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The Roman Empire The Real Story • C. 2000BCE – IndoEuropeans arrived – settled entire peninsula • Blended with Neolithic inhabitants – adapted culture • Iron metallurgy appeared 900BCE • People called Etruscans dominated area – Built prosperous cities – Made political and economic alliances – Actively traded in Med Sea – Troubles in 6th cent. BCE • Greeks defeated them at sea – Celts from Gaul on land – Early Roman kings were Etruscans The Republic • 509BCE – Roman nobility deposed last Etruscan king • Replaced monarchy with aristocratic republic • Built Roman Forum – political and civic center full of temples & public buildings • Created republican constitution • Executives were two consuls – civil & military power – 1 yr. terms – Elected by assembly of hereditary nobles (known as patricians) known as the Senate • Advised consuls and ratified major decisions • Tension between the patricians & plebians (common people) – Threatened to secede – So they received the right to elect officials known as tribunes • • • • Had power to intervene in matters and veto By 4th cent. BCE – plebians could hold most state offices Also had one consul come from their class By 3rd cent. BCE – they dominated gov’t • In military or civil crisis, Romans could appoint dictator for 6 months Expansion of Republic • Constant threat from Etruscans and Gauls • Romans gained control of entire peninsula • Conquered people were mostly exempt from taxes – could rule locally, trade, marry, etc. – Could not make other alliances – must provide soldiers • Romans wanted to expand in Med Sea – Most powerful there was Carthage (Tunisia) – center of trade – wealth and power • 264-146BCE – series of wars called Punic Wars – Finally Rome destroyed Carthage – salted ground, annexed colonies in N. Africa and Iberia • 3 Hellenistic empires still controlled east Med • Later fought Antigonid and Seleucid empires (had become weak) – Didn’t annex them – entrusted them to allies • By mid 2nd cent. BCE – Rome is THE power in the Med Sea Imperial Expansion • Patterns of land distribution caused political and social tension • Conquered land went to aristocrats – formed latifundia (like plantations) • 2nd & 1st cent. BCE this led to conflict & civil war • Gracchi Brothers – limited amount of land a person could hold – some given to small farmers- assassinated • Showed that Constitution not working any longer • Politicians and generals began trying to take power – Gathered troops form landless or city – Most important were: • Gaius Marius – reformer who wanted redistribution of land • Lucius Sulla – ally of wealthy conservatives • Result – civil war – Sulla won • • • • Problems continued Small farmers lost land – went to city City people kept joining armies of generals Then along comes Julius Caesar (neph. Of Marius) – 60sBCE – active in politics – sponsored gladiator events – good reputation – 50sBCE – conquered Gaul for Rome – Conservatives feared him – tried to get him out of power • 49BCE – took army to Rome – took over • Dictator by 46BCE • Centralized military and political functions • Took property from conservatives – gave to supporters • Citizenship to people in provinces • Alienated many wealthy • Assassinated in 44BCE • Another civil war – 13 yrs. Julius Caesar in Power Caesar Augustus • Struggled ended with power in hands of Octavian • Naval battle at Actium in 31BCE – defeated rival Mark Antony & Cleopatra • 27BCE – Senate gave him title of Augustus – ruled 45 years • Created gov’t structure that would last 300 years • • • • Monarchy disguised as a republic Ruled like Caesar – but more cautiously Allowed members of elite in gov’t Standing army with commanders who owed him loyalty • Put loyal people in top positions • Died in 14CE Continuing Expansion • Rome continued to expand • Even gained Gaul, Britain, Spain & part of Germany – sparsely populated – sm. Villages – Sent soldiers, diplomats, governors and merchants to live there – Stimulated trade & economies & growth of towns like Paris, London Pax Romana • • • • • Augustus brought peace to empire Occasional flare-ups among conquered people Lasted 2 ½ cent. Trade and culture flourished Roman roads – milestones, courier stations connected all parts of empire Roman Law • Legal scholars created elaborate system of law • C. 450BCE –Twelve Tables was the basic law code • Scholars created a body of law that would apply to all people under Roman rule – Innocent until proven guilty – Defendant had right to challenge accusers • This helped integrate diverse lands and groups • Lasted long after Rome had fallen Trade & Urbanization • Latifundia worked to grow crops for export • Grains grown in Africa, Egypt and Sicily – This allowed other areas to concentrate on fruits and veggies or manufactured goods • Sea lanes linked all parts of empire • Med sea became mare nostrum (“our sea”) Rome – the City • Profit from trade, taxes, tribute, went to Rome • It became very urban • Statues, pools, fountains, arches, temples, bath houses, stadiums, aquaducts, etc. • Circus Maximus - 250,000 people – chariot races • Roman Colosseum could hold 50,000 – gladiator battles & mock naval battles • Concrete invented • Hundreds of thousands worked construction in many cities • Population surged • Bankers, shopkeepers, merchants, artisans • Sewage and drainage systems Pater Familias • Means “father of the family” • law made males heads of families • Could arrange marriages, assign work duties, punish, sell into slavery, kill • Very rarely abused these powers • Family included also slaves, servants & close relatives Wealth and Society • Wealthy merchants, politicians and landowners: – Built huge palaces, ate exotic foods, dressed richly • Farmers and commoners – porridge, veggies, sometimes meats, small houses – Poverty became big problem – Leaders tried to keep them happy with “bread and circuses” – grain and entertainment • By 2nd cent. BCE – slaves were1/3 of population • sold, punished, or even executed for serious offenses – Harsh conditions led to revolts • 73BCE – Spartacus escaped – gathered 70,000 slaves – Rome dispatched 40,000 troops to put it down • Slaves in cities had it better – Worked as domestic servants, laborers or for business/craftsmen – Could hope for freedom after loyal service at about 30 yrs. of age Judaism • Rome controlled Palestine/Israel • Jews did not like being told to worship state cults and revolted • Roman forces defeated Jews during Jewish War 66-70CE • Some Jews founded new sects to look for saviors to deliver them from oppression • One sect was the Essenes • Dead Sea Scrolls reveal their beliefs – – – – Strict moral code Baptism of water Ritual community meal Savior to deliver them from Roman rule Jesus of Nazareth • • • • Other Jews gathered around Jesus Taught devotion to God and love for others Reputation for healing powers Upset Romans because he taught that “the kingdom of God is at hand” – They saw it as a threat to their rule • To stop future rebellions, they nailed him to a cross in early 30’sCE • Followers said he rose from the grave • Called him Christ – “the anointed one” – a savior • Taught he was the son of God and died for their sins • They believed the faithful would have eternal life in kingdom of God • Compiled writing of his life, teachings, & letters of his followers – Called the New Testament Establishing Christianity • Mid 1st cent. CE – followers tried to convert people • Most important figure was Paul of Tarsus (Jew from Anatolia) – Attracted the urban masses – Taught people to have high moral standards – Put faith above all else – Explained history as result of God’s activity – Traveled widely looking for converts – Last two yrs. took him to Rome – executed • For 200 yrs. there was no central authority for the new religion • Communities selected people called bishops who oversaw the priests – Governed according to how they interpreted God’s word – Different for different bishops • Romans had sporadic campaigns to persecute Christians • Still, religion grew quickly • Rome had large community of Christians bBy 300CE • Appealed to lower classes, urban people and women • Gave sense of spiritual freedom – better than wealth and power • Taught spiritual equality of sexes