1. Unit 7
EARLY ROME

2. ROMAN ORIGINS FOUNDING OF ANCIENT ROME
=7aLsXEqPX0Q
Romulus and Remus
“Hut of Romulus”
Ancestors of the Trojans…
Why did the Romans attach
themselves to Troy?

3. Roman Beginnings Carthage – 800 B.C. Rome – 753 B.C.
Syracuse – 734 B.C.

4. Early History 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

5. Roman Names Praenomen – First Name Nomen gentilicium – Family Name
Cognomen – Surname
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

6. Who were the Romans?
Viewed their ancestors as outcasts and ethnically mixed
VERSION 1:
Romulus granted land and citizenship to criminal
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

7. GEOGRAPHY

8. FROM VILLAGE TO CITY 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

9. The Etruscans 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

10. Government and Society in the Early Republic
“Seven Kings of Rome”
Expelled in 510 B.C.
“Res publica” – the public matter

11. The Ruling Class 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
Made up of wealthy soldiers; overruled the poorer classes
Included a lot of cavalry
Military exploits were important
Patron-client relationship

12. The Ruling Class
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!
Symbol of imperium was the fasces
Bundle of sticks surrounding an axe
Fascist is derived from this term
Praetor – public judge; name for consuls prior to their establishment
Judicial power lay in the hands of the highest ranking men

13. The Ruling Class Quaestors – financial officials;
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

14. Twelve Tables 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

16. Rome’s Expansion 396 B.C. - Latins banded together, defeated Veii
First professional army ever; men were paid a stipend for their service
Only those with land were eligible for the army
Poor citizens used the scutum

17. Cincinnatus 519-430 B.C. Dictator of Rome twice
Model of virtue, civic leadership, humility and lack of personal ambition
Cincinnati, Ohio is named after him

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

19. Rome’s Expansion 343-290 B.C. - Samnite Wars
Continued to expand, made peace with neighboring peoples
Created a Commonwealth of allies

20. Roman Governance/Military
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. 90 men
Maniple – about men
Approx. two centuries

21. Pyrrhic War 280-275 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?