Rome Myths and Legends

Romulus and Remus 6:20

Roman Republic Voters elect representatives In Rome it was based on tradition, not a written constitution SENATE – council of representatives made up of patricians CONSULS – 2 senators, one year term, proposed laws, led army, one had veto power over the other, most important officials MAGISTRATES – government officials, included consuls, praetors (judiciary), aediles (supervised marketplace), questors (financial officers), censors (counted the population every 5 years). Most terms were one year TRIBUNES – plebeian elected council

Roman Republic Society PATRICIANS – descendants of founding families of Rome, upper class, ran the government PLEBEIANS – commoners, controlled tribal assemblies, made up the military Plebeians demanded more rights from patricians and in 451bc forced patricians to publish the first written code of Roman Law: the Twelve Tables Patricians and plebeians owned slaves Women gained rights and independence, eventually took part in government and owned property Religion borrowed from Greeks: Jupiter (Zeus), Juno (Hera), Minerva (Athena)

Punic Wars of the Republic 265bc Rome controlled most of Italy while Carthage controlled the Western Mediterranean “Punic” comes from the Latin word for Carthage 264-241bc 1st Punic War: Romans won, gaining control of Sicily 218-202bc 2nd Punic War: Hannibal (C) entered Gaul wanting to conquer Rome; Battle of Cannae (216bc) Romans lost so decided to invade Carthage; Battle of Zama (202bc) Scipio (R) defeated Hannibal 149-146bc 3rd Punic War: Rome destroyed Carthage and took its territory; Rome also conquered Greece at this time FINAL RESULT: Rome controls all of the Mediterranean

Cupid and Psyche 7:32

Roman Empire Established in 31bc by first emperor, Augustus All emperors took the title, caesar Caesars controlled the army, supervised provincial governors, took direct control of troubled provinces The Senate advised the caesar, maintained the treasury, and oversaw the peaceful provinces No laws said who the next caesar would be making the job of caesar a dangerous one A series of roads connected the provinces to the city of Rome helping trade and the movement of troops The Roman army was organized into legions, highly organized and efficient groups of 80-100 soldiers lead by an officer called a centurion

Christianity Jesus As a Jew in Judaea, his family was allowed to worship freely Herod the Great was ruler of the province at the time of his birth in city of Bethlehem ad6 – Judaea officially becomes Roman and Roman laws are strictly enforced Taught Jewish ideas of “one God” and laws like the Ten Commandments Called himself the “Son of God” or Messiah (Hebrew: “anointed one”) later called Christ (Greek: “anointed one”) ad30 Roman Governor Pontius Pilate sentences him to death by crucifixion at the urging of outraged Jews who disagreed with his teachings

Christianity Christians First followers: Jesus' 12 apostles Spread first through Greek part of Roman world, taking on Greek name for messiah, Christos Followers became known as Christians Met in private homes, renounced evils though baptism, assembled on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist (Last Supper) Persecuted by Romans and Jews, murdered Christians became martyrs Church hierarchy developed: Patriarch Bishop  priest; lead by men Teachings based on Hebrew scriptures and letters written by the apostles to early Christians Became official religion of Roman Empire in ad380 by Theodosius I

Romance Languages: Languages based on Latin

Fall of Rome: Barbarian Invasions