Rome and the Romans

1. Rome and the Romans Rome and the Romans

2. Roman Republic • 5th-2nd centuries B.C.E. • Roman citizens fought war after war in Italy until they became the most powerful state • Rome = major power

3. Roman Republic • Two principal motivations dominated Roman imperialism under the Republic: fear and ambition • national security led to pre-emptive attacks against “enemies” who might attack Rome • Everyone longed to capture wealth on foreign military campaigns • Poor soldiers: hoped their gains would pull their families out of poverty • Elite: increase their riches and acquire glory as commanders, to promote their public careers

4. Roman Republic • Conquests and spoils = expansion and wealth • Social and political consequences disrupted traditional values and stability • Romans believed they were successful because they respected the will of the gods

5. Roman Republic • Generous peace terms to former enemies • Some became Roman citizens • Others gained limited citizenship w/out right to vote • Still others received treaties of alliance • No conquered Italians had to pay taxes to Rome • But, military aid in future wars required • But this gained them slaves and land

6. Roman Republic • For security, Rome planted colonies of citizens and constructed roads up and down the peninsula to allow troops to march faster • Roads connected the diverse peoples of Italy, creating unity under Rome

7. Unity in Roman Republic • Latin • Wealth attracted people to the capital • Public works projects • New aqueducts to provide fresh, running water • massive building program • Rich patricians and plebeians cooperated to • All groups exploited Roman territories, lessening class distinctions. Social unity.

8. Wars in the Roman Republic • Punic Wars • First Punic War (264-241 B.C.E.) • Rome and Carthage both came to aid a band of mercenaries in Sicily • Lasted a generation

9. Punic Wars • Why did Rome eventually win? • Manpower reserves • Money • sacrifice • Roman victory in the First Punic War made them masters of Sicily

10. Second Punic War • 218-201 B.C.E. • Hannibal (247-182 B.C.E.) led Carthage • Troops and war elephants over the Alps– Rome suffered its worse defeat in 216 B.C.E. • Alliance with Macedonia made Rome fight a second front in Greece

11. Rome’s Revenge: Third Punic War • Invaded Carthage • Roman peace terms were harsh • Carthage: no navy • Pay cost of war over 50 years • Give Spain to Rome • Also • Carthage destroyed, salted earth • Macedonia (Greece) also made into a Roman province

12. Rome emerges as Leader • In 133 B.C.E., King Attalus III of Pergamum left his Asia Minor kingdom to Rome in his will • In 121 B.C.E., the lower part of Gaul across the Alps was made into a province • Rome governed and profited • 2/3 of the Mediterranean region • Only easternmost Mediterranean lay outside its control

13. Internal ConflictLate Roman Republic: 133-44 B.C.E. • Instead of warring with others, the Republic went to war with itself • Reforms to help small farmers – the backbone of the army – failed • “client armies” undermined the faithfulness to the general good of the community

14. Late Roman Republic • As a result of the upheavals, members of the elite positioned themselves either • “supporters of the people,” referred to as populares • Or “of the best,” referred to as optimates

15. New Leadership • Challenged the political dominance of the traditional elite • Gaius Marius (c. 157-86 B.C.E.) not from Rome’s elite, but from the equestrian class to become consul • Elected six times • Voted a “triumph”-- Rome’s • ultimate military honor

16. Gaius Marius • Opened the ranks of military service to proletarians, changing the whole concept of citizen armies • Soldiers became loyal to their general instead of the Republic • Soldiers were clients of their patron and general

17. Sulla • Corrupt Roman noble • Exploited uprisings in Italy and Asia Minor in the 1st • century B.C.E. • – Used client army to seize high office and compel • the Senate to do his wishes • –Traditional values no longer restrained commanders • Prized advancement and enrichment of their troops above peace and the good of the community

18. The Social War • Late Roman Republic • 91-87 B.C.E. • Conquered upper classes wanted a greater share of prosperity that war had brought the [Roman] citizen elite • Rebelled, finally granted full citizenship (including voting rights) • Convinced Rome that conquered people could strengthen Republic

19. Other Wars: 88-44 BCE • An Ally, King Mithridates VI of Pontus, instigated a rebellion against Rome’s control of the region, especially its tax collectors • Denounced Rome, killed Italians in Pontus • Over 10,000 in a single day • Senate authorized a military expedition • Sulla and Marius argue over leadership • Sulla loses, loots Rome, THEN marches to destroy Pontus

20. Sulla Returns, Wins • 83 B.C.E • Battle at the gates of Rome • Sulla destroys everyone who had opposed him • Proscription – posting list of all those guilty of treasonable crimes, so anyone could hunt them down and execute them • Property of those proscribed was confiscated, so victors fraudulently added to the list the names of • anyone whose wealth they desired • The Senate appointed Sulla dictator – a temporary emergency office – without any limit of term

21. Sulla Retires • Believing a prophecy that he would soon die, Sulla retired in 79 B.C.E. • His career showed strengths and weaknesses of the social and political values of the Republic • Republic doomed because “way of the ancestors” that valued respect for peace, prosperity, and traditions was ignored in favor of personal gain

22. After Sulla • The great generals whose names dominate the • history of the Republic all took Sulla as their • model: • professing allegiance to the state • pursed their own advancement. • Pompey and Caesar gained glory and prodigious • wealth for themselves • Eventually fought against each other • Ruined the Republic • Opened the way for the return of a monarchy after 500 years

23. Pompey • Young • Private army to fight for Sulla • Spectacular victories • Put down a rebellion in Spain • Put down the slave rebellion led by Spartacus in 71 B.C.E.

24. Pompey • Elected Consul in 70 B.C.E., before he had • reached the legal age of 42 or even held any • other office • Later received command with unlimited powers to exterminate pirates • Wildly popular but Senate distrusted him, forcing him to ally with opponents Crassus and Caesar

25. First Triumvirate • Their combined influence proved unstoppable • Pompey had laws passed to establish his firm control over eastern territories • Caesar became consul in 59 B.C.E. and received special command in Gaul, giving him a chance to build his own client army financed with barbarian booty • Crassus received financial breaks for Roman tax collectors in Asia Minor, whose support gave him clout and in whose business he had a stake

26. Caesar • To cement his bond with Pompey, Caesar married his daughter Julia to Pompey in 59 B.C.E., even though she was engaged to someone else • Meanwhile, Caesar cemented his client army’s affection and loyalty with victory after victory and plunder in northern Gaul • Enemies in Rome dreaded each success • Julia died in childbirth in 54 B.C.E., ending bond with Pompey • Caesar dismissed as failure • Triumvirate dissolved in 53 BCE

27. Caesar strikes back • Pompey appointed sole consul and ordered Caesar must surrender his command • Caesar led his army, crossing the Rubicon River (the northern boundary of Rome) in 49 B.C.E., saying “the dye is cast” • Troops and people followed him • Fear drove Pompey and most of the • Senate out of Rome

28. The End of Pompey, Caesar’s Success • Peaceful entrance, then on to Spain and Greece • Pompey fled to Egypt, murdered by the ministers of the king, Ptolemy XIII • Caesar invaded Egypt • drowning death of the Pharaoh • Caesar restored Cleopatra VII as Queen, fell in love

29. Caesar as “King” • Caesar’s solution was to rule as king in everything but name, right down to his golden “chair” in the Senate • 48 B.C.E., has himself appointed dictator • Lifetime, in 44 B.C.E.

30. Caesar as Dictator • Ambitious and broad: • Moderate cancellation of debts • Limitation of the number of people for subsidized grain • Large public works programs, including the • construction of public libraries • Colonies for his veterans in Italy and abroad • Rebuilt Corinth and Carthage as commercial centers • Revived citizenship to non-Romans • Admitted non-Italians to the Senate, expanded membership from 600 to 900 • Roman calendar = 365 days

31. The End • Marcus Brutus, conspired against Caesar • • They stabbed him to death in the Senate on the Ides of March (March 15), 44 B.C.E. • Collapsed at the feet of Pompey’s statue • Rome was now in complete disorder

32. Julius Caesar • Caesar’s reforms alienated Rome’s elite . Saw his as tyrant. • 44 B.C. • Assassination • View scenes from Caesar • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je0gTnheVe4 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab68AjRMKmA • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1VkK86Sdmo&feature=related

33. Octavian • Octavian -- related to Caesar • Defeated Mark Anthony and Cleopatra in 31 B.C. Anthony and Cleopatra by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

34. Augustus • 27 B.C. • “Augustus” suggests a divine or semi-divine nature • 45 years: “a monarchy disguised as a republic” • Pax Romana

35. Augustus • Centralized political and military power • Preserved traditional republican offices and forms of government and included members of the Roman elite in his government

36. Government under Augustus • Accumulated vast powers for himself and ultimately took responsibility for all important governmental functions • Placed individuals loyal to him in all important positions • Reorganized the military system • Created a new standing army with commanders who owed allegiance to him • Eliminated the personal armies of earlier years • Stabilized the land after the years of civil war

37. Mare Nostrum • Roman Empire surrounded the Mediterranean • mare nostrum (“our sea”) • Expansion brought Roman soldiers, diplomats, governors, and merchants throughout the region • Trade flourished Roman Empire, 117 A.D.

38. Pax Romana • “Roman peace” facilitated trade and communication • 27 B.C. to 180 A.D. • Standards of justice and a basic code of law throughout the empire

39. Life for the Rich Public Life • Pax Romana provided prosperity for many • Rich citizens • Had both city, country homes • Homes had conveniences like running water, baths • Wealthy men spent much time in politics • Public officials not paid; only wealthy could afford to hold office • Roman politicians worked to perfect public-speaking skills • Ties of marriage, friendship, family alliances as important as common interests for public officials, political groups Life in Imperial Rome

40. Life for the Poor • Nearly 1 million Romans lived in crowded three- or four-story apartment buildings • Fire a constant threat • To keep poor from rebelling • Free food, public entertainment offered • Two things interested public—bread, circuses

41. Public Entertainment • Entertainments • Romans of all classes enjoyed circus, chariot races • Circus Maximus—racetrack could hold 250,000 spectators • Also liked theater, mimes, jugglers, dancers, acrobats, clowns • Bloody Spectacles • Spectacles in amphitheaters • Wild animals battled, professional fighters • Gladiator contests most popular, performed in Colosseum for 50,000 people • Public Baths • Popular places for entertainment • Romans well aware of importance of bathing, hygiene for health • Many public baths had steam rooms, meeting rooms, and pools for socializing

42. Education and Religion Patriarchal Structure • Upper class Romans placed great value on education • Parents taught children at home; wealthy families hired tutors or sent sons to exclusive schools to learn Latin, Greek, law, math, public speaking • Romans adopted much from Greek mythology, also from Egyptians, others • Each family worshipped local household gods, penates • Many worshipped emperor • Head of family—paterfamilias, family father—oldest living male • Had extensive powers over other members of family • Within family structure, virtues of simplicity, religious devotion, obedience emphasized • Adoption important in Roman society, a way to ensure family name would be carried on • Women could do little without intervention of male guardian, more freedom in lower classes Family

43. Signs and Augurs • Romans believed gods sent signs, warnings • Came in form of natural phenomena • Flight of birds, arrangement of entrails of sacrificial animals • Paid respect to augurs • Priests who specialized in interpreting signs • Nothing important undertaken without first consulting augurs

44. How were populations controlled by the Romans? • Under the republic • Representation (consuls and Senate) • Resolution of conflicts between the patricians and plebeians (tribunes) • Dictators • Under the empire • Julius Caesar centralized authority but alienated elite • Augustus continued centralization but placated elite and ensured loyalty through patronage • Pax romana stabilized region through trade, communication, and law

45. EARLY CHRISTIANITY • Roots in Judaism, John the Baptist, Jesus, and apostles • Earliest converts were Jews who did not think they were breaking away from Hebrew Law • Jewish religion was officially recognized by the Roman government and had certain privileges

46. POPULAR HOSTILITY • Christian Church seen as dangerous state within a state. Feared divided loyalties. • Initially, no persecution of Christians • Strong popular aversion to Christians continued to exist • Massacres

47. CHURCH AND STATE • Throughout the empire, church leaders adopted an independent attitude towards the state • After fall of Rome, what remained of towns and cities looked to Church, not the corrupt state, for protection and justice