Roman Philosophy Stoicism Epicureanism
Stoicism Zeno – Greek Source of happiness is wisdom Only man has morals Apathy – Emotion and passion destroy reason
Epicureanism Epicurus – Greek No afterlife Maximize pleasure & minimize pain Materialists
Roman Republic
Internally – Republic a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them Externally – Empire
Empire Building: Italian Peninsula By 268 BC, Rome controlled most of Italy
Empire Building: Punic Wars Carthage versus Rome Both wanted the western Mediterranean & Sicily Generals Hannibal for Carthage Scipio for Rome Rome Won Kept Spain & North Africa Literally destroyed Carthage
Empire Building: Macedonian & Seleucid Wars During & after Punic Wars Gained control of Greece and Syria Total control of the Mediterranean
Empire Building: Asia Anatolian king willed his empire to Rome
What allowed them to conquer so much territory? Military Disciplined & well trained Each province contributed soldiers Roads Slavery People from conquered provinces Free labor source helped expansion
Why didn’t conquered peoples rebel? Effective governance Protection/Peace Citizenship Romanization Roman culture Latin language Roman laws Trade benefits Standardized money Safe trade Cities Roads Aqueducts
Roman Government The Republic
Senate In charge of: Treasury Foreign relations Enforced laws Declared war
Patricians and Plebeians Patricians Aristocrats Large landowners Held political and religious power Government officials Priests Forbidden to marry outside their class Plebian Lower social class Land owning men Had to be a citizen of Rome
Tribune Elected from the Plebeians Had the power to veto any law Defended assembly against Patricians
Consuls From the Patricians Made all legislation Shared rule by electing two Consuls at a time Civil decisions Military power One consul could veto the other
Dictator Appointed in times of crisis A single leader who had absolute power to make laws and command the army Temporary – 6 months