Rome: City-State to Empire SSWH3:a-d.

Time and Geography See Notes for Videos

POLITICAL

Roman Foundations Etruscans –From small city states in north, central Italy –Strongly influenced Roman religious beliefs, art and architecture –Gradually disappeared from history Greeks - the one alien group Romans thought superior Carthage - most powerful force in western Mediterranean Etruscans had a unique style of art

Republican Government Senate made up of patricians General Assembly made up of plebeians Two consuls: –Censors –Tribunes Equal voting rights Equal access to government for all Patricians Plebeians

Republican Government Rome’s conquest of Italy –Rome ruled most of central Italy by 340 –Encouraged subject populations to become integrated with Rome

Republican Government Punic Wars –First Punic War – Rome embarked on imperial expansion –Second Punic War – Rome defeated Carthage at Battle of Zama; controlled western Mediterranean

Republican Government Conquest of East –Some Senate opposition –Built outstanding military machine –Pro-consuls created as permanent commander/governors

Late Republic Late Republic’s Crisis –Strains were beginning to show –Poverty stricken farmers (proletariat) flocked to cities –Marius and Sulla The Triumvirates –Julius Caesar and First Triumvirate –Octavian and Second Triumvirate –Octavian’s final victory at Actium Julius Caesar

The Augustan Age Augustus’ reforms –“Retain the form, change the substance” –Octavian accepted title of “Augustus” (“Revered One”), preferred to be called “Princeps” (“First Citizen”) Imperial government policies –Kept republican institutions intact –Recognized problem of impoverished citizens –Tried to institute moral reforms, ended the love of luxury –Tried to revive faith in old gods and state cult –Reformed imperial protection, administration –Other military reforms –Praetorian Guard only armed force in Italy Augustus Caesar

The Augustan Age Peace and Prosperity –Pax Romana – greatest of his achievements –Many benefits for people in this period Augustus Caesar achieved peace throughout the Roman Empire

The Augustan Age Succession Problem –One important problem he could not solve –Successors depended on military support more than heredity to get into office One of Augustus’ successors

The Augustan Age Imperial Unification –Imperial government became increasingly centralized –Municipia – Roman towns, administrative units –Government became open to non-Italians

Roman Culture Law –Probably most valued Roman gift to later society –Basic principles: precedent, equity, interpretation –Ius gentium: law for relations between citizens, non-Romans Arts –Literature –Pictorial and plastic arts Patterns of Belief –Leaned toward the pragmatic, here-and-now –Religious convictions centered on duty to state and family hearth –Educated Romans affirmed Stoicism Marcus Aurelius, emperor and stoic philosopher

ECONOMIC

Economy Considerable boom in trade and manufacturing Livelihood changed little Slave and Freedom –Increasing number of slaves –Often more educated –Better skilled than their masters –Roman slavery was harsher than before –Increasing amount of voluntary slavery

SOCIAL

Society Gender relations –Patria potestas – authority of father over family –Women regarded as property –Marriages arranged, divorce common –Women worked in most trades Children and education –Patrician male child was important, well-educated –Females gradually got increased freedom

Discussion Questions 1.During the years of the Republic and early Empire, Rome expanded from a relatively insignificant group of people living in central Italy, to make the Mediterranean into a “Roman Lake”. What modern nations enlarged their territory the same way, in stages and usually through a series of wars? Choose one of them and compare their expansion to the Roman story.

Discussion Questions 2. Emperor Augustus tried to solve social and moral problems by instituting his own reforms. Consider how he handled the problem of the homeless – how did his solution differ from modern attempts to resolve this problem? Are there any similarities? What about his concern about the love of luxury and the modern paradigm of consumerism and materialism? What similarities? What differences?