ROME!

The Founding• Romulus and Remus: According to legend, two brothers argued over

who would get to rule this new city.

Descendants of Aeneas, hero of the Aeneid, who escapes from Troy and settles in Italy

Raised by a wolf, then cared for by a shepherd.

Romulus killed Remus, Rome becomes Rome.

• Romulus installs senators and patricians as the first form of government.

• Initial population – outcasts! Fugitive slaves, criminals, exiles, and prostitutes.

No way to start a new generation.

Romulus devises a plan to kidnap nearby women. First war breaks out –Rome victorious.

Abduction of the Sabine Women by Jacques Louis-David

Growth of Rome• Romulus supposedly founded Rome in 753 B.C.—Romans told time ab urbe condita

(A.U.C.: From the Founding of the City)

• In reality, the city probably gradually emerged out of a collection of villages much earlier

• Advantageous location on Tiber River– close to many different trading partners.

• The Romans were only one of many Latin settlements—shared language and culture

• Borrowed literature and religion from the nearby Greeks.

• Borrowed trading practices and art from the Etruscans. Rome was ruled by Etruscan kings for a time

• Grows from a small town to a big city between the 800 and 600 BC Bad parts of the city grow, too; crime, corruption, and gangs begin to ransack the city.

Etruscan Tomb Art

Roman Republic• According to legend, the Romans, led by Brutus, kicked out the last

Etruscan ruler—no more kings!

• Roman Republic founded in 509 BC

• No formal, written constitution – based off of precedent set by predecessors.

• Republic developed two factions: Patricians and Plebeians.

Patricians: small group of aristocratic families

Plebeians: Everybody else (the commoners!)

As Rome grew, some plebeians became wealthy. Some talented, worthy plebeians eventually gained political power (the “New Men”) Some of these wealthy plebeians appealed to the common people for power.

Structure of the Republic

• Gathering of Roman citizens with limited powers over other citizens.

Legislative Assemblies

• Most power out of the branches of Roman government.

Senate of the Republic

• Two consuls – one responsible for foreign affairs, the other for domestic. Two consuls means checks and balances. One year terms.

Co-consuls

Offices• Consuls—military and political power for a limited term (elected by

assembly, but voting system favored nobles)

Eventually, one consul always had to be a plebeian

• Senators—Advised the consuls—their advice (resolutions) came to have the force of law

Mostly from patrician families and in the Senate for life—especially influential in foreign affairs

• Priests—mostly chosen from among respected aristocrats; an honor for service in war and politics

Could prevent laws from being passed by saying that the omens were bad!

• Tribunes—supposed to represent the interests of the plebeians—10 elected by the assemblies of the commoners

Priests Reading the Omens

Cicero Denounces Catiline, Cesare Maccari

The Twelve Tables• Initially, patricians dominated the Roman Republic

Held 90% of the consulships in the 400s

• The plebeians struggled for more power, led by the newly wealthy “new men”

Used the power of numbers—would withdraw from the city and meet in their own assemblies (like a modern strike)

• Eventually, the patricians recognized that they would have to make reforms to satisfy the plebeians

Political changes—tribunes, 1 consul always had to be plebeian

The laws of Rome were formally written out in the Twelve Tables

• Why would the plebeians want the laws literally “written in stone”?