753-509 7 Kings 509 – c. 44 BCE Republic 31 BCE – … ? Roman Empire Ancient Rome 753-509 7 Kings 509 – c. 44 BCE Republic 31 BCE – … ? Roman Empire
Roman citizens Latin rights citizen without vote allies
Bacchus (Dionysus)
Senate’s decree (SC) against the Bacchanalia, 186 BCE
Polybius, a Greek statesman, came to Rome as a hostage & wrote the history Friend of top Senators such as the Scipio family With Scipio the Younger at the burning of Carthage (146 BCE) An example of Greek culture and education (liberal arts) coming to Rome His theory of a mixed constitution influenced the U.S. quite a bit: Consuls -- executive like kings Senate -- aristocrats People -- some democratic element (remember SPQR)
Social stresses. The Gracchi brothers Social stresses. The Gracchi brothers. Roman Senators divided into Populares and Optimates Tiberius Gracchus, a reforming noble. Tribune 133. land reform Murdered by Senators in a mob riot; body thrown in the Tiber River Caius Gracchus, Tribune 122-121. Reform proposals. Proposed to give Roman citizenship to Italians (who are allies & second-class citizens) Extortion court given to equites to judge equites (“knights”) = businessmen, tax collectors (whereas senators are old landed wealth) Other courts: judges chosen from a panel of both equites and senators)
Law … or the use of force? ... Legal murder? “judicial murder” Senatus consultum ultimum (SCU) First used against Caius Gracchus and his supporters in 121 BCE the Senate authorized the consuls “to see to it that the Republic suffer no harm” Cicero refers to this in his accusation of Catiline in 63 BCE
Social War, c. 91-88 BCE Italian allies (socii) (in yellow & orange) demand full Roman citizenship. War. Lex Iulia grants citizenship
Marius – Popularis Sulla - Optimate. Dictator 81-79 BCE Lucius Cornelius Sulla takes Rome with an army in 81 BCE Dictator Proscriptions Gave courts back to Senators Increased Senate to 600 Made 7 new permanent courts (for murder, treason, bribery, etv.)
CATILINE, 63 BCE : Catiline lost elections for consul in 64 [for 63] and 63 [for 62] In 63 [elections in Summer] he ran on cancellation of debts Conspiracy Cicero’s accusations against him