MEDITERRANEAN SOCIETY: THE ROMAN PHASE

I- FROM KINGDOM to REPUBLIC

A- THE ETRUSCANS and ROME ► Romulus and Remus: legendary twins rescued by a she-wolf; founded Rome in 753 B.C.E.

► The Etruscans dominated Italy eighth to fifth centuries B.C.E. ► The kingdom of Rome was on the Tiber River

B- The Roman Republic and its Constitution ► Establishment of the republic  Rome nobility deposed the last Etruscan king in 509 B.C.E.  Republican constitution included two consuls: civil and military  Consuls were elected by an assembly dominated by the patricians

► Senate advised the consuls and ratified major decisions ► Both senate and consuls represented the interests of the patricians

Conflicts between patricians and plebians ► Patricians granted plebians the tribunes ► Tribunes’ power to intervene and veto decisions ► Plebians’ tribunes dominated Roman politics, early third century B.C.E.

C- The expansion of the republic ► Rome consolidated its position in Italy, fifth and fourth century B.C.E. ► Conflict with Carthage (Punic Wars) and Hellenistic realms ► Rome became preeminent power in eastern and western Mediterranean

II- FROM REPUBLIC to EMPIRE ► Imperial expansion and domestic problem  Gracchi brothers support land redistribution; both are assassinated

 Military commanders recruited rural and urban poor- intensely loyal armies ► Gaius Marius: general who advocated land redistribution redistribution ► Conservative aristocratic class supported general Lucius Cornelius Sulla Lucius Cornelius Sulla ► Civil war

The foundation of empire ► Julius Caesar: very popular social reformer and conqueror ► Seized Rome in 49 B.C.E. ► Claimed the title “dictator for life,” 46 B.C.E. “dictator for life,” 46 B.C.E. ► Social reforms and centralized control control ► Assassinated in 44 B.C.E.

► Octavion brought civil conflict to an end.  Senate bestowed title “Augustus”, 27 B.C.E.  Monarchy disguised as a republic  Created new standing army under his control  The imperial institutions began to take root

Continuing expansion and integration of the empire ► Roman expansion into Mediterranean basin, western Europe, down Nile to Kush

► Pax romana, Roman peace for two and a half centuries ► Well engineered Roman roads; postal system ► Roman law – tradition: twelve tables ► (450 B.C.E.)

III- The economy and society in the Roman Mediterranean ► Trade and urbanization  Owners of latifunda focused on specialized production for export

► Mediterranean trade  Sea lanes linked ports on the Mediterranean  Roman navy kept the seas largely free of pirates  The Mediterranean became a Roman lake

► The city of Rome  Wealth of the city fueled its urban development

statues

pools, fountains,

arches,

temples,

stadiums,

► First to use concrete as construction material ► Rome attracted numerous immigrants ► Attractions: baths, pools, gymnasia, circuses, stadiums, amphitheaters circuses, stadiums, amphitheaters

Family and society in Roman times ► The pater-familias – eldest male of the family ruled  Women wielded considerable influence within their families influence within their families  Many women supervised family businesses and wealthy estates businesses and wealthy estates

► Wealth and social change  Newly rich classes built palatial houses and threw lavish banquets  Cultivators and urban masses lived at subsistence levels  Poor classes became a serious problem in Rome and other cities  No urban policy developed, only “bread and circuses”

► Slavery- one third the population  Urban slaves saw better conditions and possibility of manumission

IV- The cosmopolitan Mediterranean ► Greek philosophy and religions of salvation  Roman deities: gods, goddesses, and household gods

► Greek influence – Stoicism  Appealed to Roman intellectuals  Cicero ( B.C.E.) persuasive writer on stoicism

► Religions of salvation gave sense of purpose and promised afterlife  Roman roads served as highways for religious highways for religious spread spread  Mithraism was popular with Roman soldiers with Roman soldiers - men only - men only  Cult of Isis very popular

► Judaism and early Christianity  Monotheistic Jews considered state cults considered state cults to be blasphemy to be blasphemy  The Essenes, sect of Judaism: sect of Judaism: Dead Sea Scrolls Dead Sea Scrolls

► Jesus of Nazareth  Charismatic Jewish teacher, taught devotion to God and love for all human beings  Attracted large crowds through his wisdom and miraculous powers  The theaching “the kingdom of God is at hand” alarmed the Romans  Crucifixion in early 30’s C.E.  Became “Crist” or “the annointed one”

► The New Testament and Old Testament became the holy book of Christianity

► Paul of Tarsus was principle figure in principle figure in the spread of the spread of Christianity Christianity

► Rapid growth of early Christianity  Strong appeal to lower classes  Became the most influential faith in the Mediterranean by the third century C.E.