“All roads lead to Rome.” “Rome was not built in a day.” “When in Rome...” How did Rome win such a place in modern popular culture?

Let’s read about it! Woof!

Legend has it that Romulus built Rome on the Palentine Hill – one of the Seven Hills of Rome Romulus Remus Rome's Elite Fortresses & Government

People settled on seven hills along the Tiber River between BCE – Called Latins or Italics Many geographical advantages: – Easy to defend – Fertile soil – Access to rivers allows for trade in the Mediterranean Sea – Other more powerful societies controlled the rest of the Italian peninsula Example: Greeks and Etruscans

Can be broken into three “eras” – For over 200 years, Rome was a Kingdom – For about 500 years, Rome was a Republic – For about 500 years, Rome was an Empire

Really Etruscan Kingdom

Early kings of Rome – Not much is known as their written works did not survive – Who were they? Most developed Latin/Italic people Located in northern, central Italy Most likely descendants of modern-day Turkey and native Italian population By 6 th century BCE they were the most powerful city state (modeled after the Greek system)

Romans resented the all-powerful Etruscan kings who gave them no say in their government 509 BCE the Romans revolted against Lucius Tarquinius Superbus Result: End of the Etruscan kings

Romans keep many Etruscan ideas: – Hierarchy of Gods (Greek in origin) – Alphabet (also Greek in origin) – Toga – I told you they “borrowed” freely from other cultures! Toga! Toga!

Just a smidgen of Phoenician A spoonful of Persian A dollop of Egyptian A heaping portion of Greek Yum, Etruscan! Goin’ back for Greek seconds!

What are the three “eras” we can break Roman history into? Who were the early kings of Rome? What was the name of the last king of the Etruscans?

Can be broken into three “eras” – For over 200 years, Rome was a Kingdom – For about 500 years, Rome was a Republic – For about 500 years, Rome was an Empire

Romans never wanted a king again or any government with a single ruler – Establish a Republic…what is it? “Republic” literally comes from a Roman term Res Publica, or “the public concern” or “public affairs” – This essentially translates to sharing all power

By 264 BCE the Romans controlled the entire Italian peninsula The Republican Government consisted of… 1. The Consuls – Two chief officials who led the government Appointed to perform the duties that, prior to them, the king was responsible for, like military authority and ensuring civic welfare and acting as chief diplomat and religious authority. – Elected once a year; Each had equal power; could veto the other

By 264 BCE the Romans controlled the entire Italian peninsula The Republican Government consisted of… 2. The Senate – Originally advisors to the king; aristocratic – Chosen by consuls – 300 upper-class patricians – Members for life – Most powerful part of the government – Deliberated on and voted on laws (consuls proposed) – The model for the US government

What were the pros of this system compared to monarchy? What possible problems could this lead to?

Dictator – Roman official who had all the power of a king, but could only hold office for 6 months Used only in dire emergencies Praetors – Junior consuls who helped develop first rules for Roman judicial system (courts)

Patricians – Members of wealthy families; only people eligible for the Senate Plebeians – everyone else in ancient Rome (except the patricians) from well-to-do tradesmen all the way down to the very poor

Similarities : – Both pater familias – Both could own slaves – Citizens of Rome were adult freemen from both classes - plebs and patricians. Women, children, and slaves were not citizens Differences: – Did not mix socially – Illegal for plebs and patricians to marry – Lifestyles were very different Patricians very wealthy and lived an opulent lifestyle, plebs did not

The Senate (power) was only open to patrician families Plebeians resented the Senate who: – Took riches from war – Created prosperous farms run by slaves – Left many plebian famers unemployed Reaction: Plebeians refuse to serve in the military in protest!

1.Twelve Tables – 450 BCE; a board of 10 men were entrusted to draw up a basic legal tradition and publish them on wood (later bronze) to be placed in the forum 1.Creation of the Assembly – an elected body that had 10 Tribunes to discuss and decide issues on behalf of Plebeians 2.Plebs could marry into Patrician families 3.Eventually Senators could be Plebs (but very uncommon)

Eventually the Assembly was given the power to elect the two consuls every year… – So…what would be the impact?!?

Consuls – executive branch Praetors – looked after legal cases Censors – guided public morals and administered the census Curulian Aediles – supervised markets, festivals and temples Quaestors – custodian of the public treasury Tribunes –represented the rights of the people (2-10) Appoints Dictator in times of extreme need (6 months) Senate Appointed by Consul Advises Consuls Elected by Assembly Appoints Consuls Assembly

Consuls PraetorsCensorsCurulian AedilesQuaestorsTribunes SenateAssembly

Roman army had 30 Legions – Each Legion had about 5,500 men Each Legion was divided into 10 units called Cohorts – The First Cohort consisted of approximately 800 men Had “specialists” such as blacksmiths or engineers – The other 9 Cohorts consisted of approximately 480 men Each Cohort was divided into 6 Centuries of about 80 men – Each Century was commanded by a Centurion – The First Cohort only had 5 centuries

Concept of uniforms was not part of their culture Armor was not standardized and varied according to the province of origin Romans had no concept of obsolescence; armor handed down, bought second-hand

Basic tunic of the Roman soldier was of red or undyed (off-white) wool Senior commanders white cloaks and plumes Centurions distinguished by transverse crests on their helmets, chest ornaments and the long cudgels (clubs) they carried.

The Roman Legionaries wore a red coarse woolen tunic to keep them warm and to provide protection and padding from their armor The red tunic was also significant because their enemies would never see them bleed

A galea was a Roman soldier's helmet Most of the helmets used by legionaries had a crest holder. – legionaries had their crests mounted longitudinally – centurions had them mounted transversely. – The crests were usually made of plumes or horse hair.

Lorica was the term for Roman armor Consisted of metal strips ("girth hoops" fashioned into circular bands), fastened to internal leather straps.

A greave was a piece of armor that protects the tibia Usually contained a metal outside with a felt padding inside Often only worn on one leg – shield (4ft in length) usually covered second leg

Heavy-soled hob-nailed boots issued to Roman soldiers of all ranks Open design allowed for free passage of air to feet (designed so as to reduce blisters) Socks not normally worn Iron hobnails hammered into soles, to provide reinforcement and traction.

The Roman military belt Heavily decorated with metal ornaments and designed to hold the sword and dagger

The "classical" Roman short sword is called gladius – Generally made out of steel – Two-edged for cutting and had a tapered point for stabbing during thrusting The pugio was a dagger – Used as a stabbing weapon and utility knife

Latin word for shield 22 lb large rectangular, curved Made from 3 sheets of wood glued together; covered with canvas and leather Round or conical piece of material at the centre of a shield called a boss Advantages: – Light enough to be held in one hand and its large height (4 ft) and width covered the entire wielder (3 ft) – The metal boss in the center also made it a punching weapon as well

Javelin commonly used by the Roman army Average length 6 ft 7 in long Weighed between 4.4 and 11.0 lbs The pyramidal tip was hardened, but the shank (or shaft) was not – Result: the softness of the shank would cause it to bend after impact, thus rendering the weapon useless to the enemy. 24 inches