Download Class 12-13 Notes Roman Republic

Class 12-13 Notes Roman Republic
Aeneas – Aphrodite/Venus, Troy, Dido & Carthage, Latinus, Romulus
& Remus, Julius Caesar & Brutus descendants
Romulus (771-717 BC)& Remus (771-753 BC) – Sons of Mars &
Rhea (a “vestal virgin”, priestess of Vesta), Rhea killed, twins left on
banks, then swept away by Tiber; on Palatine Hill, both nurtured,
suckled by she-wolf, (the “Lupercal”); subjects of Numitor & Amulius,
rulers of Alba Longa; twins are famed for bravery, etc.; Remus taken
prisoner by Amulius, rescued by Romulus and army of shepherds;
Amulius executed; twins leave Alba Longa and found city (Rome) on
Palatine Hill; Twins argue location, engage in augury contest, which
Romulus wins; Romulus builds wall, Remus vaults it and is killed by
brother;
753 BC - “Roma” named, Romulus first king; “legions” (3,000 infantry,
300 cavalry regiments) established; Council of 100 called “Patricians”
(“fathers” to weak and poor) “Senate”; city attracts population of
males (who settle on 5 hills); Festival held with Sabines as guests,
women taken; war, Tarpeia’s betrayal of Capitoline Hill, women
intercede in battle; Sabines, under Tatius, and Romans unite;
Romulus becomes single king; legions double in size; Romulus
gradually becomes stronger, Senate & Patricians weaker;
717 BC In 38th year of R’s reign, huge storm forces citizens to flee, R
“disappears”; Monarchy begins, Numa Pompilius elected, institutes
12-month calendar; subsequent kings elected;
c. 670 BC Tullus Hostilius, bellicose king; killed by Jupiter for
neglecting gods;
c. 635 BC Ancus Marcius; Plebeian class established
c. 610 BC Tarquinus Priscus – 1st Etruscan king; Greek culture,
religion, gladiatorial combat introduced; alphabet; swamps drained,
sewage disposal employed; Circus Maximus built
c. 570 BC Servius Tullius – 2nd Etruscan king; voting rights based on
wealth, then legislation favoring plebeians; assassination instigated
by daughter Tullia and her husband…
c. 525 BC Tarquinus Superbus; scandal over Lucretia
c. 510 BC Monarchy expelled, resistance led by Lucius Junius
Brutus; consuls replace Kings, powers diluted; dictators chosen in
emergency –
460 BC Cincinnatus (519-430 BC) consul, retires to farm; 457 BC
drafted as Dictator to fight Acqui, retires again after 2 wks. 439 BC
Dictator again to put down plebe revolt (Tribunes)
c. 370 Plebeians gain parity with Patricians; new Patrician/Plebeian
nobility; average plebes suffer over time; many farmers lose land,
flock to city, sell votes; Tribune holds veto power
c. 300 “Equestrian class” derives from military to be rich commercial
class pursuing activities denied to Senate
264-146 BC – Punic Wars - Rome v. Carthage (analogous to Greece
v. Persia)
264-241 1st Punic War, Sicily taken from Carthage, Roman navy built,
use of corvus decisive
219-202 BC 2nd Punic War - Hannibal c. 247-183 BC, son of
Hamilcar Barca, takes Roman city in Iberia (Spain), while allies in N.
Italy prepare to attack Rome,
218 BC Hannibal invades Italy via Alps with Elephants, but loses
siege engines;
216 BC H destroys Roman army at Battle of Cannae; Carthage fails
to reinforce H’s army; Fabius (280-203 BC) fights guerilla war, but
Rome also fights Macedonia as well as Hasdrubal and Carthaginians
in Spain;
207 BC Hasdrubal also invades thru Alps, terrifying Romans, but Cs
are defeated at Metaurus River by Claudius Nero;
206 BC Scipio Africanus defeats Cs at Seville, forcing withdrawal
203 BC Scipio invades Africa, Hannibal returns to Carthage
202 BC Romans defeat Carthaginians at Battle of Zama; impose
humiliating peace terms
149 BC 3rd Punic War; Cathage pays off indemnity; raises army (Cato
“Carthage must be destroyed!”); Rome demands impossible
(relocation of city), declares war
146 BC Carthage destroyed after 3-year siege led by Scipio
Amilianus, adopted son of Scipio Africanus
133 BC Tiberius Gracchus Tribune; Victory in Punic wars leads to
huge influx of slaves, Plebeian land depreciation; T. Gracchus
proposes limit on land ownership, law vetoed by Tribune Marcus
Octavius, who was then impeached;
123 BC T Gracchus assassinated, Gaius Gracchus elected Tribune,
assaults Senate powers, proposes full Roman citizenship for foreign
allies
107 BC Gaius Marius (157-83 BC) elected consul; crushes African
rebellion, making Senate look foolish;
88 BC Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-73 BC), former ally, lieutenant of
Marius, appointed commander of army sent to defeat Mithridates in
Asia Minor, Marius, Plebeian Assembly opposes, voids appointment;
Sulla returns, defeats Marius’ army of gladiators, Marius flees, Sulla
returns to defeat Mithridates;
83 BC Marius returns with army, takes power but dies; Sulla returns
77 BC Sulla dies after strengthening Senate
c. 72 BC Slave revolt under Spartacus crushed
71 BC Pompey (106-48 BC) & Crassus (115-53 BC) elected consuls;
mollify plebs;
63 BC Catilinarian conspiracy crushed
61 BC “1st Triumvirate” – Pompey, Crassus & Julius Caesar (100-44
BC)
49 BC Pompey flees; Caesar appointed Dictator for Life, allys with
plebs v. Senate
44 BC Caesar assassinated by Patrician group
43 BC “2nd Triumvirate” Octavian, Antony, Lepidus
42 BC Conspirators crushed at Philipi
41 BC Antony & Octavian split Roman world – Antony rules East with
Cleopatra in Alexandria
40-33 BC “Cold War” between Octavian & Antony, who was a hero
 Antony extorts Rome for grain
 Antony divorces Roman wife, marries Cleopatra
 Antony declares Cesarian sole heir to Julius Caesar
 Octavian proclaims Antony “immoral” and of “going native”
33 BC Triumvirate ends
31 BC Battle of Actium,
30 BC Antony & Cleopatra commit suicide
27 BC Octavian deified, named “Augustus Caesar,” Empire begins