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Rome:
From Village to Empire
Topography and Geography
Like Greece, Italy is a
mountainous peninsula
– Apennines & Alps
– Fertile plains in the
north below the Alps
• Favorable climate, fertile
land and constant fresh
water source meant most
early Romans were
farmers.
Origin - Rome
• A tribe called “Latins”
established Rome on the banks
of the Tiber River (Palentine
Hills) c.750 B.C.E
– MYTH: c.753 B.C.E. –
Rome founded by twins
Romulus and Remus (Latins)
• c. 6th century B.C.E. - 3 groups
battle for control
Life Under
Etruscan Rule
• Etruscans (Northern Italy)
• Skilled metalworkers and
engineers
• By 600 B.C.E – An Etruscan king of
Rome
• 6th Century B.C.E, trade routes from all parts of Italy come together
in Rome
– A commercial center due to access to the Mediterranean via the
Tiber River
• Safe from sea invasion
• In 509 BCE Etruscans are overthrown by the Romans
– Tarquin the Proud = last Etruscan king
Roman Republic
Romans declare to never be ruled by a king
• The Romans established a representative government -Res Publica
– No one person could inherit the right to rule
– Representatives chosen by patricians
– Decision-making responsibilities
entrusted to two consuls –
The Senate
• In times of war: Senate chose
a dictator to rule for 6 months
Plebeians Demand Equality
• 494 B.C.E. granted the right to elect tribunes (2).
– Allowed veto of laws not in the interest of plebs
• Eventually tribunes increased to 10
• 450 B.C.E. - 12 Tables (first written laws)
– Posted in the Roman Forum
• Early 3rd century, Rome = more democratic
– Plebeians allowed in Senate and
hold political office.
– Struggle for Political power
continued in Rome for several
centuries
Roman Social Structure
Patricians: wealthy landowners and office-holders
– Patrician = “Father” (Latin)
Plebeians (commoners): farmers, artisans, trader
– Could vote and served in the military, but not hold
political office
Patricians
10%
Slaves: mostly prisoners of war, non-citizens
– Not granted any rights
Plebeians
Roman Religion
Polytheistic
• Absorbed gods of other civilizations
including Greece
– Important Roman gods/goddesses:
• Jupiter (father of gods) - Zeus
• Juno (watched over women) – Hera
• Minerva (goddess of wisdom) – Athena
• Apollo (god of the sun)
• Emperor worship eventually became part
of the religion of Rome.
The Role of Roman Women
More influence than Greek women
– Many upper class women
received some formal education
– Could NOT vote, but allowed to
testify in court
– Gained property rights
• The Vestals (c. 717–673 BCE) were
freed of the “usual” social
obligations.
– devoted solely to the study and
observance of state rituals
Roman Expansion
• Gradually, the Romans began
to expand their control over
the entire Italian peninsula
plus:
• Corsica, Sardinia & Sicily
• As they expanded their
control
so did the network of roads
– Easier military transport,
commerce
and unifying territories
Punic Wars: 100 Years of
Fighting
1) 264-146 B.C.E. – Battle to Control Sicily and the western
Mediterranean – Naval Battles
2) 218-202 B.C.E. – Hannibal
attempts to lay siege to
Roman Mainland
– Defeated at the hands of
Scipio
– Hannibal commits suicide
rather than captured.
3) 149-146 B.C.E. – Rome laid siege to Carthage – city set
ablaze and its 50,000 inhabitants were sold into slavery
– Carthaginian Peace
Republic to Empire
• Imperial expansion brought wealth to Rome
– Wealth unequally distributed which provoked class
tensions - Conflict arose over political and social
policies
• 1st Century B.C.E. - 1st Century C.E.
– Civil and military leaders gradually dismantle
Republican constitution
– Replaced with a centralized imperial
government
Imperial Issues 1st Century
B.C.E. - 1st Century C.E.
Expansion brought wealth to Rome:
1. Land concentrated into the hands of wealthy elites
• Enormous plantations - latifundia
– slave labor drove smaller farmers out of business
» unequal distribution provoked class tensions
• The problem of land distribution was a symptom of a bigger
problem
2. Civil and military leaders replaced the Republican constitution with a centralized imperial government
• The Republic constitution was designed for a small city-state
• Roman politicians and generals began jockeying for power by
raising personal armies (for support).
Julius Caesar: Bread and Circus
50’s B.C.E. - Conquers Gaul
• 49 B.C.E. successfully marches on Rome – “dictator for life”
– Republic replaced by a centralized imperial Government and
Military
• Proposed massive building projects and redistributed land
- alienated many of Rome’s elite
• Extends Roman citizenship to those in imperial
provinces
• 44 B.C.E. assassinated – “Et tu Brute” - Latin phrase
used poetically to represent the last words of
Julius Caesar
– Civil crisis ensued for thirteen years
Octavian to Augustus
• Nephew, protégé, and adopted son of Julius Caesar
defeats his principal rival, Mark Anthony
(Cleopatra) c.31 B.C.E.
– Octavian strengthen his rule and in 27 B.C.E
– Bestowed the Divine title Augustus
– Centralized political and military power
– Preserved traditional republican government
(Roman elite)
– Eliminated personal armies
• Ruled virtually unopposed for 45 years
– PAX ROMANA (27 B.C.E. to 180 C.E.)
Rise of Christianity
During Pax Romana - Christianity emerges
• 63 B.C.E. Judea conquered
– Jewish monotheism permitted
– Jews reluctantly live under Roman
• Jesus begins preaching to villagers c. 26 C.E.
• Welcomed by man in Jerusalem welcomed him, many priests
felt threatened - Romans feared a revolt by followers.
– 337 C.E. 1st Christian Roman Emperor Constantine
– 313 C.E. Edict of Milan - freedom of worship to all Roman
citizens
– 395 C.E. – Christianity made the official religion