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Ancient Rome
Chapter 5: Republic to Empire
Early Rome
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The early development
of Rome was most
influenced by the
Etruscans, who
launched a building
program that turned
Rome into a city.
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The location of the city
of Rome was especially
favorable to early
settlers.
Rome had a way to the
sea. However, it was far
enough inland to be
safe from pirates.
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Because it was built on
seven hills, it was easily
defended.
In addition, it was
situated where the
Tiber could easily be
crossed.
Therefore, it became a
natural crossing point
for north-south traffic in
western Italy.
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A republic formed out of
early Rome.
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A republic is a form of
government in which the
leader is not a monarch
and certain citizens have
the right to vote.
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The Patricians were
great landowners who
became Rome’s ruling
class.
The plebeians were the
less wealthy made up
of small farmers,
craftsmen, etc.
Both classes could
vote, but only the
patricians could be
elected into
government positions.
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The Roman Senate,
which came to hold an
important position in the
Roman Republic, was a
select group of about
three hundred
patricians who served
for life.
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During this time several
important codes of Law
emerged such as the
Twelve Tables and the
Law of Nations.
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The main influences that the
Roman Law of Nations had
on generations of world and
American criminal law are
as follows:
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A person must be regarded
as innocent until proven
otherwise.
Persons who are accused
of a crime must be allowed
to defend themselves
before a judge.
A judge must weigh
evidence carefully before
making a decision.
From Republic to Empire
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Due to wars, individual
Senators & military
people gained much
power.
Eventually a
triumvirate,
(government by three
people with equal
power) was formed to
check the growing
power.
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The First Triumvirate was
made up of Crassus,
Pompey, and Julius Caesar.
Eventually, Julius Caesar
marched on Rome after his
military conquests in Gaul
(France).
He crushed Pompey’s
forces and declared a
dictatorship – absolute ruler
– of Rome.
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A group from the
Senate (including
Caesar’s friend Brutus)
legally assassinated
Julius Caesar, the first
dictator of Rome.
Soon after a second
triumvirate formed that
included Octavian,
Antony, and Lepidus.
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After another civil war
between Octavian and
Antony, Octavian
assumed control over
all the Roman Empire.
The Senate accepted
him as imperator
(Emperor) and named
him Augustus.
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Although the Augustan
Age has been called
the golden age of Latin
literature, it was not a
golden age of
Emperors.
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Eventually, at the
beginning of the second
century, better
emperors ruled and the
Pax Romana or
“Roman Peace” was
achieved and a period
of peace and prosperity
lasted almost a
hundred years within
Rome.
Culture and Society in the Roman World
Culture and Society in the Roman World
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Virgil was the author of
the Aeneid, a poem
about Aeneas, who
shows duty, piety, and
faithfulness – all virtues
of good Romans.
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Spartacus was the
famous gladiator who
led a massive slave
revolt.
He was a leader among
many who advocated
the violent overthrow of
Roman rule, also
known as Zealots.
Unfortunately, they did
not escape, but fought
to their deaths.
Kirk Douglas (1960) , Goran Visnjic (2004) & Andy Whitfield (2010)
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Insulae were very
poorly built apartments
in the overcrowded
Rome. They were used
by the poor and often
collapsed.
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But, the emperors kept
the poverty-stricken
masses pacified by
giving them free grain
and providing
entertainment such as
Gladiator battles on a
grand scale.
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I chanced to stop in at a midday show, expecting fun, weight, and
some relaxation, when men's eyes take respite from the slaughter of
their fellow men. The preceding combats were merciful by comparison;
now all trifling is put aside and it is pure murder. The men have no
protective covering. Their entire bodies are exposed to the blows, and
no blow is ever struck in vain. . . . In the morning men are thrown to the
lions and the bears, at noon they are thrown to their spectators. The
spectators call for the slayer to be thrown to those who in turn will slay
him, and they detain the victor for another butchering. The outcome for
the combatants is death; the fight is waged with sword and fire. This
goes on while the arena is free. "But one of them was a highway robber,
he killed a man!" Because he killed he deserved to suffer this
punishment, granted. . . . "Kill him! Lash him! Burn him! Why does he
meet the sword so timidly? Why doesn't he kill boldly? Why doesn't he
die game? Whip him to meet his wounds! Let them trade blow for blow,
chests bare and within reach!" And when the show stops for
intermission, "Let's have men killed meanwhile! Let's not have nothing
going on!" ~ Seneca (40AD)
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When the poet Juvenal
said, “There’s only two
things that concern
them: Bread and
Circuses,” he was
talking about the
Roman masses being
distracted from serious
political issues by free
grain and
entertainment.
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The Circus Maximus housed horse and chariot races,
and gladiator shows that attracted thousands.
At its height, the Roman Empire had a population of
about fifty million.
Development of Christianity
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Christianity was able to
draw believers away from
the Roman gods for three
main reasons.
First, the Christian message
was personal and offered
salvation and eternal life to
individuals. The Roman
state-based religion was
impersonal and existed for
the good of Rome.
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Second, Christianity
seemed familiar.
It was viewed by some
as similar to other
religions, offering
immortality as the result
of the sacrificial death
of a savior-god.
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Finally, Christianity fulfilled
the human need to belong.
Christians formed
communities bound to one
another.
In these communities,
people could express their
love by helping one another
and offering assistance to
the poor and the sick.
Christianity satisfied the
need to belong in a way that
the huge Roman Empire
could never provide.
Chi Rho, the first two letters of Jesus Christ in Greek
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The Edict of Milan
proclaimed official tolerance
of Christianity.
And, on his death bed
Constantine became the
first Christian emperor.
Later, under Theodosius the
Great, Rome adopted
Christianity as its official
religion.
Decline and Fall
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The paterfamilias, or
dominant male, was the
head of the Roman
family and gradually
lost power over the
course of Roman
history.
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Believing the Roman
Empire had grown too
large for a single ruler,
Diocletian divided it into
four units, each with its
own ruler.
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The political and military
reforms of Diocletian and
Constantine greatly
enhanced the army and civil
service institutions, but
drained most of the public
funds.
In the long run, the
economic and social
policies of Diocletian and
Constantine stifled the
vitality the Late Empire
needed to revive its sagging
fortunes.
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Because the pressure put on the Visigoths by the
Asian Huns, the Visigoths were the first invaders to
sack Rome. Eventually, the Vandals, Ostrogoths,
Franks, Anglo-Saxons, and Huns invaded parts of
the former Roman Empire leaving anarchy and
destruction.
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Unlike the collapse
of the West, the
Eastern Roman
Empire (or
Byzantium)
changed names
several times but
continued to thrive
for the next 1000
years.