The Legend They were powerful and they did not apologize for it. They conquered and did not feel guilty about it. It was their destiny. They dominated without regret. The She-Wolf ➢ Brothers Romulus and Remus ! ➢ Sons of Mars and a vestal virgin ! ➢ Raised by a she-wolf No, this one… It’s Rome, not Reme… ➢ Brothers argue over the location of where to build their city Rome - early people ➢ Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans all lived on the Italian Peninsula ● ! ➢ Romulus murders Remus & founds the city on the Palatine Hill ! ➢ Romulus • These are the 1st true Romans ● ● is the 1st king 753 BCE Latins were located where city of Rome is today on the Palatine Hill Greeks were in the south Etruscans were native to northern Italy So Romulus had a town… But he had no people How to populate his kingdom? Plan #1 ➢ Invite exiles from other towns to move in ➢ This brought men to town, but not many women Plan #2 ➢ Step 1: invite the neighboring Sabine people to town for a religious festival Step 2: ➢ Get them all drunk Step 3 ➢ Slay the men and steal their women ➢ Send surviving men scurrying home alone Step 4 ➢ Keep all the women for yourself ! ➢ Known as the “Rape of the Sabine Women” The Sabine Men Waged War ➢ But the battle was so brutal that the Sabine brides begged the men to go home so that no more blood would be shed From the Time of Romulus Until 509 BCE… ➢ Rome was led by kings of various ethnicities ➢ Rome had grown to about 500 sq. miles ➢ They were using Etruscan alphabet and arches The Last King… ➢ Was an Etruscan named Tarquin the Proud ! • He should have been named Tarquin the Mean ! • He was thrown out of power in 509 BCE They established a republic ➢ A form of government where citizens vote for their leaders ! Two Social Classes ➢ Patricians: wealthy landowners ➢ Plebians: working-class people ● Farmers, artisans, merchants ➢ Different than Direct Democracy in Greece - a representative form of Democracy ! ➢ Roman citizens were only males who were born to free men They Struggled for Power ➢ PATRICIANS ● ● ● Felt superior because they had high status Held majority of the power But only made up a minority of the people ➢ PLEBIANS ● ● Had the right to vote but not to hold high office In 451 BCE they made more inroads to equality The Senate ➢ Made up of 300 Patricians ➢ Serve for life ➢ 2 Consuls led the Senate and the Military ● ● Could only serve one year at a time Could only serve once every 10 years Dictator ➢ Serve for 6 months or shorter as needed ➢ Appointed by the Senate ➢ The ideal dictator was Cincinnatus Appointing a Dictator Only in Times of Crisis Tribunes ➢ Around 450 BCE Plebians got into the Senate, but not as full members ➢ They could be Tribune ● ● No voting power Just veto power Roman Military ➢ To grow an empire, you need an excellent military ● All land-owners had to serve • Legions – 5000 infantry ● Divide into groups of 80 = a century • Cavalry ● Supported the Legions Rome conquers Italy ➢ By the 265 BCE Rome controlled most of Italy ➢ Generally lenient toward conquered groups ➢ Conquered groups fell into three categories Full citizens Partial citizens Allies ● ● ● – on N. African coast ! ➢ A Phoenecian ● ➢ Control of trade routes ➢ Access to resources from far away ➢ Now and then another powerful civilization would get in their way… ● Punic Wars 264-146 BCE ➢ Carthage More land = more riches trade outpost “Punicus” = Phoenecian in Latin THE PUNIC WARS 1st Punic War 264-241 BCE ➢ Fought ● ● ● ● mainly on Sicily Carthage controlled Sicily Carthaginian general: Hamilcar Barca This is too close for comfort for Rome Carthage signs Sicily over to Rome Rome makes its move ➢ Annexes Corsica and Sardinia while Carthage is busy putting down its civil war • Much to annoyance of Carthaginian people = Civil War in Carthage 2nd Punic War 218-202 BCE ➢ Hamilcar’s son, Hannibal leads Carthage army ! ➢ Says Rome, “Oh, how we hate Hannibal!” ! ➢ Marches ● across the Alps & down into Italy Pretty good trick, since he had elephants! ! ➢ Crushes ● most everything on his way Gaul helps as well Meanwhile… ➢ Rome heads down to Zama ➢ Led by Scipio (Africanus) ➢ Hannibal has to hurry home ➢ Scipio takes Carthage 204 BCE ● Rome says, “We are the chosen people!” Death of Hannibal ➢ Rome knew Hannibal was dangerous ! 3rd Punic War 149-146 BCE ➢ Rome is afraid Carthage will rise again ! ➢ Chased him around coast of Africa ! ➢ Tells Carthage, “Move inland!” ! ➢ Hannibal drinks poison rather than be captured ➢ Says Carthage, “No way, man…” ! ➢ Rome attacks – Carthage turns into a military stronghold – keeps Rome out 2 years The ‘Salting’ of Carthage ➢ This ● hardly qualifies as a “war” at all More of a slaughter ! ➢ Salting of land either literally or figuratively Collapse of the Republic ➢ Territory ● grows, so do troubles Dissatisfaction among lower classes • Growing gap between rich and poor • Slaves – about 1/3 of the population! • Slaves working plantations – small farmers can’t compete • Go into town to find work ● Growing slum areas inside city of Rome Collapse of the Republic ➢ Gracchus Brothers ➢ Tribunes in 130s & 120s BCE ➢ Proposed reforms to help poor people ➢ Both met violent deaths ➢ Civil war in Rome followed their deaths Collapse of the Republic ➢ Breakdown in military loyalty ➢ Generals try to grab power for themselves ➢ Recruited poor people by promising land ● This leads to loyalty only to their commander, not to Rome itself ! • One of these was Julius Caesar Julius Caesar 100-44 BCE ➢ Roman general ➢ Backed up by his LOYAL army ➢ Military genius ➢ Forms 1st Triumvirate ● Group of 3 rulers Julius Caesar ➢ Conquers all of Gaul – names himself governor ! ➢ Popular w/Roman people ! ➢ Senate fears his power Julius Caesar ➢ Ordered ● to disband his army & come home Julius Caesar ➢ Named Dictator for Life 44 BCE by senate “Don’t cross the Rubicon with your legions!” ! ● Jan. 10, 49 BCE • “Alea jacta is” (the die is cast) ! • He marches into Rome 46 BCE ● Supported by army and the masses Dictator Julius Caesar ➢ Reforms ● ● ● ● of Caesar Granted citizenship to many Enlarged the senate Gave land to poor people Created jobs • Public works projects Caesar the God??? ➢ Put ● his face on the coins Usually only gods or past heroes Caesar and Cleopatra ➢ Egypt’s power was fading ➢ Her brother/husband Ptolemy was pharaoh ➢ Cleopatra sought alliance w/Rome via Caesar ➢ Son - Caesarian Death of Caesar ➢ “Ides of March” (Mar. 15) 44 BCE ! ➢ Stabbed by members of the senate ! ➢ Et tu, Brute? ! ➢ Caesar’s ● “nephew” takes power Age of the emperors begins
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