HISTORY OF ROMEMyth to Fall of an Empire

Myth of Rome

Trojan hero Aeneas During Trojan War, fled to Italy

His son founded city Alba Longa and became first king

Romulus and Remus Abandoned and raised by a she-wolf

Myth of Rome cont.

Romulus and Remus fought and Remus was killed on April 21, 753 BC The new city on Palatine Hill was named Rome

after Romulus Romulus first king established the Senate

Made up of wealthy powerful men

Roman Kingdom

Rome ruled by series of kings, each more powerful Created system that lasted more than 200

years Many kings were Etruscan

Civilization from northern Italy Created friction between the Etruscan nobility

and Roman subjects Last king – Tarquinius Superbus -(534-510 BC)

Nasty Used violence to keep power His son raped noble Roman woman Lucretia

End of Kingdom

After the rape, the Roman revolted against kings The last straw in a series of mistreatment 500 BC the Romans successful in the revolt Senate voted to abolish monarchy Rome never again had a king

Roman Republic

Relied on Senate Established an unwritten constitution Two groups of citizens

Plebeians Patricians

Slaves not Roman citizens

Roman Citizenry

Plebeians Regular people No rights or power

Patricians Ruling class All rights and power

Class was fixed by birth Class you were born into is where you stayed

Wealth has no bearing

Roman Citizenry cont.

“The Struggle of the Orders” Patricians maintain their position Plebeians struggle to rise and get power

Patricians needed the plebs Military, labor, production of food

494 BC establishment of tribunes Plebeian selected to help protect rights of plebs. Eventually 10 tribunes

366 BC – Plebs could be elected to consul 300 BC – Plebs held office in the Senate & in

all levels of the priesthood

Expansion

Continually expanded through war, conquest 312 BC –

Via Appia – first Roman road (still exists) Rome to Capua

Aqua Appia – first aqueduct 290 BC – Rome has 150,000 in city; 1 million

Roman Republic citizens Most of Italy

272 BC – All of Italy Expanded by fighting with Gaul (France),

Carthage (Tunisia in Africa), Spain

Expansion

206 BC – held control in Mediterranean 201 BC – controlled Italy, Africa, Spain,

Greece 146 BC – into Asia Minor (Turkey, Holy

Land) Eventually into Germany and Britain As Rome expanded out, turmoil expanded

within Civil wars

Expansion to 44 BC

Republic Government

Gaius Julius Caesar

100BC - 44BC Last dictator of the Republic God-like status which worried the patricians and

Senate Called Dictator for Life Some gave him the title of Rex (King) which he

denied Fear continued to grow

February 15, 44 BC, Marcus Antonius (Marc Antony) tried twice to give him the crown as king Both times refused, but appeared reluctant to NOT

take it

Conspiracy

March 18, Caesar was set to leave Rome and was expected to be named King of Roman provinces outside of Italy

Cassius Longinus – leader of conspiracy Brutus – friend of Caesar Plan was to assassinate Caesar in the

Curia of Pompey’s Theatre where the Senate was to meet with him Each member (60 in all) was to stab Caesar to

show unity

Conspiracy

Spurinna – seer (prophet) “Beware the Ides of March”

On the morning of the 15th, Caesar’s wife Calpurnia begs him not to meet the Senate because of nightmares Agrees and tells Antony to dismiss the Senate But he goes in the afternoon

On an agreed upon signal 60 senators surrounded Caesar and stabbed him to death 23 stab wounds

Conspiracy cont.

Civil war erupts Over a period of time, Brutus and Cassius vs.

Marc Antony and Caesar’s heir Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianius (Octavian)

Eventually, all conspirators killed and realizing they are fighting a losing battle, Brutus and Cassius commit suicide

Civil war between Marc Antony and Octavian Marc Antony involved with Cleopatra (last

pharoah of Egypt)

End of the Republic

When Antony realizes he can’t win, he falls on his sword (suicide) Taken to Cleo and dies in her arms Kills herself by allowing herself to be bitten by

poisonous snakes (supposedly) Octavian controls Egypt

27 BC, Octavian given title “Imperator” (Emperor)

Changes name to Caesar Augustus (“exalted one”)

Becomes Rome first Emperor