Chapter 11 Rome

The Foundation of Rome Creation myth of Romulus and Remus Later tried to link Rome with Greece Reality –Founded c BCE –Indo-European settlers –Settled, dev. ag, tribal organization, bronze (1800 BCE), iron (900 BCE) Controlled by the Etruscans BCE –Dev. thriving civilization throughout Italy –Greatly influenced Romans (monarchy, paved streets, arch, public works, walls, temples) –Began to decline late 500’s

Establishment of the Roman Republic 509 BCE overthrew Etruscan king Replaced with republic controlled by Patrician class –Senate –Two Consuls Lower class (Plebians) originally lacked representation –Later could elect tribunes who held veto power –Class tension remained part of Roman saga –Gained greater power over time Dictators – could be appointed for six month terms in times of crisis

Roman Expansion By the 4 th century BCE – Rome was a strong regional state Began conquering Med. World Punic Wars –Competition between Carthage and Rome (commerce) –Series of wars between BCE –Rome destroyed Carthage Gained Hellenistic kingdoms and conquered Persia

From Republic to Empire Increasing wealth gap Latifundia –Increasing use of slave labor –Small farmers could not compete –Increased unemployment –Increased class tension/strain The Gracchi Brothers –Wanted land distribution, limits on size –Both were assassinated

Imperial Expansion Original government of Rome was not suitable for a larger empire Civil war – 87 BCE –Sulla came to power – conservative, brutal five year reign, died in 79 BCE –Problems unsolved, nothing done for the poor

Caesar Supported a more liberal gov’t & reforms Conquered Gaul (France) 49 BCE marched on Rome 47 BCE – proclaimed himself dictator for life –Recentralized Roman military and gov’t –Large public works program –Land reform –Extended citizenship 44 BCE – assassinated in the Senate 13 years of civil war

Augustus Octavian – Caesar’s nephew and heir By 27 BCE – took power and title of Augustus 45 year reign – thoroughly est Roman gov’t –Preserved the old Roman gov’t –Centralized military and gov’t –Began Pax Romana –Wars of expansion

Pax Romana 250 years of relative peace and prosperity Problems with poverty covered up with “Bread and Circus” program Development of roads, increased cultural diffusion Development of Roman law increased

Economy & Society Large scale commercial agriculture, focus on cash crops for export Manufacturing Extensive long distance trade Rome –Most wealth went to Rome –Cosmopolitan – Roman baths, sewage systems, racetracks, stadiums

Remained patriarchal, but overtime women gained greater power Slavery –By 100 CE – 1/3 of Roman population were slaves –Huge numbers of slaves on rural estates, brutal conditions –73 BCE – Spartacus led 70,000 escaped slaves in a revolt –Urban slaves tended to fare much better