roman Roads:  Their road system is one of the Romans� greatest achievements

21. The Roman road system

22. Military Organization:The Roman Army

23. The Roman Army All citizens were required to serve Army was powerful: Organization & fighting skill Legion- military unit of 5,000 infantry (foot soldiers) supported by cavalry (horseback)

24. Rome Spreads its Power Romans defeat Etruscans in north and Greek city-states in south Treatment of Conquered: Forge alliances Offer citizenship By 265 B.C., Rome controls Italian peninsula

25. Rome�s Commercial Network Rome establishes a large trading network Access to Mediterranean Sea provides many trade routes

26. Military Organization:The Punic Wars

27. Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.) Three Wars between Rome and Carthage 1st Punic War- Rome gains control of Sicily & western Mediterranean Sea.

28. Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.) 2nd Punic War- Carthaginian General Hannibal�s �surprise� attack through Spain & France 60,000 soldiers and 60 elephants Romans experience severe losses, but eventually ward off attacks & invade North Africa

30. Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.) 3rd Punic War- Rome seizes Carthage Scipio- Roman Strategist Conquered people sold into slavery

31. Do you think the Roman Republic owed its success more to its form of government, or its army? Why?How does Rome�s rise to power relate to modern efforts to gain power and authority?