C 11: Mediterranean Society: The Roman Phase

Colosseum: 70-80 CE

Innovation: The Arch and the Dome

Roman Arch: Spain

Corbel Arch: Mesoamerica

Naumachia: simulated naval battles in the Colosseum

Circus Maximus: Chariot race track 2000 ft long/ 400 ft wide: 27,000 spectators

Roman Baths

Pantheon: temple of the godsRoman Road: PompeiiAt peak: Roman Roads = 54,000 miles

Roman Milestone

Roman Milestone

How did the Roman Republic treat conquered peoples?How did this change with thetransformation to empire?

Expansion of Republic w/ military threats and incentives: taxIncentives/ trade privileges/ promise of citizenship/ let them govern Their own affairs/ couldn’t make a military alliance with anyone else/ had to provide soldiers and military support for the empireEmpire (Caesar): gave citizenship to provincesEmpire (Augustus): more centralized…

Geography

Mediterranean- eventually would include are as far east as Anatolia/Armenia, south to Egypt, present day Morocco, Britain and Wales: 2.2 million square miles at its height

Religion/Belief Systems

Polytheism: Roman deities/ many adopted from Greece/ Stoicism: adopted from the Greeks: active life, help others, scorn accumulation of wealth, live by reason according to natureCults: IsisJudaism (Romans had problems w monotheism & refusal to accept state gods) Romans eventually crush Jews (66-70CE); Essenes/ Dead Sea ScrollsReligions of Salvation:Mithraism: no women, appealed to military, adopted from Zorastrianism and emphasized strength and courageChristianity: moral code, divine nature of Jesus, New Testament records teachings= Romans crucify him (Paul of Tarsus??) Variation on doctrine/ rituals/ resurrection/ role of women…

Achievements

Establishment of Republic/ Senate/ Consuls/ Tribunes/ EmpireRoman constitution, Roman Law: 12 Tables/ “Innocent Until Proven Guilty”, right to challenge your accuser in court/ Road system/ Extensive trade/ Architecture: Concrete, Arch, Aqueducts, Fountains, Forum, Stadiums, Public Baths and Sewers/Postal System/ Well Organized military/ Navy

Theme 1

Theme 2

Theme 2

The Christian Martyr’s Last Prayer” 1883

PoliticalSystems

Monarchy: Republic: Empire/ Punic Wars/Carthage? /

Expansion of republic? /Gracchi Bros/ Sulla? Civil Wars Julius Caesar? Killed 44 BCE /Augustus? (Octavian)27 BCE “monarchy disguised as a republic” died 14 CENo private armies/ 12 Tables/ Pax Romana 117 CE- period of great expansion/ no policy for dealing with domestic unrest….. Only “Bread and Circuses”(Evolution of treatment of conquered peoples??)

Economic Systems

Republic: agriculture/ latifundia?/ problems with land distribution/ Empire: Mare Nostrum: Navy = trade free from pirates/ economicSpecialization/ wealth of Rome fueled great urban development/ Roads, communication, mileposts, services encouraged growth of tradeTaxes and tribute collectedGreat wealth encouraged conspicuous consumption/ wealth in provinces encouraged growth of cities there/ development of infrastructure there

SocialSystems

Pater Familias!! Patricians/ Plebians/ Women did have influence in domestic sphere/ one third of the population were slavesInternal unrest: rebellions of the plebians/ land issues/ slave revolts (Spartacus: army of 70,000 slaves)Immigrants were attracted to Rome/ population at height= 60-100 million

Theme 3

Theme 4

Theme 5

Patrician?

Plebians?

Consuls? Senate?(Effects?

)Tribune?Dictator

?

Policies?

Punic Wars: 264 -146 BCE

•70,000 soldiers and 37 elephants crossed the Alpsinto Italy• Romans spread salt in Carthage• Rome eventually defeatsCarthage for control ofMediterranean •Hannibal drinks poisonrather be controlled by the Romans

Structure of Government

Consuls Senate• Chosen by the Senate

• 2 chosen each year

• Head of State – commanded army

• Could become Dictator for 6 months in times of need

• Veto (I forbid) power over Senate

• Main lawmaking body

• 300 Patricians appointed for life

• Controlled foreign affairs

• Selected Dictator

Tribunes• 2 to 10 Chosen by Plebeian

Council

• Could Veto actions of the Consuls and the Senate

Assembly• Elected by the Plebeians

• Approved Consuls

• Later given power to pass laws

(For Adult White Male Citizens)

• Finally in 450B.C. the laws were engraved on 12 bronze tablets called the Twelve Tables. They were displayed in the Forum, so all citizens could see their rights. • First written law code in Rome – written in 451 B.C.E.• All Free citizens had equal protection under the law.• Protected the rights of the Plebeians

A person who admits to owing money or has been adjudged to owe money must be given 30 days to pay.

An obviously deformed child must be put to death.

If a father sells his son into slavery three times, the son shall be free of his father

Marriages between plebeians and patricians are forbidden

Roman Law: The Twelve Tables