Ancient Rome

Rising Flourishing

Decline Legacy

• What were the geographic conditions of Ancient Rome?

• How would this affect unity and political rule?

Geographic Factors for the Rise of Rome

• Link between Europe and Africa: Italian Peninsula is central in Mediterranean world (halfway between east and west)

• Seclusion: rugged mountains separate northern Italy from the rest of Europe which provide good protection but made communication difficult

• Agricultural Climate: mild climate, fertile land, river beds, volcanic soil, mountain deposits

• Rivers: Po and Tiger allowed for transport and created borders from other peoples

People of Ancient Italy

• A small group called the Latins lived in the region of Latium

• These Latins were herders and farmers

• 2 most significant settlers in Italy were the Greeks and the Etruscans

Rome 9th – 8th Century

• Rome was founded at a small settlement in the Tiber River Valley = Seven Hills of Palatine

Founding of Rome: Video

Rome’s Early Kings

• According to the Aeneid, Aeneas carried his father from the burning city of Troy , and after searching, he finally settled in Italy

• Romulus was the first king of Rome in 753BC

• There were 7 Etruscans kings• Last one was said to be very, very cruel• According to tradition, he was overthrown in 509BC – and the nobles created a new government

What’s going on here?

Early Republic

Patricians Plebeians

Wealthy, powerful citizens Common people

Nobles Peasants, craftsmen, traders

Small minority of population Majority of population

Controlled the government After 494, given right to have say

Republic Dictators

People elect leaders Rule with absolute power

Early Romans – 1 year term Early Romans – Six month max term (?)

Who is this guy?Name: Cincinnatus (483 BC)Which one is the Dictator?Answer:

The Farmer.

Aside from external challenges, internally, Rome was divided:

Early Government

Magistrates Senate Assemblies

2 most powerful mag. were called consuls

Wealthy and powerful Romans

Elected the Magistrates

Elected each year – 2 to ensure one never had too much power

300 members Only held office for one year

Ran the city and the army Veto means – “I forbid”

Twelve Tables of Rome 449 BC

Read the handout

1. Why would it be important to record and display the laws for citizens to see?

2. Explain how the laws in the table are similar to the laws in Canada

IntermissionUžupis

Bronze Display of Rules

Back to Rome

The Roman Forum

• Home to government and religion, but also popular meeting place for citizens

• Between Palatine – richest area, and Capitoline – templest area• Location of all major speeches, venders, gladiator fights, public

ceremonies – kind of the centre or Roman Life• Packed with people

The Late Republic

• The late republic period saw the growth of territory and trade

• Through wars, Rome grew beyond Italy

• Several crisis struck Italy during this periodTop of Palatine Hill

Gaul Attack!

• 387 BC – the Gauls attack and take over Rome• Rome pays them huge amounts of gold to leave• More outsiders try their luck to do the same– (take over Rome and get paid to leave)

Never Again• Rome organizes its army in legions (groups of

up to 6000 soldiers• Each legion was divided into centuries or

groups of 100 soldiers

Legions• The most wealthy, the first class, were the most heavily armed

• The lesser classes bore lesser armament and weaponry, the fifth class carrying no armour at all, solely armed with slings.

• The army officers as well as the cavalry were drawn from leading citizens who were enrolled as equestrians

Formations: Tortoise and Wedge

Military Might

• The term auxiliaries comes from the latin word 'auxilia' (help).• The Auxiliary soldiers provided the army's cavalry and light

infantry; the soldiers received citizenship when they retired.

Wanna see some Roman organization?

The Punic Wars• The Phoenicians founded Carthage• Latin word for Phoenician – Punicus• Carthaginians presence on Sicily worried Rome

First Punic War

• Rome builds big navy (to compliment its army)• Defeats Carthaginian navy to take trade routes• 241 BC – Carthage gives up Sicily (pays a fine)

Carthage Vows Revenge!

Before the First Punic War

To compensate for the loss of Sicily, Carthage expands into Spain

Shortly After the First

Punic War

Second Punic War

• Hannibal sets out for Rome• 46,000 men, horses and

elephants (#s ??? – why?)• Romans fight at Cannae 216

and lose 40,000 men• Hannibal never gets Rome• Rome switches and strikes

Carthage• Hannibal recalled, but too late

– Rome destroys Carthage

Third Punic War• Prominent Romans call for the destruction of

Carthage• 146 BC it is totally destroyed and all

inhabitants are killed or enslaved• Land is salted• Carthage territory becomes the Roman

province of Africa

... oh, and then they go on to take over Macedonia, Greece, and Pergamum.

They now control the Maditerranean

Growing Unrest

• Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus• Brothers who had different ideas on how to

address the growing gap between rich and poor

Option #1

• Tiberius – wanted to create farms for poor Romans (on public land that the rich illegally owned)

He was killed

Option #2

• Gaius – sell food to the poor at a cheaper $$

He too, was assassinated

Cause/Consequence

Cause of their deaths:– Leaders who feared that

violence would erupt between rich and poor propose ideas to avoid blood shed

Consequence of their deaths:– Changed Roman politics– Violence becomes a

political weapon

Marius vs. Sulla

• 107 BC – Gaius Marius gets poor people to join the army (before it could only be property owners)

• His army is more loyal to him than to Rome!

• 88 BC – Lucius Cornelius Sulla does the same• Civil war breaks out• Sulla defeats Marius• Sulla names himself dictator– Punishes all of his enemies

Sulla was a student and close friend to Marius

Spartacus

• Shortly after Sulla dies – former gladiator – current slave rises up and demands freedom

Intermission

• Spartacus takes over much of southern Italy• Eventually killed in battle and revolt dies• Romans execute 6,000 slaves as an example

From Republic to Empire

• The First Triumvirate (rule by three)• Shared between Crassus (riches man in Rome), Pompey

(successful military leader), and Julius Caesar• Pompey ruled in Spain, Crassus in Syria, Caesar in Gaul

The First Triumvirate

• Crassus killed in battle in 53 BC• Caesar crosses the Rubicon (a phrase that today

means doing something that cannot be undone) • What was the Rubicon and why was it bad to cross?

Civil War

• Caesar’s march on Rome started a civil war• Pompey flees to Greece but is killed• Caesar was officially made dictator for life in

45 BC

Famous painting from the 1800s of shows a Gallic leader surrendering to Caesar by dropping his weapons at Caesar’s feet.

How was Caesar viewed by both the masses and other significant Romans?

Caesar (45 – 44 BC)

• Gave land to the poor• Enlarged the Senate (with his supporters)• Granted citizenship to his supporters in Roman

provinces• Introduced the solar calendar (the one we use)

Ides of March• Fearing his growing power (and popularity),

leading Senators assassinated him in 44 BC• 15 March, 44 BC (known as the Ides of March)

The Second Triumvirate• After Caesar’s death – power struggle emerges– Octavian (Caesar’s adopted son)– Mark Anthony (Caesar’s ally and assistant)– Lepidus (the other guy)

Roman Drama

• Anthony aligns himself with Egypt• Octavian crushes Cleonthany (Markopatra?)– Anthony falls on his sword and Cleopatra applies

poisonous snakes on her veins

Augustus (69 BC – 14 AD)• At the age of 32 – Octavian was the supreme

leader over the Roman WorldThis period of history is known as the

Age of Augustus

Age of Augustus

• Civil Wars ended

• Given title of Augustus (the revered one)

• Senate gave him title of Imperator

• English word = Emperor

Emperors and Early Empire

• First 4 came from his family – Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero

• After Nero’s civil war came Pax Romana – The Roman Peace– Lasts for almost 200 years (270 BC – 180 AD)

Common coinage introduced

Expansion of Rome 200 BC to 117 AD

How were they able to do all of this ... ?

All Roads led to Rome

Great Roman Accomplishments

• Choose any three of the following Roman Legacies and determine whether or not they are truly great accomplishments:

Thermae (Baths) Macella (markets) Trevi Fountain

The Arch Pont du Gard Aqueducts (Aqua Virgo)

The Pantheon Flavian Amphitheatre Gladiators

Circus Maximus Pompeii Virgil’s Aeneid