1. Week 6—Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire

2. Founding of the Roman Republic
City of Rome built sometime in 8th century BCE
Several conflicting stories of it’s founding
Romulus and Remus
Virgil’s Aneid
Sabine women
Suicide of Lucretia
Etruscans—early civilization in modern Tuscany that was overthrown by Romans in 509 BCE
Senate oligarchy established—rule by a group of hereditary elites

3. Two Social Classes Patricians—heredity aristocracy
Accepted positions of power because it was dignified
Plebeians—ordinary citizens
Clear majority
Suffered from poverty and oppression
Protested to gain more rights

4. Roman Society Laws restricted mingling between classes
Patricians wore togas, thickness of purple lining represented level of aristocracy
Inter-class marriage prohibited
Women had virtually no rights
Slaves
Often freed
Assimilated

5. Roman Army Skillful, obedient, organized
Stole many ideas from the Greeks (phalanx)
From rural countryside
Fought for loyalty, not just salary
Romans borrowed much of their culture from other civilizations (especially. Greeks): religions, customs, education, architecture, etc.
The Punic Wars—a series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage ( BCE)

6. First Punic War
By 264 BCE, unified Italian peninsula looked to expand its influence
Carthage—large kingdom in North Africa
BCE tried to expand north into Sicily, threatened Rome
Close naval battle, Rome victorious
Bitter hatred developed on both sides

7. Second Punic War 218 BCE Carthage and Rome race to control Spain
Hannibal—led Carthaginian forces to victory
Travelled from north over Alps with 37 elephants, 38k men and 8k cavalry
Elephants frightened Roman horses
Disadvantages: easy targets, don’t cross water and mountains well

9. Third Punic War
Romans sent force to Carthage forcing Hannibal to withdraw in 216 BCE
Battle of Zama—Hannibal defeated by Scipio Africanus
Hannibal never takes Rome, flees east and dies

11. Roman Expansion BCE
After 3rd Punic War, Rome dominates Mediterranean and looks to expand
Greece, Asia, Europe (esp. Spain), North Africa
Romans were brutal conquerors, but tolerant of diverse cultures in its empire
For 500 years expansion = major part of Roman economy
Roman fleet maintained peace and order, kept down piracy

13. Problems with Expansion
Large plantations owned by wealthy elite formed in conquered territories
Slaves were cheap, small farmers run out
Cities full of poor, severe urban problems

14. Gracchus Brothers, 133 BCE
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus—Roman politicians who tried to reform the power of the patricians
Tiberius wanted to limit the amt of land a person could own
Assassinated by resentful patricians
Gaius took up the cause by appealing to middle class, also killed

15. Roman Decline in 1st Century BCE
Decline of the imperial government
Corruption, subject to demagogues
Elites wouldn’t give up power
Dangerous precedent set when generals began to use the army for political control, beginning with General Marius (157 BCE)
Soldiers paid largely through loot
Army allegiance to generals, not government
General Sulla (rival to Marius) offered rewards for murder of his enemies
Rome falls into a series of civil wars

16. The First Triumvirate
Senate proved incapable of solving Rome’s problems
60 BCE three men conspire to take over Rome
The First Triumvirate: Caesar, Pompey, Crassus

17. Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar—(July 100 – March 15, 44 BCE) talented general who brought and end to the Roman Republic and inspires the Roman Empire
Conquered much of Gaul (France) and invaded England
Most of his support from his troops
Crassus killed in battle—Caesar began wielding an unbalanced amount of power
Senate demanded he step down
Caesar crossed the Rubicon River in 49 BCE and defeated Pompey
Senate relented, named him dictator for 10 years, later life

18. Dictator For Life
Caesar believed a strong central authority was necessary to control the vast Roman empire
Aided the poor, made govt more efficient
Treated former enemies with respect
44 BCE named himself dictator for life
March 15 assassinated by a group of concerned aristocrats; including his friend Brutus
Power grab ensues
Second Triumvirate: Marc Antony, Octavian, Lepidus

19. Octavian “Augustus” Caesar
Augustus Caesar—(63 BCE – 14 CE) the first Roman Emperor
Julius Caesar’s great nephew
Defeated Marc Antony and Lepidus, proclaimed himself emperor
Claimed to want a republic
Popular “bringer of peace”
Built buildings and temples
Public works to help urban poor
Subsidized agriculture