Roman Outline

I.               Overview

A.             Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community as early as the 10^th century BC. 

B.             In its centuries of existence, Roman civilization shifted from a monarchy, to an oligarchic republic to an increasingly autocratic empire. 

C.            It would dominate most of Europe and the Mediterranean region. 

1.              Internal instability and attacks from various migrating people the western part of the empire (Italy, Hispania, Gaul, Britannia, and Africa) broke up into independent kingdoms in the 5^th century AD. 

2.              Eastern Roman Empire governed by Constantinople – Byzantine Empire (Greece, Balkans, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt) endured for another 1,000 years. 

3.              Eventually losing Syria and Egypt to the Arab Islamic Empire.  It was finally annexed by the emerging Ottoman Empire.

II.             Geography

A.             The Italian peninsula juts into the Mediterranean Sea giving it a strategic location to govern the area. 

B.             Bodies of water

1.              Seas

a)             Mediterranean Sea surrounds the peninsula

b)             Adriatic Sea to the east

c)              Tyrrhenian Sea to the west

2.              Rivers

a)             Tiber River – important to Rome

b)             Po River longest river in Italy – Po River Valley

C.            Mountains

1.              Alps – northern Italy boundary.  One of the great mountain range systems of Europe. (for a visual it is located in modern-day France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia)

2.              Apennines – for the backbone down the center of the country.

D.            Rome

1.              Built on seven hills – highly defensible.

2.              Located inland to protect from sea attacks.

III.           Founding Rome

A.             Legend

1.              According to legend Rome was founded by twin brothers descended from a Trojan prince – Romulus and Remus – grandsons of a Latin king.  Their father was overthrown by his cruel brother and the uncle fearing the twins would one day reclaim the thrown ordered that they be drowned.  A she-wolf (or Sheppard’s wife) saved and raised them.  They return and founded the city, but Romulus killed Remus in a quarrel over who would reign as king of Rome.  Rome is named for Romulus. 

B.             Archeological

1.              According to archeological evidence Rome was a village founded in the 8^th century BC by a Latin tribe at the top of the Palatine Hill. 

2.              Etruscans

a)             They influenced the development of Rome. 

b)             Etruscans were a power nation. 

c)              Religion

(1)           Augury – the art of foretelling the future by means of signs. (originally using flight pattern of birds)

(2)           studied and used entrails and organs of animals to determine the will of the gods.

(3)           Worshipped many gods (this is adapted by Romans and incorporated in the Pantheon)

3.              The Greeks

a)             Colonized Sicily and southern Italy. 

b)             Through trade the Greeks passed on the Phoenician alphabet to the Etruscans who in turn gave it to the Romans. 

IV.           History of Rome

A.             Early rule in Rome was through several kings, probably chieftains, who were chosen for their military abilities rather than hereditary. 

B.             Rome falls under the influence of Etruscans, but by 509 BC the Romans overthrew Tarquinius Superbus, the last Etruscan king. 

C.            The revolt led by the people of Rome, led to the aristocratic political system, or republic.

V.             Government

A.               Republic – government in which power lies with the citizens and their elected representatives. 

B.             Two major groups emerge

1.              Patricians – grand landowners, famous names in Rome

a)             This group of aristocratic lineages (the patriciate) sought to monopolize political power.

b)             Major (or even exclusive) role in filling the priesthood, the Senate and important military posts.

c)              The principle political vehicle of the patriciate was the Senate

2.              Plebeians – wealthy landowners, merchants, small farmers.

a)             In this system there was little political role for the ordinary populace. 

C.            Conflict of Orders

D.            Political struggle between the Patricians and Plebeians

E.             Twelve Tables

1.              demanded by Plebeians

2.              written Roman code of laws – 12 tablets

3.              Civil law applies to citizens

F.             Law of Nations – universal laws that applied to non-citizens

VI.           The Punic Wars

A.             After Rome conquered the Italian Peninsula it was confronted by another powerful state trying to conquer the Mediterranean, Carthage. 

1.              The city of Carthage was founded by the Phoenicians in north Africa.  Carthage had established colonies throughout Sicily. 

B.             First Punic War

1.              When a Roman army landed in Sicily, Carthage considered it an act of war.  The first Punic War began. 

2.              Rome quickly realized that a navy would be necessary to win the war and created a large naval fleet.  They defeated the Carthaginians. 

3.              Carthage retreated from Sicily and paid a sum to Rome. 

C.            Second Punic War

1.              Romans encouraged a Carthaginian Spanish colony revolt, and Carthage’s General Hannibal, their greatest general, struck back.

2.              Hannibal entered Spain, moved east, and crossed the Alps with an army of about 46,000 men, a large number of horses, and 37 battle elephants.

a)             The Alps took a toll on the Carthaginian army; most of the ELEPHANTS did not survive.

3.              Even though Rome lost a large army they did not surrender.  While Hannibal conquered areas in Italy, Romans fought their battles in Spain expelling the Carthaginians. 

4.              Romans were then sent to Carthage where the Carthaginians recalled Hannibal to defend the city.  Rome crushes Hannibal’s forces and the war ends.  Rome now has Spain under its domain.

D.            Third Punic War

1.              Fought to destroy the threat of Carthage. 

2.              Roman soldiers invade and destroy the city and enslaving any Carthaginian left alive.

E.             Rome was also fighting with the Hellenistic states in the Macedonian Wars.  By 129 BC Rome had conquered all of the Mediterranean Sea. 

VII.         Growing Inequality and Unrest

A.             By the second century B.C the Senate had become the real governing body of the Roman state.

B.             Senators served for life and were a small circle of wealthy and powerful men.  The backbone of the Roman state and army had always been the small farmer. 

1.              These small farmers could not compete with the wealthier landowners.  Many soldiers returned to find their land in the hands of wealthier neighbors or destroyed farms. 

2.              Some aristocrats tried to remedy this problem because they felt many of Rome’s problems originated from the decline of the small farmer. 

3.              Two brothers (The Gracchi Brothers), Gaius and Tiberius, proposed that land be redistributed and the Senate had them murdered. 

VIII.       Roman Generals

A.             Roman generals begin recruiting men to serve in their armies in exchange for the spoils of war. 

1.              Eventually these generals gain power and the loyalty of their men. 

B.             Civil war disrupts the Republic as many struggle for control of Rome. 

C.            By 60 BC the First Triumvirate, a government ruled by three people with equal power, is formed. 

1.              Crassus, Cesar, and Pompey are vying for ultimate control. 

2.              Crassus dies in battle leaving Pompey and Caesar to battle over Rome. 

3.              Caesar is in Gaul (modern-day France) gaining the favor of the people, while Pompey is appealing to the Senate. 

4.              The Senate favors Pompey as ruler and demand that Caesar resign his position. 

5.              Caesar marches into Rome and defeats Pompey’s army. 

6.              Caesar declares himself dictator. 

7.              He gives land to the poor and increases the number of Senators.  Before he can do anything else a group of Senators have him assassinated. 

D.            The Second Triumvirate consists of Octavian (Caesar’s heir), Marc Antony, and Lepidus. 

1.              Lepidus is forced to retire. 

2.              Marc Antony joins forces with Cleopatra and attack Octavian’s army. 

3.              Octavian emerges victorious and Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide. 

IX.           Roman Empire

A.             Octavian is the first emperor. 

B.             Given the title Augustus, “the revered one” by the Senate.