Download Early Rome

Robert Wade AP World History
Bryan Adams High School
Origin OF ROME
Z Begins in the eighth century B.C.E
Z Etruscans lived between Tiber and
Arno rivers.
Z Came from eastern Mediterranean,
possibly Asia Minor.
Z Greek colonists lived in in southern
Italy
Z Italic peoples lived across the Alps as
herders and small farmers
Early Roman Political System
Z Independent, fortified city-states.
Z Formed small confederacies
Z By 6c BCE, the Etruscan military had
conquered much of the Italian
peninsula,
Etruscan Writing
Z Most inscriptions found on tombs
and monuments and mirrors.
Z We can pronounce Etruscan
words, because they use an
alphabet similar to Greek, but we
have no clue about their meaning.
Z Over 10,000 Etruscan inscriptions.
The Etruscan Alphabet
Etruscan Religion
Z Polytheistic.
Z Believed that the destiny of man
was determined by the whims of
the gods.
Z Believed in prophecy and reading
the signs of nature by augurs.
Z Believed in predestination.
Etruscan Art
Z Art created for religious or utilitarian
purposes.
Z Most famous pieces created out of
terracotta.
Z Many murals and frescoes on tomb walls.
Z Lively depictions of life—dancing, games,
music, and feasting.
Z Pottery at first copies of Greek works.
Later, created their own bronze pottery.
Z Bronze crafts [mirrors, bowls,
candelabra].
Etruscan Bronzes
The Gate of Volterra:
First known Archway in History!
Tarquin [Etruscan] Rulers of Rome
Reign of Romulus
753-716 BCE
Numa Pompilius
715-674 BCE
Tullius Hostillius
673-642 BCE
Anchus Marcius
642-617 BCE
Lucius Tarquinian Priscus
616-579 BCE
Servius Tullius
578-535 BCE
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus
535-510 BCE
509 BCE  Roman Revolt  Republic Established!
ROMAN REPUBLIC
• Population was divided into two groups
– Patricians were the hereditary aristocracy
– Plebeians were the lower classes
– The Twelve Tables gave the plebeians the
right to become equipes (knights)
– Later they also earned the right to serve in
all public offices
– Slavery was common with freed slave
becoming “freedpersons”
ROMAN REPUBLIC
• Never a democracy to the extent that
Athens was commoners did take part
• Two consuls were the the chief civil
authorities, could appoint a dictator
• Roman Senate was a key advisory body
• The chief priest, the pontifex maximus
presided over the state religion
• Roman society was based on “piety,”
the value system that embraced
devotion to the gods and family
ROMAN CONQUEST
• Roman control of the Italian peninsula
was based on alliances and annexation
• The major threat to Roman domination
was the Mediterranean power, Carthage
• Series of 3 wars fought; Punic Wars
– First ended with Rome taking Sicily
– Second ended with Scipio of Rome
defeating the legendary Hanibal, Zama
– Third ended with the destruction of
Carthage
– Roman armies then moved east
REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE
• Empire building led to great wealth, both
for the state and entrepreneurs
• Many small farmers lost their farms,
aristocrats used slaves from conquests
• Rebellion by Spartacus showed the
constant threat of slave revolts
THE RISE OF AUGUSTUS
• Tension between populares and
optimates showed breakdown of early
constitution that had served republic
• Gaius Marius and Sulla had recruited
private armies to take power
• Soon Julius Caesar used his army to
seize power before he was killed
• His grand-nephew then used wealth
and influence to build his own army and
seize power
THE ROMAN EMPIRE
• Octavian defeated the armies of Marc
Antony and Cleopatra (whom Julius
Caesar had made queen of Egypt)
• Octavian received title of Augustus and
established a new monarchy in Rome
• As emperor he not only controlled the
army but had ultimate civil authority
• He added to the Roman Empire in order
to secure borders and promote trade