History of Rome

Beginnings of Rome

Neighboring people in Italy Etruscans -who lived in the region called Etruria, north of Latium- from whom the Romans learned: – Basics of engineering- – alphabet Roman Alphabet came from the Etruscan Alphabet, which came from the Greek Alphabet, which came from the Phoenician Alphabet Greeks -who lived in Greek colonies on the coast of southern Italy, from whom the Romans got many of their myths and stories about their gods.

Early Government of Rome – KINGS – KINGS: 753BC-509BC, Rome was ruled by a series of 7 kings; the last king was an Etruscan. – Built the Cloaca Maxima – Established the Forum – Built the first permanent bridge over the Tiber – Established the Senate

– OVERTHROW OF THE KING: In 509BC (following a shocking incident in which the last king’s son raped a virtuous noble Roman lady), the Romans expelled their king, vowed never to have a king again, and set up a “republic”.

Government of the Roman Republic Senate – 300 members: at first they were all nobles- patricians. Later they didn’t have to be patricians – They got their seats by being appointed by the consuls. Kept their seats for life. – Advised consuls, controlled public funds, controlled foreign affairs

MAGISTRATES 2 Consuls-chief executives; each had veto power over the other; ran the government & led the army; elected for 1 year term; symbol of his power was the fasces, a bundle of sticks around an ax. Praetors- judges of law courts and leaders of the army; elected for 1 year term Censors- enrolled the citizens; oversaw public morals; elected every 1½ years for a 5 year term. Aediles-supervised public places Quaestors-handled finances. 10 Tribunes-elected by the Plebeians (commoners) to represent them; had veto power over any measure passed by the Senate Dictator: special position; appointed by Senate or Consuls in times of special danger; had absolute power for up to 6 months, until the danger passed. Most of the time, there was no dictator.

REPUBLIC- REPUBLIC-509BC-27BC The word “republic” comes from Latin, “res publica”, which means “thing of the people”. A republic is a government in which citizens elect leaders, who make laws and run the state The official name of the Roman Republic was “The Senate and People of Rome”, abbreviated “S.P.Q.R.” Senatus Populusque Romanus

ASSEMBLIES of citizens Assembly of Centuries: – all male citizens; the citizens were divided into groups according to wealth; – the wealthier groups had fewer men in them; – each group voted, & then the result became one vote; – the votes of the groups were counted; – thus all citizens voted, but the votes of the wealthy counted more – This assembly elected high officials, declared war, and made laws. Plebeian Assembly: all male plebeian citizens, elected tribunes & passed laws.

Social Classes of Early Rome – 2 main social classes in the early republic Patricians -nobles, membership by birth Plebeians- common free citizens including farmers, merchants, artisans, etc. (vast majority!)

Social Classes of Early Rome – 2 main social classes in the early republic Patricians -nobles, membership by birth Plebeians- common free citizens including farmers, merchants, artisans, etc. (vast majority!)

– In the very early Republic: Social class was determined by birth; Patricians held almost all the power; all Senators were Patrician; Plebeians could vote but could not hold office; marriage between patricians and plebeians was forbidden; laws were unwritten (and the judges were Patrician).

CONFLICT OF THE ORDERS- Roman civil rights movement – Plebeians wanted more rights. Several times, Plebeians “went on strike”, left & camped outside the city, and would not return until their demands were met. It worked.

CONFLICT OF THE ORDERS 490BC-right to have their own assembly (Plebeian Assembly) and elect their own representatives-called Tribunes- with veto power in the Senate. 450BC-Laws of the 12 Tables were written and posted in the Forum (main public area) 445BC-intermarriage legalized 367BC: plebeians became eligible to be Consuls (and any other office) 342 BC: law said one of the two Consuls must be a plebeian 287 BC: all measures passed by the Plebeian Assembly had the force of law for the whole Roman state. Now Patricians & Plebeians were legally equal.

Conquest of Italy

Early Roman Army

PERSEVERENCE & DISCIPLINE

Policies toward conquered people in Italy Policies toward conquered people in Italy were usually generous and wise People in nearby areas given full Roman citizenship, including right to vote People farther away were given half citizenship; couldn’t vote but had some rights Retired soldiers were given land in conquered areas; they helped maintain control over the conquered areas, and spread Roman culture and language (Latin). Most people in Italy came to appreciate Roman rule and feel loyalty to the Roman state.

Early Roman Society and Family

Early Roman Religion Roman worshiped gods, especially Jupiter, Juno and Minerva From the Etruscans they got methods of augury (foretelling the future), which included analyzing the entrails and liver of sacrificed animals, observing thunder and lighting, and the flights of birds. Rome had a high priest called the Pontifex Maximus, and many lower priests, and women called the Vestal Virgins, priestesses of Vesta, whose job was to keep the sacred hearth- fire of Rome.