Chapter 6 Ancient Rome and Early Christianity

1. Chapter 6Ancient Rome and Early Christianity Section 1 The Roman Republic

2. Section 1 Objective • Describe the structure of the Roman Republic and the ways it changed

3. Terms to Define • Patrician: wealthy aristocrat class that had come into being in Rome—Latin nobles. • Republic: a community in which the people elected the leaders. • Plebian: Most of Rome’s inhabitants, some wealthy, some not, non-aristocratic townspeople and landowners as well as merchants, shopkeepers, small farmers, and laborers. • Consul: Two patrician officials elected for one year terms. They had to consult each other before acting.

4. Terms (con’t) • Dictator: a leader whose word was law—occurred mostly during times of crisis • Tribunes: representatives chosen by Plebians, granting them legal protections and the right to veto government decisions

5. People to Meet • The Etruscans • The Latins • Romulus • The Tarquins

6. Places to Locate • Italy • Sicily • Rome

7. Introduction • Greeks settled as colonies 900 B.C. • Set up farming communities • Planted olive trees and other crops • Introduced Greek alphabet

8. The Italian Peninsula • The Greeks were interested in colonizing Italy for several reasons -Central location in the Mediterranean -Rich soil

9. The Italian Peninsula Soiled enriched by silt from mountain runoff -Land to the north cut off by the Apls Mild, moist, climate -Ideally suited for trade among three continents—Europe, Asia, Africa

10. The Italian Peninsula • Silt would often clog the rivers • Created mosquito infested areas • Epidemics of Malaria, etc

11. Early Inhabitants • Generally traded among themselves -Mountains -Rocky coastline -Covered 75% of the country

12. Early Inhabitants • Soiled enriched by silt from mountain runoff -Land to the north cut off by the Alps -Generally traded among themselves

13. Geographic Problems • Silt created swamps which drew mosquitos • Marshy coastline wasn’t good for harbors

14. Early Peoples • Neolithic cultures probably 5000 B.C. • People there long before the Greeks arrived or Roman civilization began • Villages and farms

15. Indo-Europeans • Umbrians, Latins (Latium--LAY-shee-uhm--), Oscans • Indo-European migrants arrived and overwhelmed the Neolithic peoples on Italian Peninsula 2000-1000 B.C.

16. The Etruscans • Ruled northern Italy from 900 B.C. to 500 B.C. • Did not speak Indo-European languages • Their alphabet came from the Greeks—but only a few Etruscan words have been deciphered

17. The Etruscans (con’t) • Etruscans writing baffles scientists • Etruscan art (paintings and sculptures) is expressive, needing no translation -dancing, playing, rich and pleasant life

18. The Etruscans • The Etruscans…more • feasting, conversing, wrestling matches • Triumphant soldiers • Beautiful deities, smile and gesture

19. The Etruscans (con’t) • Wealthy overlords • Aristocratic priests • Slave labor • Slaves forced to dual to the death to appease angry gods • Lower classes finally freed themselves—chief among them were the Latins who settled in Rome

20. The Etruscans • The Latins freed themselves after being offended by the Etruscans • Son of Etruscan king savages matron, Lucretia

21. The Rise of Rome--Legend • Legend -753 B.C. Romulus was building a wall for his city on the side of a hill overlooking the Tiber River -Twin brother Remus building on the other side of the hill

22. The Rise of Rome • According to Roman historian Livy, Remus leaped over the wall built by Romulus and mocked him. • Romulus killed Remus warning, “so perish whoever else shall overleap my battlements”

23. Romulus--myth • Continued to build Rome—named after him • Romulus—myth—great military commander • Rome continues to expand • Rome became the greatest city in that part of the peninsula

24. Rome Origins • Latins -Huddled in huts on seven hills -At some point, 800 B.C.-700 B.C., they joined to become one community--Rome

25. Etruscan Rule • About 620 B.C., the Etruscan gained control of Rome • The Tarquins, name of Etruscan family -Taught the Latins to use brick to build -Drained the lowlands and laid out streets

26. Etruscan Rule • Created the Forum in the middle of the city—which became the government building -Served as kings for Rome

27. The Tarquins • Wealthy Etruscan family • Provided kings for rule • Taught Romans to built with brick and tile their roofs • Drained marsh lands and designed streets

28. The Tarquins • Created a square called the Forum • The seat of government

29. Tarquins Driven Out • Tarquin the Proud—very cruel • Romans drive the Tarquins out • Etruscans stay and help Rome prosper • Tarquin kings son violates Lacretia

30. Social Groups • Latin nobles called “patricians” • Patricians declared Rome a republic • Wealthy aristocrats

31. Social Groups • Most of Rome’s inhabitants were plebians, -Both patricians and plebians could vote -Both responsible for serving in military

32. Social Groups Patricians Plebians Vote Pay taxes Serve in the military • Vote • Pay taxes • Serve in the military • Could hold public office

33. The Roman Republic • Patricians organized Rome’s government into executive and legislative branches • Executive Branch • Two consuls assigned day-to-day affairs • One year terms • Each could veto the other • Veto: Latin for “I forbid”

34. The Roman Republic • Consuls oversaw other officials • Praetors: judges • Censors: keepers of taxes • Only a dictator could overrule the consuls • Dictators appointed in times of crisis

35. The Roman Republic • Legislative Branch -Assembly of Centuries (named for 100 soldiers) -Senate

36. The Roman Republic Assembly of Centuries Senate Executive Branch Under Patrician control Power outweighed Assembly Members—300 Served for life Advised Consuls Proposed laws Approved contracts • Elected from Executive Branch officials • Under patrician control • Named for military formation • Members—100 • Temporary office • Little real power

37. Cincinnatus • Most respected dictator • Rival threatened Rome • Found plowing his fields • Led his troops to victory • Resigned as dictator and returned to his fields within 16 days

38. Plebians Against Patricians • Plebeians resented power of Patricians • Knew they could not rule without them. • Plebeians made up most of military forces • Patricians concerned about the military

39. Plebeians Against Patricians • Plebeians went on strike • Left city create their own republic

40. Tribunes • Patricians meet some demands • Recognized the Plebeians chosen representatives,“Tribunes” • Granted them legal protections and the right to veto government decisions • Tribunes were members of the Magistrate of Plebeians and had some power

41. Tribunes • Patricians recognized the Assembly of Tribes, the body of plebeians that elected tribunes • Tribunes could veto any government decision

42. Tribunes • Could not be arrested • Injuring a Tribune was cause to be put to death

43. Old and New Laws • Plebeians insisted laws put in writing • The Twelve Tablets: basis of Roman law • Plebeians gain right to serve in public office • Right to make laws in Assembly of Tribes

44. Changes for Plebeians • Debt enslavement ended • Patrician/Plebeian marriage approved • Plebeians moved Rome closer to democracy • The most significant victory—the Twelve Tables—a written law code

45. The Twelve Tables • Roman law had rested on unwritten traditions • patrician judges interpreted unfairly • Plebeians insisted laws be written down

46. The Twelve Tables • 451 B.C. patricians engraved the laws on 12 bronze tablets set in the Forum -standards for laws -principle that citizens protected by law

47. Religion • Early Etruscans worshipped “spirits” ultimately seen as gods or deities • Adopted practice of foretelling the future

48. Religion • Priests known as soothsayers • Watched flight of birds or intestines of animals to gain knowledge of future

49. Religion • Roman influenced by Greek culture • 500 years as a republic • Borrowed Greek deities giving them Roman names -Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love, became the Roman goddess, Venus -Ares, Greek god of war, became Mars - Etc.

50. Religion (con’t) • Families privately worshipped their ancestral spirits and their storeroom guardians • Worshipped Vesta, goddess of the hearth