10.1 Lecture - Rome

Roman Coliseum – Picture taken by Mrs. Mortensen

I. Rome’s Mediterranean Empire 753-600 BCE

A. New civilization developed as Greece declined.

1. Larger population was sustained in the Italian landscape than when compared to Greece.

a. Battled the Greeks for control of the Italian peninsula.

2. Italians were very effective in tapping resources of the countryside.

B. Creation of Rome

1. Merging of several hilltop communities formed an urban city.

2. Spoke Latin

3. Offered a home to immigrants

4. Agriculture provided much of the early economic activity of Rome.

a. Social status, political privilege, and fundamental values were related to land ownership.

1. Heads of families with wealth were members of the “Council of Elders.”

i) Played a dominant role in the politics of the Roman state.

C. Kingdom to Republic

1. A republic was created to overthrow the king ruling over Rome.

a. Lasted from 507-31 BCE

b. Republic is a form of government in which power rest with citizens who have the right to elect the leaders who make governmental decisions.

c. Voting rights were granted only to freeborn males.

2. Not considered a democracy

a. Power resided in the assemblies

b. Vote of the wealthy outweighed the poorer class

3. Roman State

a. Made policy and governed.

D. Fight for Power

1. Patricians – were aristocratic landowners who held most of the power.

a. Inherited their power and social status.

b. Claimed their ancestry gave them the authority to make laws for Rome and its people.

2. Plebians – were common farmers, artisans, and merchants.

a. Citizens of Rome with the right to vote.

b. Barred by law from holding most important government positions.

E. Twelve Tables

1. Established the idea that all free citizens had the right to protection of the law and that laws would be fairly administered.

a. How created:

1. Plebians forced the Romans to writing a law code

i) Before written laws the Patricians interpreted the laws to suit themselves.

2. Laws were carved on 12 tables/tablets for all to see publicly.

i) Drawn from and elected by the lower classes who had the power to veto, or block, any action of the Assembly that they deemed to be against the interest of the lower orders.

F. Family

1. Basic unit of Roman society was the family.

a. Made up of several generations.

b. The oldest living male exercised absolute authority over other family’s members.

1. “Paterfamilies”

2. In Rome, inequality was accepted, institutionalized and turned into a system of mutual benefits and obligations.

G. Women

1. Fell under the control of the paterfamilies and if married off they were under the control of the family’s paterfamily.

2. Women were less constrained than Greek women.

a. They helped influence their husbands and sons thereby shaping Roman history.

b. Educated and outspoken.

H. Religion

1. Polytheistic in their beliefs while influenced by Greek Gods and Goddesses.

Inside the Vatican, Rome, Italy – Pic by

Mortensen

II. Expansion in Italy and the Mediterranean

A. Republican Government

1. Government set up with separate branches.

a. Two officials commanded the army and directed the government.

1. One year term.

2. Senate

a. Legislative branch and two assemblies

b. Members were Patricians

1. Controlled foreign and financial policies.

2. Advised the consuls.

3. 400 years of a republic, Rome expanded outward in territory through conquest and trade.

B. How Expansion Occurred

1. Greed and aggressiveness of a people fond of war.

2. Two consuls encouraged war because they only had one year in office in which to gain military glory.

3. Claimed they were defending their territory.

C. Military Service

1. All men who owned land were subject to military service.

2. Roman armies were famous for their training and discipline.

a. Equipment included body armor, shield, spear, and sword.

3. In war, Rome was able to endure higher causalities than the enemy and to prevail by sheer numbers.

D. Territorial Gain

1. Distant provinces dominated and taken through war were established and led by those who previously held high offices in the Roman government.

a. Responsible for defending the province against outside attack and internal disruption.

b. Also collected taxes and decided legal cases.

2. Eventually failed because people were chosen because of their political connections and often lacked competence or experience.

a. Some governors were corrupt.

b. Governors only held one year positions so it was difficult to know the people.

III. Failure of the Republic

A. War

1. Farmers were gone for long periods of time fighting for vast territories.

a. Forced to leave farm; farms were taken over by the wealthy class and profit benefited the upper class.

2. Farmers would come back from war with no farm and often no place in society.

a. Many were not allowed to work, no one offered jobs.

3. Ambitious military leaders began to get support from the farmers.

a. Farmers were more loyal to military leaders than the state.

1. Example – Julius Caesar

b. Military overthrew the government to take Rome back in the hands of the people.

4. The Republic failed

B. Legacy of Rome

1. Individual is a citizen in a state rather than the subject of a ruler.

2. Legacy

a. Written legal code that was applied equally and impartially to all citizens.

3. Republic type of governing system.

Outside the Vatican, Rome, Italy. Pic by Mortensen

Ceiling inside the Vatican, Rome, Italy

Photo by Mortensen

Statue inside the Vatican, Rome Italy

Photo by Mortensen

Roman pillars by coliseum. Over two thousand years old!

Photo by Mortensen

Below the floor in the Coliseum, Rome Italy.

Photo by Mortensen

Roman Ruins, 2000 years old!

Photo taken by Mortensen