Accomplishments of Ancient Rome

Italy from 1000 BCE-500 BCE Three cultures shape early Italy: Greek, Etruscans, and Latin. The Romans were a Latin tribe.

Roman republic From 509 BCE to 27 BCE, Rome had a republic (citizens choose their leaders). Rights of political participation expanded over time.

ROMAN GOVERNMENT

War with Greece & expansion in Italy 282 BCE-275 BCE. Greek general Pyrrhus won a “Pyrrhic Victory”—the victory was too costly. Eventually Rome defeated Greece. By 264 BCE, Rome ruled the Italian peninsula.

Punic (Phoenician) Wars Rome versus Carthage: 264 BCE-241 BCE; 218 BCE-202 BCE; 149 BCE. Battle of Cannae in Italy: Hannibal’s army destroyed over ½ of the Roman military. Battle of Zama in Africa: Rome won (202 BCE).

Hannibal

Hannibal

Head of Hasdrubal by Giovanni Tiepolo

Expansion of the Roman republic to 146 B.C.E. Expansion of the Roman republic to 146 B.C.E. Page: 273 Page: 273

Ancient Rome: Expansion and Conflict

Reform and the Gracchus brothers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus supported land redistribution. Both were assassinated (133 BCE; 121 BCE)

Republic threatened by dictatorship Gaius Marius Gaius Marius General who professionalized the army. Consul seven times. Social reformer.

Gaius Marius

Lucius Lucius Cornelius Cornelius Sulla Sulla ( BCE); general; supported patricians. In 88 BCE, civil war between the armies of Sulla and Marius. Sulla won and in 82 BCE declared himself dictator for life. Legacy: military leaders were a threat to the republic.

Lucius Cornelius Sulla

ROME AND TYRRANY

Spartacus and the Third Servile War 73 BCE-71 BCE. Thousands of slaves revolted against the Romans but were defeated

Death of Spartacus

Julius Caesar A patrician who supported social reforms. In 60 BCE, he, Marcus Crassus, and Gnaeus Pompey formed the “First Triumvirate” and ruled the empire for 10 years.

JULIUS CAESAR

Marcus Crassus

Gnaeus Pompey

Conquered Gaul (France), which is described in his book, Commentaries on the Gallic Wars, (57 BCE-49 BCE).

“Crossing the Rubicon:” It means committing yourself to a decision. Caesar crossed the Rubicon River from Gaul and marched on Rome, which resulted in a civil war.

Caesar became dictator in 48 BCE. “Veni, Vidi, Vici.” He restored his mistress, Cleopatra, to the Egyptian throne. Assassinated in 44 BCE. “Et tu, Brute.”

Julius Caesar

After Julius Caesar’s death, the empire was ruled for eight years by three men (2 nd Triumvirate): Octavian (Caesar’s grandnephew), Mark Antony, and Lepidus.

OCTAVIAN (AUGUSTUS CAESAR)

Marc Antony

Lepidus

By 36 BCE, only Antony and Octavian ruled. Civil war erupted. Cleopatra allied with Antony. Battle of Actium: Octavian’s forces won at sea.

The Empire (Beginning of imperial rule) Octavian (Augustus Caesar) became the first emperor of Rome (the republic ended). He ruled until CE 14.

Octavian (Augustus)

Caligula: CE 37-CE 41

Nero: CE 54-CE 68

Pax Romana (Roman Peace) From Augustus to mid-3rd the Roman empire experienced peace and prosperity. The “Five Good Emperors” were generally tolerant and expanded building projects. ***Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius.

Nerva: CE 96-CE 98

Trajan: CE 98-CE 117

Hadrian: CE 117-CE 138

Antonius Pius: CE 138-CE 161

Marcus Aurelius: CE 161-CE 180

The Roman empire about 117 C.E. The Roman empire about 117 C.E. Page: 279 Page: 279

Religions and philosophies in the Roman empire Roman deities: often adopted from other cultures. Greek influence--Stoicism. appealed to Roman Intellectuals such as Cicero (106 BCE-43 BCE).

Cicero

Salvation religions: Mithraism (only men) and Cult of Isis (and Osiris).

Judaism Considered state cults blasphemous. The Essenes: sect of Judaism; Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Jewish War (CE 66-CE 70) & the Zealot holdout at Masada

Christianity Christianity became a new religion. Jesus: Charismatic Jewish teacher who taught devotion to God and love For human beings. Became Christ or “anointed one.” Crucified in the early 30s CE.

Old and New Testaments became the holy books (Bible) of Christianity. Paul of Tarsus was the main figure in spreading Christianity.

Pompeii after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius

Herculaneum

DAILY LIFE IN ANCIENT ROME