Download 1 The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire I The Rise and Fall of the

The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire I
There was Once a Dream that was Rome
I came, I saw, I conquered. Julius Caesar’s words play to the heart of how Rome entered the historical stage from a small
city on the Italian peninsula to eventually becoming the center of the Mediterranean Sea and the world with history’s first
republic. The task of creating this dream was hard, but keeping it would prove to be Rome’s most difficult task
“A republic madam, if you can keep it” –Benjamin Franklin upon
being asked what type of government America had
EARLY INHABITINTS
Latins – the first group of people to move into the peninsula of Italy and settle the region known as Latium
mostly farmers and herders who spoke Latin
founded the city of Rome
Rome – city in the central part of Italy built located in and ideal location on the Tigris River and seven hills
far enough inland to avoid naval attacks
located on a river with easy access to the Mediterranean Sea  transportation and trade
seven hills of Rome makes it easily defendable
The Greeks and Etruscans migrated to the Italian peninsula spreading their culture and influencing the region
Greeks – they spread their culture including art, sculptures, religion, literature and architecture
colonized the southern part of the Italian peninsula and Italian island of Sicily during the Greek
colonization period
Etruscans – they migrated into the northern part of the Italian peninsula, settling in northern region of Etruria
begin a massive building campaign in Rome turning the small town into a growing city
Etruscan kings ruled over Rome and northern Italy for nearly two centuries before being
overthrown and kicked out by the Romans in 509B.C.
THE DREAM THAT WAS ROME
After kicking out the Etruscans from Rome, the Romans began one of history’s first republics
republic - a form of government where the government's political power depends solely on the consent of
represenative officials elected the people and who are bound by a set of established laws
Roman society was broken up into two different classes: the patricians and plebeians
patricians – rich ruling class of Rome  landowners, nobles, some priests
the head executives (two consuls) had to be from this class along with elected officials
plebeians – poor, second-class citizen  merchants, small farmers, craftspeople
forbidden from intermarrying with patricians, holding public office or access to the laws because
there was no formal written law, only traditional practice which kept the plebeians in their place
Class struggle between the two was severely demonstrated in the Roman Republic with the patricians dominating the
Senate and Assemblies
The Roman Republic consisted of the Roman Senate and a collection of Assemblies
Senate - consisted of 300 patricians who served life terms  no plebeians
influenced Rome’s finances and foreign affairs
advised the consuls on all matters of the state  consuls were two men who were
given supreme power over everything (political and military power)
eventually given the power to “create and propose” laws
Assemblies – these were a collection of different groups who were incharge of “passing” laws put before them
dominated by the patricians with the Centurian Assembly having the most power by electing the
two consuls
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire I 2
Due to the class struggle between patricians and plebeians in government, the plebeians in the Republic rose up leading
to massive changes in government
Plebeian Council – established in 471B.C., this council was made up of only the poor lower class of the plebeians
were granted the power to approve all laws that applied to plebeians, ONLY plebeians
gained repersentation and more power in the republic due to their association with
enrollment in the army for the Rome’s protection  without the plebeians there was no
army or protection
after two hundred years (287B.C.) of debates, protests, and outright abandonment of
Rome, the Plebeian Council eventually gained the power to approve all laws regarding
ALL Romans, intermarry with patricians, and hold elected office (including consul)
Twelve Tables – passed in 450B.C., it became the first system of written laws in Rome  only applied to Romans
Law of Nations – new system of laws that were established for everyone
became known as natural or universal law  innocent until proven guilty by a judge who weighed
evidence
CONQUEST OF ITALY
Rome began its republic surrounded by outside threats from neighboring civilizations including the Latins, Etruscans,
and Greeks
in 338B.C. Rome defeats the Latins and began their conquest of Italy
Etruscans – after the 10-year siege of Veii (405-396B.C.), Rome finally conquers the Etruscan city beginning its
conquest of the Etruscan civilization, which was conquered by 261B.C.
because many soldiers were away from their farms for so long, Rome began to pay their soldiers
for the first time  led to the creation of a professional army
Italian Greeks – after suffering a couple of defeats, the Romans were able to wear down the collection of Greek
colonies in southern Italy and push them out of Italy by 265B.C.
by 265B.C., Romans were in control all of Italy
What two things made Rome successful from this point?
Stake in Government - conquered territories were offered Roman citizenship for good behavior and loyalty 
therefore conquered people could improve their status and thus have a stake in government
EVERYONE had to pay taxes, provide soldiers for the military, but ONLY ROMANS could
vote or hold office  not everyone was a “Roman”…yet!
citizenship wasn’t permanent and could be taken away for disloyalty or bad behavior
Military – great military strategy of establishing a paid, professional army
rank was determined by skill and property  skill was gained by battles; property by conquering
territory (many conquered territories were given to soldiers)  do better as a soldier, increase
your status in society
Roman colonies were established in conquered territory, made up of veteran soldiers who were
“Roman” and thus had a stake in Rome  helped keep order and stop rebellions
to connect Rome to conquered towns, Romans built a series of interconnected roads
(infrastructure) that made it possible for large garrisons/legions of soldiers to move easily and
quick despite terrain or weather  roads were perfectly straight
“All Roads Lead to Rome”
Rome’s conquest of southern Italy caught the attention of the Western Mediterranean’s greatest naval force, Carthage.
The Roman Republic emerged as a powerful force in the Mediterranean and threatened Carthage’s supremacy in the
region and the region was only big enough for one superpower. As these two powers clashed, the prize hung in the
balance: control of the Western Mediterranean
Carthage – an ancient city in the Northern most part of Africa who domincated the northern Africa and Hispania (the
southern tip of Spain) souther
originally founded by Phoenician colonists when their homeland was attacked by the Assyrians
with a large powerful navy, the city controlled trade in the region and began settling colonies elsewhere
in the western Mediterranean  island of Sicily
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PUNIC WARS (Punic: Latin for Phoenician)
Rome and Carthage’s conflict began in 264B.C. on the island of Sicily, when settlements there began to appeal to the two
powers to settle internal conflicts plaguing the island
First Punic War (264-241B.C.) – fought over control of the island of Sicily
Rome, with its great land army, was able to achieve early land victories in Sicily forcing Carthaginians
there to retreat to their walled cities  Rome besieged the cities but without a navy were unable to stop
supplies coming from Carthage
Rome builds a navy and crushes Carthage’s navy thus cutting of Carthage’s supplies to Sicily and taking
full control of the island
Rome and Carthage signed a peace treaty where Rome would gain Sicily and both sides agreed not to
attack each other or their allies
A few years after the treaty was signed a rebellion began in Carthage. Rome seized this opportunity and seized
Carthage’s territory on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia thus breaking the treaty from 241B.C.
237B.C – Carthage expands its empire by crossing into Hispania (Spain)
Hispania became a great source of wealth for Carthage and thus a large well-disciplined army is placed
there for its protection
Fearful of Punic expansion into the region, Rome signs a treaty with Carthage in which Carthage
promises not to cross the Ebro River into Roman Territory and Rome promises not to interfere with
Punic expansion  Rome breaks this treaty by allying with the city of Saguntum (100 miles South of the
Ebro River)
Second Punic War (218-202B.C.) – after Carthage sieges and burns Saguntum, Rome declares war on Carthage
Hannibal – the commander of Carthage’s army, decides to take the war to the Rome and invades the Italian
peninsula by crossing the Alps into Northern Italy with 46,000 men
Rome sends four armies (1-2-1) against Hannibal  each one is crushed
Battle of Cannae (216B.C.) – Rome raises another army of 80,000 men to attack Hannibal which fails with
nearly the entire army being killed or captured  one of the worst defeats in Roman history  no other
Roman army would face Hannibal in open battle for fear of defeat
even though Rome was nearly defenseless, Hannibal didn’t have the numbers to siege a walled
city like Rome
Publius Cornelius Scipio – the senate appointed him to led an army to take back territory in Hispania
takes over cutting Hannibal’s life line to Carthage leaving him stuck in northern Italy
he leaves Hispania in 204B.C. crosses into Africa and attacks the Carthaginians forcing a peace
treaty  Hannibal was forced to retreat from Italy as part of the treaty (he won every battle but
lost the war)
Battle of Zama (202B.C.) – with Hannibal in Africa, Carthage risks it all in a battle against Scipo on their
home turf  Scipio’s army defeats Hannibal’s forcing Carthaginian senate to sue for peace
Third Punic Wars (149-146B.C.) – for many years Romans had called for the destruction of Carthage
in 146B.C. Rome attacks the city beginning Third Punic War totally destroying Carthage in 10 days
inhabits sold into slavery, the city was burned and the soil was plowed under using salt
After a few battles against the Macedonian-Greeks and a treaty with Egypt, Rome now had control over the entire
Mediterranean by the 1st century B.C.