Etruscan Beginnings & Early Rome

•Complex racial makeup–Indigenous Italians, Indo-Europeans, Greek

colonies

• Etruscan–City-states

•Rome –Independent republic c. 510 B.C.E.

Elections - Senate holds most power

The Expansion of Rome

•Conquer Italian neighbors–Extend citizenship–Grow military

• Punic Wars (against Carthage in N. Africa)–146 B.C.E., Roman victory

•Results of Expansion–Rich v. Poor

Larger estates Numbers of slaves increase

The Expansion of the Roman Republic, 133 B.C.E.

The Crisis of the Republic

•Class conflict• Tiberius Gracchus

–Program to redistribute land - assassinated

•Gaius Gracchus–Attempts to continue program - forced suicide

• Julius Caesar–49 B.C.E., takes power–44 B.C.E., assassination

The Crisis of the Republic

•Civil War follows–Caesar's nephew, Octavian victorious, 31 B.C.E.

Initiates period of Roman Empire First Roman emperor “Augustus”

The Range of Roman Art

•Much inspired or copied from Greece–Virgil’s Aeneid – similar to Homer’s Odyssey

•Roman differences–Emphasis on rhetoric (speeches)–Realism - statues–Roman engineering superior

Arches Urban planning Aqueducts

How Rome Ruled Its Empire

• Imperial Rule–Unification

Citizenship Protection of one law• 12 Tables, Imperial Law, Judges

Appeal of Roman culture Military Walls and outposts

–Building program–Rewards to veterans–Coliseums and games

The Institutions of Empire

•Government and Expansion–Commerce regulated

• especially grain supply

–Taxation–Public works: baths, stadiums, aqueducts–Official religions supported–Empire largest under Trajan (c. 100 CE)

Difficulties by 180 C.E.

The Roman Empire from Augustus to 180 C.E.

Economic and Social Structure

• Agrarian initially (farmers)–Merchant class added–Family important

Patriarchal Women had relative freedom (divorce, property)

• Slavery– Increases as a result of empire

From captives Leads to stagnation in technology

–Farmers displaced by slavery

The Origins of Christianity

•Christianity starts in the Roman Empire• Life and Death of Jesus

–Called for reform in Judaism–Taught importance of love, charity, humility–Especially popular among lower classes–Crucified, 30 C.E.–Popular following

The Origins of Christianity

•Christianity Gains Converts and Structure–10 % of Roman Empire by 350 C.E. –Offered salvation to all–Spread via communication offered by empire–Paul of Tarsus

Greek follower Important in spread of Christianity

•Relations with the Roman Empire–Refused to recognize imperial cult

Persecution

Origins and Early Spread of Christianity, to 4th–5th Century

The Decline of Rome

•Challenges–Declining revenue–Borders threatened–Fewer slaves from lack of new conquest–Epidemics–Most dramatic classical collapse

• The Classical Mediterranean Heritage –Passed on Greek/Roman culture–Latin language