EARLY ROME

FOUNDING OF ANCIENT ROME Romulus and Remus “Hut of Romulus” Ancestors of the Trojans… Why did the Romans attach themselves to Troy?

Carthage – 800 B.C. Rome – 753 B.C. Syracuse – 734 B.C.

Founded in 753 B.C. Etruscans to the North, Greeks in the South Weak historical evidence exists, much attributed to Livy He wrote to glorify the Roman Republic during its fall Annales maximi – yearly posting of important events. These are unfortunately lost, so were are unsure how accurate the history is

Praenomen (first name) – General name Nomen gentilicium (middle name) – Most important; Clan name Cognomen (last name) – Family name; nickname; “branch” of the clan Gaius Julius Caesar - Belongs to the family Julia, nicknamed Caesar Women would only have one name, the feminine version of the family name…. M. Tullius Cicero’s Daughter - Tulia

Viewed their ancestors as outcasts and ethnically mixed VERSION 1: Romulus granted land and citizenship to criminals Rape of the Sabine women VERSION 2: Ancestors of Aeneas, a Trojan hero. Wandered to Italy after the fall of Troy and married a Latin princess VERY IMPORTANT: Gave the Romans a sense of shared identity!

Huts on the Palatine hill date to 1000 B.C. Forum – Drained and paved in about 650 B.C. Open, public space What does this compare to? About 500 B.C. – wealthy moving to the Palatine hill

Not sure where they came from Probably developed from the Villanovan culture First iron age civilization in Italy Developed urbanization, stone houses, public architecture, and anthropomorphic religion

“Seven Kings of Rome” Tarquinius Superbus, Lucretia, Junius Brutus (Expelled in 510 B.C.??) Military, judicial and religious branches of govt. Slaves and free (citizens and non-citizens) Military service mandatory; fought in phalanx; landowning wealthy families dominated Identified by clans, grouped into tribes for voting

Assembly – all citizens voted Consuls – two chief magistrates, elected every year Why? Senate – advise magistrates; “council of elders” They were families descendent from the kings of Rome Comitia centuriata – “centuriate assembly”; most important assembly 35 total tribes Elected many official positions Made up of wealthy soldiers; overruled the poorer classes Included a lot of cavalry Military exploits were important Patron-client relationship Leaves the poorest out of the equation!

Imperium – signified power to command the army, condemn people to death Had civil, judicial, and military aspect Could only be used OUTSIDE of the city; unless for a triumph Very important – keep this in mind when we discuss Julius Caesar! Praetor – public judge; name for consuls prior to their establishment Censors – recorded population for citizenship; primarily for military service Also had power over senatorial membership

The Senate technically had no legal authority All they could do was SUGGEST legislation Over time, this began to carry a lot of weight Often the committees would not pass legislation without the recommendation of the Senate

PATRICIANS PLEBIANS 494 B.C. ISSUES: Debt Peonage Land reform Written Laws Plebians seceded! One consul HAS to be a plebian. Created the tribune. Held veto power and could NOT be harmed

First public statement of Roman law 471 B.C. – concilium plebis, “council of the plebs” After 342 B.C. one consul was always a plebian 172 B.C. – both consuls were plebs for the first time Plebeians slowly began to integrate themselves Novus Homo – “new man” First of the family to achieve a magistracy Dictator – absolute authority; elected temporarily in times of need

396 B.C. - Latins banded together, defeated Veii First professional army ever Only those with land were eligible for the army Poor citizens used the scutum

B.C. Dictator of Rome twice Model of virtue, civic leadership, humility and lack of personal ambition Cincinnati, Ohio is named after him

390 B.C. – sacked by the Gauls Most likely on their way to Syracuse EFFECT: Potentially destroyed a TON of ancient Roman historical sources

B.C. - Samnite Wars Continued to expand, made peace with neighboring peoples Created a Commonwealth of allies

Appian Way – road from Rome to Capua Rome ruled liberally; primarily were interested in soldiers Extended citizenship to some conquered peoples, but not others Legion – approx. 5,000 men Century – approx men Maniple – about men Approx. two centuries

B.C. Rome is attacked south of Tarentum Greeks call upon Pyrrhus of Epirus This is the first time Rome is fighting a Hellenistic army Pyrrhus wins successive battles, but eventually loses the war EFFECT: Rome now controls the entire Italian Peninsula! “Pyrrhic Victory” What major issue does this illustrate about fighting the Roman Republic?