Download Romans - Humanities 191

Roman Civilizations
Pre-Christian Centuries
Founded in 753 BC as a tiny city-state founded by herdsman and farmers on low hills by the
Tiber River ruled by kings. Grew to be a powerful republic that controlled the Western world.
Collapsed in 284 AD - @ 1,000 years. So vast was Rome’s dominatia and so powerful its
influence that until the 18th century, Rome was the exemplar of power and wealth. Had profound
and lasting impact on life in the West.
1 Value – Never ceased to honor their agrarian roots – their morality and law both stressed the
importance of nature and living within one’s means. When Rome became prosperous, many
writers bemoaned the corrupting power of luxury and appealed to the homespun values of
Rome’s founders.
2 Value – another value – the sanctity of family. Divorce was unheard of until the late republican
era. Male dominated families yet women were freer then Greek Women. More involved in
society with husband. No vote for women.
In comparison to the Greeks, the Romans were very serious – viewed intellectual brilliance with
suspicion. Were self-controlled and afraid of the imagination (almost dull comparatively).
But were ingenious at adapting burrowed cultural forms and were gifted at governing.
Religion permeated family life
Undying fire in hearth – symbolic of goddess of Vesta to ensure the family’s continuity.
Funeral masks of deceased male ancestors adorned walls – for domestic rituals.
As the Romans defeated the Hellenistic kingdoms, they adopted much of their culture.
Roman emperors – claimed to be immortal gods turning the state into a divine monarchy
Emperors adopted the civilizing mission – Policies had new moral dimensions.
Adopted poetry, art, architecture – Moved out of their more practical ways.
Hence, the humanities which originated among the artists and intellectuals of Hellenic Greece
were preserved and transmitted by the Romans – possibly Rome’s greatest achievement.
Pre-Christian Rome – 3 periods – reflecting the prevailing type of gov’t.
Monarchy
753 – 509 BC
Republic
509 – 31 BC
Empire
31 BC – 284 AD
Monarchy
Council of landowners helped select the ruler – then all the people ratified its choice.
Class Conflict – a plebian class (non-aristocratic) accumulated wealth through commerce
and trade and began to challenge the social power of the land aristocrats. So when the
monarchy ended and the republic was established, the aristocrats safeguarded their
power- denied citizenship to the plebians. This exclusion laid the groundwork for
centuries of class conflict.
The Roman Republic
Lasted almost 500 years
Based on a system of representatives and a separation of powers.
Executive power – 2 consuls, each with veto power over the other.
Legal and fiscal power – to public offices
Legislative and judicial powers – to an assembly.
Senate –
Plebians – none until 287 BC
Julius Caesar – emperor – 60-44 BC. Acted in the name of the equestrian social class
(who gained wealth during the Punic wars but lacked the political powers of the
patricians.) Founded Rome’s 1st public library and initiated building projects that gave
work to the urban poor. Enemies thought he wanted to be king (absolute power) so a
band of senatorial assassins killed him – March 15 Ides of March.
During the republic, many independent farmers were pushed off the land by large estate
owners. Many went to Rome (the city) where they lived in perpetual poverty – and sold
their votes to the highest bidders. ION an effort to pacify them, the gov’t instituted free
bread and public amusements – “bread and circuses”.
The farmer-soldier ideal of early Rome – changed to one more concerned with bloody
sporting events (gladiatorial contests) rather than political rights and duties.
Caesar tried to reform.
Imperial Rome 31 BC – 284 AD
Chaos after Caesar’s death.
Octavian emerged – Caesar’s great nephew and adopted son. Marked the beginning of
Pax Romana – a 200 year period of peace and economic growth. He maintained the
republic political structure, but beneath the surface, controlled all the power. Went back
to the Hellenistic practice of emperor worship.
200 years Pax Romana
100 years civil wars.
Diocletian, a general, seized power and snatched Rome from the brink of destruction.
Religion
Romans mingled its gods with the Greeks.
The oriental influence – encouraged worshiping the ruler as a god – succeeded. Two groups of
Roman subjects that refused to recognize the ruler’s divinity: The Jews and the Christians.
Architecture
The Arch
The Dome
The Pantheon
The Roman Forum
The Colosseum p. 130
The Aqueducts p. 131
Mosaics
p. 124
p. 126
p. 127
p. 138 & 139