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Ancient Rome
Rome
Similarities to other ancient civilizations?
 What made it unique?
 Pros and cons of republic vs. empire?
 Where do we see traces of it in modern
West?
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Rome
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The Origins of Rome
(ca. 800-500 BC)
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In Latium
On Tiber River
Originally ruled by kings
Legendary founders:
Romulus and Remus
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She-wolf (ca. 500 BC),
Capitoline Museum, Rome
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The Roman Republic (ca. 500-27 BC)
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Established after overthrow of kings
Republic (res publica)
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Goal: limit arbitrary authority of one person
Government authority to be shared equally among Roman
aristocrats
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Republican
Government
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Consuls
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The Senate
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Supervised foreign affairs,
treasury
Lifelong terms
Dictator
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The Senate
Executive authority
Term: 1 year
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Wielded supreme executive
authority during
emergencies
Term: 6 months
Rome
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Roman Expansion
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Formidable army (“iron
legions”)
By 133 BC Italy and
Greek East conquered
Built roads
Established colonies
Rome
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The Punic Wars
(264-146 BC)
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Mediterranean powers:
Rome, Carthage
Carthaginian Empire was
great naval power
Roman and Carthaginian
animosity  three wars
End result: destruction of
Carthage
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First Punic War
(264-241 BC)
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Over Sicily
Rome built a fleet
Rome was ultimate victor,
due to trouble in
Carthaginian government
Outcome
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Carthage no longer
maritime superpower
Rome gained Sicily, more
later
Rome
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Second Punic War
(218-201 BC)
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Carthage expanded
empire in Spain  war!
Hannibal invaded Italy
(218 BC) via Alps,
advanced to south
Rome conquered Spain
(206 BC), won in Africa
(202 BC)
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Outcome: Carthage lost
empire outside Africa
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Corvus
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Questions?
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Crisis in the Republic
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Power struggles,
disregard for
republican ideals
100+ years of warfare
Slave War in Italy
(73-71 BC)
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70,000 + slaves revolted,
led by Spartacus
Defeated 4 legions
Ultimately crushed  6,000
slaves crucified
The Roman Republic
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Julius Caesar
(100-44 BC)
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Roman general, politician
Extremely ambitious!
Growing power  threat to
Senate, politicians
Caesar invaded Italy (50
BC), gained control
Hunted enemies down in
Greece, Africa
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The Fall of Caesar
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Returned to Rome in triumph  more power!
Senate granted Caesar title “dictator for life” (Feb., 44 BC)
Assassinated by 60 senators (March 15, 44 BC)
Civil war!
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Cleopatra VII
(r. 51-30 BC)
 Hellenistic queen of
Egypt
 Wore “two faces”
 Encounters with
Romans
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Met Julius Caesar 
lovers
She and Antony 
lovers, allies
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Civil War: Antony and
Cleopatra vs. Octavian
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Octavian victorious at
Battle of Actium, Greece
(September, 31 BC)
Antony, Cleopatra
committed suicide
Octavian now master of
Roman world
Battle of Actium
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Questions?
Rome
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Augustus Caesar
(r. 29 BC – AD 14)
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Called “Augustus”
Task: tactfully rebuild Rome
First Roman emperor
Ruled as constitutional
monarch
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Augustan Reforms
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Centralized administration
Efficient government for
provinces
Crusade against immorality
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Encouraged marriage 
childbearing
Discouraged promiscuity,
adultery
Religion
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Restored neglected cults,
priesthoods
Repaired temples
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Remains of Temple of Julius Caesar, Roman Forum
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The Pax Romana and Culture
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Pax romana: period of internal peace, stability,
culture, prosperity
“Golden Age” of Latin Literature
 Augustus was a patron of the arts
 Virgil’s Aeneid
 Ovid’s Art of Love  banishment!
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Pont du Gard (1st cent. AD), Nîmes, France
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Garden Room, Villa Livia (Late 1st cent. BC)
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Augustus Caesar
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“I found Rome a city of
brick and left it a city of
marble!”
No heirs
Rule  stepson Tiberius
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Colosseum (AD 80)
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Largest amphitheater in
Roman world
50,000+ spectators
Beneath: waiting rooms,
cages for beasts,
equipment
Mock naval battles!
Main entertainment:
gladiators
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Rome
1989-1996
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Roman Empire (2nd cent. AD)
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Third-Century
Anarchy (235-285)
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Assassinations, civil
wars  many
emperors
Continued frontier war
 empire stretched too
thin
Other disasters
Capture of Valerian (r. 253-260) by Persians
Rome
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Diocletian (r. 284-305)
 Ended crisis
 Reforms: tetrarchy,
increased size of
military
 Emperor now absolute
monarch, lord
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Reforms  200 more
years for Roman Empire
Rome
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Questions?
Rome
Similarities to other ancient civilizations?
 What made it unique?
 Pros and cons of republic vs. empire?
 Where do we see traces of it in modern
West?

Primary Source
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Augustus’s Acts of the Divine Augustus
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What kind of a source?
When was it written, and where did it end up?
What did Augustus recount about his career as it
related to money, religion, domestic affairs,
international relations, etc.?
What titles did he receive?
How did he present himself in relation to the
Senate?
What view of Augustus comes through here?
Primary Source
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Decree Issued by Emperor Augustus (4 BC)
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What kind of source?
What was the situation?
How might we interpret Augustus’s relationship
with the Senate based on this document?
Primary Source
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Horace’s Ode to Augustus
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Who was Horace?
What kind of source?
What view of Augustus comes through here?
Primary Source
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Suetonius’s Life of Augustus
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Who was Suetonius?
What kind of source?
According to this source, how might we describe
the relationship between Augustus and the
Senate and people?
What title did Augustus receive here?
What view of Augustus comes through here?
Primary Source
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Inscription from the City of Narbonne (AD 11)
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What kind of source?
What is Augustus called here?
What does this reveal about perceptions of
Augustus?
Primary Source
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Tacitus’s Annals
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Who was Tacitus?
What kind of source?
How view of Augustus comes through here?
How does this contrast with the other sources?
Primary Source
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Dio Cassius’s Roman History
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Who was Dio Cassius?
What kind of source?
What view of Augustus (and subsequent
emperors) comes through here?
How does this contrast with the other sources?
Primary Source
Augustus of Primaporta (ca. 20 BC)
Primary Source