Download The Three Periods of Ancient Rome:

The Three Periods
of Ancient Rome:
The Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic,
and the Roman Empire.
Academic Concepts:
1 – Ancient Rome had three periods: The Roman
Kingdom, the Roman Republic, and the Roman
Empire. We will look at an overview of the
three periods with a focus on change over
time.
2 – Rome grew and became strong because
Romans were willing to work together and
agree upon rules or treaties to keep peace.
Gospel Principles
The Lord asks us to work hard and become self-reliant. He also expects
us to work together, show respect for others and practice charity.
Scripture:
“See that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not
requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength”
(Mosiah 4:27).
“And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem
the children of men from the fall. And because that they are
redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing
good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon,
save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day,
according to the commandments which God hath given.”
2Nephi 2:26
Vocabulary Words
Vocabulary: Self sufficient, self reliant, kingdom,
republic, empire.
Assignment: Write the meaning of these words
in your notebook. Record them for future
reference.
The Need for Order
War has always been a part of settlement as leaders and their men
fought over land and ruled their neighbors by power. According to
legend, Romulus invited the neighboring Sabine’s to a feast wherein
the Romans seized the Sabine women for eventual control of their
land. Ultimately, a compromise was reached in which Rome was
ruled alternately by Roman and Sabine kings.
The first period started in 753 BC and is called the Roman Kingdom.
Romulus was a king. Rome was ruled by kings for over 200 years.
Many of these kings came from the Etruscan people who lived
north of Rome.
About 510 BC the people of Rome became angry with their kings and
rebelled. They created a government based on law, or a republic.
This was the beginning of the period of time called the Roman
Republic. It lasted almost 500 years. During these years Rome grew
to cover all of Italy, and parts of southern Europe and northern
Africa.
Cooperation and Order
The laws of the republic were meant to keep any
single person from gaining too much power.
However struggles within the empire soon led to
divisions among the people.
Popular leaders gained power and became strong
dictators.
The final period of Roman history began with Julius
Caesar, the first of these leaders. He came to
power around 44 BC, causing the fall of the
republic and the rise of the third period, the
Roman Empire. It eventually included almost all
of Europe.
The Roman Kingdom
Last week we learned of the influence of surrounding
cultures. The Etruscans, Rome’s neighbors to the north,
helped transform Rome from a village to a city.
The Etruscans gave Rome the alphabet they had learned
from the Greeks and new political organizations. The
traditional Etruscan symbols of power, bundles of rods
and axes, were carved on large stone public buildings
to indicate industry and hard work.
Under the influence of Etruscan kings, Rome grew from a
cluster of hilltop farms to the undisputed leader of
large sections of land extending from the Alban Hills in
the east to the mouth of the Tiber River in the west.
After nearly a century, the Roman Republic was born.
Birth of the Republic
Latin cities joined Rome and threw off the yoke of
Etruscan political power and retained only their
strong cultural influence.
By the 5th century BC, Rome was an important
influence in the area but not a major regional
power. Through minor wars and major military
successes, Rome controlled the whole of the
Italian peninsula either from alliance or conquest.
By the middle of the 3rd century, Rome had become
the ruler of a great Mediterranean empire. The
provinces brought great wealth and power to
Rome’s leaders and to its people.
The Roman Empire
This period of Roman history is identified by the government being ruled by an
emperor whose total leadership amassed large territorial holdings around the
Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Minor. Political
infighting within the government made the Roman government unstable.
The appointment of Julius Caesar as perpetual dictator in 44 BC changed the seat of
power from the Roman Senate to an autocratic Emperor. Future dictators ruled the
Empire until it ultimately split into three competing factions; the Gallic Empire, the
Palmyrene Empire and the Roman Empire proper. These changes in ruling power
were caused by foreign invasions and economic depression.
During its tenure, the Roman Empire was the most powerful economic, cultural,
political and military force in the world. It was the largest empire of the Classical
antiquity period, and the eighteenth largest empire in world history. At the height
of its power the Roman Empire covered roughly 6.8 million square miles and its
leaders ruled over nearly 70 million people, about 21% of the world's entire
population at the time.
The greatness of the Roman Empire ensured the lasting influence of Latin and Greek
language, culture, religion, inventions, architecture, philosophy, law and differing
forms of government throughout modern history.
Stories of Early Rome
Stories of early Rome have been passed on orally in songs
and fables until they were finally written down
centuries later. Some of these stories have a mythic
quality and often with contradictory versions. Yet they
are treasures that illuminate the values that the
Romans treasured through the centuries.
Romans regarded themselves as highly “moral” people
and wanted to follow the values of their ancestors. The
literary power of the story was more important than
accuracy. In antiquity all Roman writers were usually
wealthy men who lived in cities. They were more
concerned with recording the substance of a speech
rather than recording it word for word.
Polybius (200-118)
A Greek historian and noted for his work,
The Histories, which covered the
period of 264–146 BC in detail. The
work describes the rise of the Roman
Republic to 'world power'.
As city states that became empires,
Rome and Carthage found it
necessary to formalize their financial
interests and physical areas of
influence.
Their differences were more manageable
through treaties between the two
empires.
The first of their four treaties was signed
in 509 BC the year Rome was
founded. These treaties provided
tolerance and order between these
two empires for centuries.
First Treaty between Rome and Carthage
“There shall be friendship between the Romans and their allies, and the Carthaginians
and their allies, on these conditions:
Neither the Romans nor their allies are to sail beyond the Fair Promontory, unless
driven by stress of weather or the fear of enemies. If any of them be driven ashore
he shall not buy or take anything for himself save what is needful for the repair of
his ship and the service of the gods, and he shall depart within five days.
Men landing for traffic shall strike no bargain save in the presence of a herald or town
clerk. Whatever is sold in the presence of these, let the price be secured to the
seller on the credit of the state-that is to say, if such sale be Libya or Sardinia.
If any Roman comes to the Carthaginian province in Sicily, he shall enjoy all rights
enjoyed by others. The Carthaginians shall do no injury to the people of Ardea,
Antium, Laurentium, Circeii, Tarracina, nor any other people of the Latins that are
subject to Rome.
From those townships even which are not subject to Rome they shall hold their lands;
and if they take one, shall deliver it unharmed to the Romans. They shall build no
fort in Latium; and if they enter the district in arms, they shall not stay a night
therein.”
Discussion
Reason:
In what ways do you see wisdom in this treaty? What are the benefits
to both sides?
What council benefits friendship and order between the Romans and
the Carthaginians?
Relate:
What rules do you have to create order in your home? Name two
commandments you live by that make your relationships with your
friends and your family better.
How does being obedient to the commandments help you to
progress? What difference do they make in your life, in the lives of
your family members and to your friends?
How do rules and agreed upon directions create order and provide for
greater success in society and in your family?