Western Civilization I HIS-101

1. Western Civilization IHIS-101 Unit 5 - The Roman Republic

2. Geography of Italy • Three main regions: • Po Valley • Latium • Campania • Ideal for farming • Large fertile plains • More agriculturally productive than Greece • Able to support a larger population • No good natural barriers • Alps to the north had numerous passes • Apennines Mountains were not as high as the Alps • Miles of coastline on three sides

3. Geography of Italy • Best harbors were located on the western side of Italy • Italy had some mineral resources • These were enough to attract outsiders • Not enough to provide sufficient wealth to defend the region • People were attracted to Italy • But natives could not afford to protect themselves • By first millennium BCE, Italy was inhabited by: • Latin speaking people on the plain of Latium • To the north were the Etruscans • To the south were the Greeks

4. Italy • (c.500 BCE)

5. Etruscans • Etruscan settled in the late Bronze Age • Their origins are unclear • Cannot translate Etruscan language yet • Built towns and cities in north-central Italy • Most famous city was Rome • They also built the first roads in the area • By 650 BCE, dominant cultural and economic power in Italy • They were skilled artisans, metal workers, and architects • Government was a thalassocracy • Their influence spread throughout the western Mediterranean

6. Etruscans • Women had many rights • They participated in public events including politics and sporting events • By 480 BCE, they were on the decline • They were challenged by the Greeks in southern Italy • By 400 BCE, they were limited to Etruria • Early Rome was heavily influenced by the Etruscans • Used Etruscan architecture in the building of their cities • Enjoyed gladiatorial combat • Wore the Etruscan style toga and cloak • Latin alphabet was based on the Greek-derived Etruscan one • Adopted Etruscan-modified hoplite warfare

7. The Etruscans

8. Greeks in Italy • Greek colonization of Italy (750-550 BCE) • Settled in southern Italy and Sicily • They built fortified cities with harbors for trade • Influenced Rome • Many philosophers resided in Italy at one point • Included Plato, Archimedes, and • Roman religion similar to the Greeks • Rome became the link to Near East • It will develop as the link between Greek and Near East culture and the rest of Europe

9. Ancient Rome

10. Rise of Rome • Romans settled in Latium around 2nd millennium BCE • Region had many advantages • Fertile, broad, flat plain • Access to the Tiber River • Advantages of Rome: • Located 12 miles inland on the Tiber River • One of the first accessible crossings of the river • On the land path between the Apennines to the sea • Far enough inland to be safe from sea attackers • Built on the Seven Hills

11. Rise of Rome • “Latin Rights” • A series of rights between all Latin communities • Commercium – All contracts were good throughout Latium • Connubium – Latins could intermarry with legal recognition • Migratio – Latins could migrate and transfer citizenship after one year • Romulus and Remus • Founded the city according to legen • Sons of Mars • Had been set adrift on the Tiber River as babies and raised by wolves • Romulus eventually killed Remus and became the sole king of Rome

12. Remus and Romulus

13. Regal Period (753-509 BCE) • Regal Period (753-509 BCE) • Early Roman government was a monarchy • There was a senate made up of the head of clans • Six Etruscan kings • Helped transform Rome into an urban city • Were city planners and organizers • Built walls surrounding the city • Tarquin the Proud (534-509 BCE) • Last Roman king • Took the throne by murdering the previous king • Ruled as an absolute despot and had many senators executed

14. Regal Period (753-509 BCE) • Rape of Lucretia (510 BCE) • Tarquin’s son raped Lucretia • She was considered to be a “virtuous” Roman wife • She committed suicide rather than “live in dishonor” • Led to overthrow Tarquin • Probably a patriotic myth • Shows Roman hatred of the Etruscan monarchs • Roman never adopted monarchy again

15. Western Mediterranean (c. 509 BCE)

16. Roman Republic (509-264 BCE) • Characterized by military expansion and constant warfare • At first they were on the defensive • As time went on they began conquering their neighbors • Newly conquered territories were required to provide soldiers • Many were brought under the “Latin Rights” • Also received many of the same benefits of Roman citizens • Roman government was practical • It evolved with new circumstances • It was a “government on the fly” • Three branches: Imperium, Senate, and Popular Assemblies

17. Imperium • Imperium • Executive branch • Means “right to command” • Originally was two consuls • With expansion, more positions were added • These included praetors, proconsuls, and propraetors • Consul • Highest position with imperium • Responsible for the overall administration of the government, military, and religion • Positions limited by election and one year terms • Served in Senate after term ended

18. Imperium • Praetors • Added in 366 BCE • Governed Rome when the Consuls were away in battle • Handled civil law of the Republic • Proconsuls and Propraetors • Acted as provincial governors • Were former consuls or praetors • Temporary Dictators • In case of an emergency • Only supposed to last for six months

19. Senate and Popular Assemblies • Senate • Approximately 300 elders • A lifetime appointment • Not a legislative body until 3rd century BCE • Counseled the Imperium • Comitia Centuriata (Centuriate Assembly) • Made up of members of the Roman army • Wealthiest always had the majority • Elected the Consuls and passed laws • Concilium Plebis (Plebian Assembly) • Not added until 471 BCE • More democratic assembly made up only of Plebeians

20. A Roman with imagines

21. Roman Society • Paterfamilias • Roman society stressed family • Head of the family • Had complete power over the rest of the family • Many families shared the same name • They would also group together in social units known as clans • Rise of Patronage • In early Rome, not everybody enjoyed the benefits of citizenship • Thus did not have protection under the law • Would seek protection from a citizen family

22. Roman Society • Patronage and Clientage • The word “patron” is derived from pater meaning “father” • “Client” is derived from cluere “to obey” • Citizen family would act as the patron and provide aid • Client would provide labor, military assistance, and votes in the assembly • Roman society was divided into two main classes: Patricians and Plebeians • Plebeians faced discrimination and unfair treatment • Forced to serve in the army but could not hold office • Patricians and plebeians were not allowed to intermarry

23. Roman Families and Society

24. Struggle of the Orders • Struggle of the Orders (494-287 BCE) • Series of struggles by the plebeians to gain more political rights • Started with plebeians acquiring large amounts of wealth • Secession from Rome (494 BCE) • Plebeians seceded from Rome until they received more rights • They made up the military • Patricians were forced to compromise • Tribunes of the Plebes • Started with two • Sacrosanct position • Were able to protect any plebeian from arrest by patrician magistrates

25. Struggle of the Orders • Concilium Plebis was added in 474 BCE • Called by the Tribunes • Only plebeians could serve on it • Laws passed only affected the plebeian class • Laws still had to be approved by the Senate • Plebeians unfamiliar with legal proceedings • Decemviri (“ten men”) • Commission to help clarify new legal codes in 452 BCE • They were all members of the patrician class • Published the new legal code for the plebeians

26. Struggle of the Orders • Twelve Tables of Law (450 BCE) • New laws maintained the old traditions including debt slavery • Forbade the intermarriage between patricians and plebeians • Many of the plebeians were unhappy with these laws • Pushed for greater reforms and more political equality • Lex Canuleia (445 BCE) • Allowed intermarriage between patricians and plebeians • Lex Licinia Sextia (367 BCE) • Allowed one of the two consuls to be a plebeian • Only five plebeians were elected between 366-340 BCE • Ended patrician monopoly over Senate

27. Struggle of the Orders • Lex Genucia (342 BCE) • This allowed both consul positions to be held by plebeians • It also required that at least one had to be plebeian • Lex Hortensia (287 BCE) • All laws passed by the Concilium Plebis affected both plebeians and patricians • No longer required the approval of the Senate • Legally, all Roman citizens were now considered equal • Rise of Nobiles • A new elite class made up of the wealthy politicians • Republic never saw complete democracy

28. Roman Conquest of Italy

29. Nature of Roman Imperialism • Three stages of Roman imperialism: • Conquest of Italy • Conflict with Carthage and expansion into western Mediterranean • Conflict with the Hellenistic kingdoms and expansion into the eastern Mediterranean • Goal was not to conquer • Took advantage of the opportunities given to it • The more it expanded, the more threats • Involvement into even more conflicts • This led to more expansion • Not until the 2nd century BCE began to favor expansion • Increased the glory of Rome and economic benefits

30. Early Italian Campaigns (458–396 BC) • Roman was surrounded by potential enemies • To the north was the Etruscans • To the east and south were various Italian tribes and the Greeks • Latin communities challenged the city for leadership • Peace with Latin communities (493 BCE) • Republic made a defensive alliance • Lasted long enough so Rome could focus on Etruscans • Fall of Veii (396 BCE) • First major victory over Etruscans • City under siege for ten years

31. Celtic Invasion of Italy (390–387 BC) • Next threat came from the north • Invasion of the Celts (390-387 BCE) • Invaded northern Italy in 390 BCE • They were known as the Gauls to the Romans • Battle of Battle of Allia River (c. 390 BCE) • Led by Brennus, they defeated the 15,000 man Roman army • Chased them to Rome and sacked the city • Only left after the Romans were forced to pay an indemnity • Celts would be a problem for next 200 years • This is until they are defeated by Julius Caesar

32. Western Mediterranean (c. 348 BCE)

33. Conquest of Italy • Conquest of Italy began in 340 BCE • Latin Revolts (340-338 BCE • Latin communities revolted against Rome’s dominance • Romans easily crushed the rebellion by 338 BCE • Established complete supremacy over Latium • Roman Confederation • Included the defeated Latins • Three categories: full Roman citizens, municipal status, and allies • A state’s status could change • All states remained mostly autonomous • Only required to provide men for the Roman army

34. Conquest of Italy • Samnite Wars (343-290 BCE) • Samnites were from Campania • Rome was able to defeat them • Defeated other Italian groups as well (Etruscans and Umbrians) • Allowed Rome to expand its own territory • Again, these groups were allowed to be mostly autonomous • They had to provide men to the Roman army • Rome controlled their foreign policy • New territories were surrounded by Roman lands • Lands were confiscated by Rome • Roman veterans were encouraged to settle on these lands • If any territory proved disloyal, a Roman army would be sent in

35. Western Mediterranean (c. 279 BCE)

36. Conquest of Italy • Next threat is from the Greeks to the south • Pyrrhic War (280-275 BCE) • Greeks hired mercenaries to fight • One leader was King Pyrrhus of Epirus • Pyrrhus invaded in 280 BCE with 25,000 troops and 20 war elephants • He was able to defeat Rome twice at a huge cost • Rome had an endless supply of soldiers while Pyrrhus did not • “Another such victory and I shall be lost” (“Pyrrhic Victory”) • Romans defeated them in the third battle • These states were added to the Confederation • Provided naval assistance instead of army

37. Pyrrhic War (280-275 BCE) • In 264 BCE, Rome defeated the last Etruscans • Rome had control of all of Italy • Exception was the extreme northern region • Why was Rome so successful in its conquest of Italy? • Diplomacy • Punished disloyal states but rewarded loyal ones • Using opportunities to their advantage • Used these conquests as a way to increase their security • A practical sense of strategy • Created colonies in newly conquered regions • Built up roads between these settlements • Created a major communications network and an easy path to send their military if necessary

38. Carthage (c. 264 BCE)

39. Roman Conquest of the Mediterranean • Next biggest threat to Rome: Carthage • Settled by Phoenicians in the 9th century BCE • Was the richest and largest state in the Mediterranean • Had a monopoly on the western Mediterranean trade • Rome wanted to acquire Sicily • Most was under the control of the Carthaginians • Opportunity arose in 264 BCE • Involved the city of Messana • Under the control of the Mamertines • In 264 BCE, the city was besieged by Hiero, the King of Syracuse

40. King Hiero II of Syracuse (270-215 BC)

41. Clash With Carthage • Mamertines turned first to Carthage • Negotiated a settlement • Carthage would keep a garrison in Messana and stop Hiero • Mamertines then turned to Rome for an alliance • Reasons are unknown • Carthage saw this as a betrayal • Rome was at first hesitant • This was their first military expedition outside of Italy • It would ultimately lead to a class with Carthage • Messana was strategically important • Roman troops took the city easily • Carthage saw this as just cause for war

42. Sicily

43. First Punic War (264-241 BCE) • First Punic War (264-241 BCE) • Punic comes from the Latin word for Phoenician, punicus • Both sides attempted to take control of Sicily • Carthage used mercenaries to do most of their fighting • War included north Africa as well • Roman naval strategy • Rome knew it needed a good navy to win • Within two months they had over 100 ships • Rome knew the Carthaginian naval strategy • Responded with Roman “assault bridges” • Battle of Tunis (255 BCE) • Rome’s only major land defeat • Cavalry was outnumbered 8:1 plus Carthage had elephants

44. First Punic War (264-241 BCE) • Carthage’s problem • As the war went on, they were losing troops • Because they used mercenaries, they could not find enough to fill its ranks • Battle of Drepana (242 BCE) • Roman navy defeated the Carthaginians • Western Sicily under the control of Carthage surrendered • Carthage sued for peace in 241 BCE • Carthage gave up all rights to Sicily • Promised not attack Syracuse or her allies • Had to pay a large indemnity (22,000 silver talents = 66 tons of silver) over twenty years

45. First Punic War (264-241 BCE) • Roman Senate did not approve of the payments • Wanted 23,000 talents over ten years instead • Carthage was in a financial bind • It could not afford the indemnity and pay its soldiers • This led to a revolt by its mercenaries, known as the Mercenary War (240-238 BCE) • Rome took advantage of this • Seized Corsica and Sardinia in 238 BCE • Carthage could do nothing about it • According to legend, the leading Carthaginian general, HamilcarBarca, made his 9-year old son Hannibal swear that he would hate Rome forever

46. Hamilcar Barca • (c. 270–228 BCE)

47. Carthage Between Wars • Carthage turned its attentions to Iberia • Hamilcar hoped to gain riches to rebuild the army • Southern Iberia is rich with copper and silver mines • Provided enough revenue to make up for recent war losses • Also provided manpower for Carthage • Carthage could now rebuild its army • Treaty of Ebro (226 BCE) • Signed by both Carthage and Rome • Divided Iberia into respective spheres of influence using the Ebro River • In 221 BCE, Hamilcar was assassinated • He was replaced by his 25-year old son, Hannibal

48. Europe (c. 218 BCE)

49. Hannibal Barca • (247-183 BCE)

50. Second Punic War (218-201 BCE) • Leading up to war • In 219 BCE, Rome made an alliance with the city of Sanguntum • It was nervous about the growing power of Hannibal in Iberia • Hannibal attacked and lay siege to the city • Many citizens actually committed suicide • Rome did nothing in response • Second Punic War (218-201 BCE) • Hannibal decided to attack Rome directly • Had 75,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and 36 war elephants • First he gained control of the Pyrenees mountains region • Then he defeated the Gauls in southern France