Download Ancient Rome

Rome’s History
 Began as a small, agricultural city-state, then
developed into a monarchy, then a republic, then an
empire, and eventually, the dominant Mediterranean
power!
The Founding of Rome
 Legend has that brother Romulus and Remus
(descendants of a Trojan Prince) were competing for
the right to found the Rome.
 Romulus wins and build his city on seven hills
overlooking the Tiber River.
 More likely it was founded by Indo-Europeans who
crossed the Alps and were attracted by warm weather,
pasture lands, and agricultural valleys.
The founding of Rome
 The next people to migrate across the Alps were the
Etruscans.
 Quickly built cities across northern Italy.
 Produced fine bronze, iron, gold, and silver products to
trade throughout the western Mediterranean.
 Built roads and bridges that created the city of Rome,
which prospered through trade.
 Challenges from outside Rome and rising aristocracy
caused the overthrow of the last Etruscan king in 509
BCE.
The Roman Republic and Its
Constitution
 Rome had Republican form of Government that allowed
them to avoid destructive class struggles for 500 years
 Patricians – Wealthy Aristocrats
 Plebeians – Common Roman Citizens
 Consuls – Two main executive branches of government
 Senate – Dominated by the aristocrats
 Two Assemblies – One for the patricians, and on for the plebeians.
 Tribune – Office that included up to 10 men whose job it was to
speak for the plebeians.
 Dictator – Made executive decisions in times of crisis, time in office
limited to six months so as not to gain too much power
Expansion of the Republic
 Fourth through second centuries BCE – Time of
growth for the Roman republic.
 First, Rome consolidated its power in Italy, through
military and political means.
 Allowed conquered people to trade freely, govern their
own affairs.

Stipulation was that they remain militarily loyal to Rome and
intermarry with Romans.
Expansion of the Republic
 Second, Rome established itself as a dominant power
in the western Mediterranean.
 After a victory in a series of bloody wars with Carthage, a
former Phoenician colony in North Africa which was a
major naval and trading empire.
 Secured with the defeat of the Antigonids and Seleucids
in the east.
Republic to Empire
 Imperial Expansion and Domestic Problems
 Expansion brought wealth, power, and problems to
Rome.
 Unequal distribution of wealth and strained
governmental capacity caused the end of the republic
and the creation of an imperial government.
 Wealthy aristocrats were gaining land from conquests
and selling products cheaper than smaller counterparts,
thus squeezing them out.

Lead to social unrest and eventually civil war.
Republic to Empire
 Tiberius and Gauis Gracchus
 Tried to reform land policies but were assassinated
before they could get results.
 For the next 100 years civil war and unrest resulted from
poor leadership and rebellion.
 Julius Caesar eventually came to power and brought
brief years of peace, but also resulted in the end of the
republic and the beginning of Imperial Rome.
Republic to Empire
 The Foundation of Empire
 Julius Caesar – Talented General and great
understanding of people.
 Used wealth from victories in Egypt, Greece, and Gual to
promote building and entertainment projects in Rome,
which pleased and pacified the poor people of Rome.
 Redistributed land to army veterans
 Extended Roman citizenship to conquered people

Actions brought him great public support, but frightened the
Roman Elite, who eventually had him assassinated in 44 BCE.
Republic to Empire
 Death of Julius Caesar led to thirteen years of civil war.
 Octavian, Caesar’s nephew, eventually gained control.
 Set up monarchy disguised as a republic.
 Controlled all important government functions
including leading the military.
 Empire was strong and stable, but was not a republic.
From Republic to Empire
 Continuing Expansion and Integration of the Empire
 Pax Romana – Started by Octavian and continued for
more than 200 years, is a period of domestic peace and
foreign expansion for Rome.
 Rome – At its high point stretched from Britain to
Mediterranean and into Egypt and Mesopotamia.
 Grow of cities and urban culture dramatic as a result.
From Republic to Empire
 Roads
 Extensive road systems that were wide, well maintained, and
safe
 Facilitated trade and communication.
 This technology was very important for maintaining the
empire’s power and wealth
 Law
 Standardized law lead to order, stability, and rationality.
 Developed enduring ideas of innocent until proven guilty,
right to confront accusers, and principles of judicial review
and judicial precedents.
Economy and Society
 Roman rule and trade brought economic and social
changes for people throughout the Mediterranean
basin.
 Expansion was sustained through the use of slave labor
and the confines of a patriarchal society.
Economy and Society
 Trade and Urbanization
 Commercial Agriculture – played vital role in economic
integration and expansion

Roads made it easy to trade agricultural products in exchange
for luxury goods, which could then be sold in urban centers,
etc.
 Aqueducts – Engineering marvels that brought huge
amounts of fresh drinking water to Roman cities making
urban life possible.
 Urban growth – Occurred in all parts of the empire as
existing cities grew and new ones popped up.
Economy and Society
 Family and Society in Roman Times
 Pater Familias – Roman tradition where eldest male
ruled the house, deciding virtually all matters for family
members, free servants, and slaves.
 Wealthy often flaunted their wealth in extravagant ways.
 Slavery – Essential component of the Roman empire’s
economic success.


Made up more than 1/3 of the population in Rome
Harsh conditions.
The Cosmopolitan Mediterranean
 Cultural and religious traditions were also affected by
the integration of the Mediterranean region during the
Roman empire.
 Roads and communication networks encouraged the
spread of religious ideas beyond their original
foundations throughout the empire.
 Christianity is one such example.
The Cosmopolitan Mediterranean
 Greek Philosophy and Religions of Salvations
 Earliest Romans were polytheistic, worshiping gods
associated with nature and fertility.
 Drew on the teachings of Stoics (Hellenistic Greek
Ideals) – Especially those related to morals and ethics.
 Roman populace became increasingly interested in
religions of salvation which they were exposed to via
trade and travel.
Judaism and Early Christianity
 Jews
 Had many conflicts with Romans due to conflicting
religious views and refusal to participate in Roman
ceremonies that conflicted with their monotheistic
views.
 Eventually led to open rebellion and Jews being exiled
from their homeland in 70 CE
Judaism and Early Christianity
 Christianity emerged as some Jews sought to form a
community around Jesus of Nazareth.
 Leader who taught peace, devotion to God, and love for
fellow human beings.
 Romans became concerned about more Jewish uprisings
and fearful about Jesus’ proclamation that the “kingdom
of God is at hand,” arrested and executed him in the
early 30s CE
Early Christianity
 Following the death of Jesus, his followers proclaimed
him as the son of God who had risen from the dead.
 Said belief in him offered the key to eternal reward
and salvation.
 Teaching of Jesus were spread by people like Paul of
Tarsus using the infrastructure of Rome.
 At first, Christians were frequently persecuted, but by
300 CE, it was the most popular religion in the
Mediterranean.