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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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Appointed during
emergencies
Wielded supreme executive
authority
Term: 6 months
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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
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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
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Second Punic War
(218-201 BC)
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Carthage recovered,
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”
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Hellenistic monarch to
Greeks and Romans
Divine, pharaonic queen to
Egyptians
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?
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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
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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?
