Ancient Rome Ancient Rome

The Roman Coliseum

“War trumpets rang over thecheers of the people of Romewho were viewing the triumphalgrand parade. On this day in 146BC, the Romans were celebratingtheir conquest of the last of thethree Greek city-states.Ironically, however, over the nextseveral centuries Greek culture would come to form the base ofRoman culture and society.”

Roman Forum in a 3D model

How did the small city of Rome become the center of a vast, diverse empire that spanned the Mediterranean world?

What were Rome’s lasting legacies to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and other parts of the world?

The RomanForum, RomeItaly

The Roman RepublicThe Roman Republic► A narrow, boot-shaped A narrow, boot-shaped

peninsula, it extends from peninsula, it extends from Europe toward the shore of Europe toward the shore of Africa. Africa.

► Between 2000-1000BC waves Between 2000-1000BC waves of Indo-Europeans arrived and of Indo-Europeans arrived and overwhelmed the Neolithicsoverwhelmed the Neolithics

► Between 800-700 BC the Between 800-700 BC the Latins agreed to join and form Latins agreed to join and form one community, Rome.one community, Rome.

► 620 BC Etruscans ruled Rome, 620 BC Etruscans ruled Rome, The Tarquins created the The Tarquins created the Forum and other temples.Forum and other temples.

► 509 BC Romans drove the 509 BC Romans drove the Tarquins out.Tarquins out.

► Patricians declared Rome a Patricians declared Rome a Republic.Republic.

Etruscan ArtEtruscan Art

Etruscan vase in Italy

Etruscan RulesEtruscan Rules►Skillful artisans Skillful artisans ►Used slavesUsed slaves►Slaves revoltSlaves revolt►Latins appearedLatins appeared►620 BC Etruscans gained control of 620 BC Etruscans gained control of

RomeRome

►The Tarquins, an Etruscan family, The Tarquins, an Etruscan family, taught the Latins to build, religion.taught the Latins to build, religion.

►534 BC Tarquin the Proud became 534 BC Tarquin the Proud became the first Roman king. Cruel. He was the first Roman king. Cruel. He was drove outdrove out

Roman GovernmentRoman Government► Patricians and plebeians had Patricians and plebeians had

rights: vote, pay taxes and rights: vote, pay taxes and serving in the military.serving in the military.

► Patricians organized Rome’s Patricians organized Rome’s government into executive government into executive and legislative branches.and legislative branches.

► Executive branch: 2 consuls Executive branch: 2 consuls and a dictatorand a dictator

► Legislative branch: Legislative branch: Assembly of Centuries and Assembly of Centuries and the Senatethe Senate

► Plebeians protested because Plebeians protested because of their lack of power and of their lack of power and got the twelve tablesgot the twelve tables

The doors of the Senate House

ReligionReligion

► Romans were influenced Romans were influenced by Greek culture and by Greek culture and borrowed their deities:borrowed their deities:

• Aphrodite (G) VenusAphrodite (G) Venus• Ares (G) MarsAres (G) Mars• Zeus (G) JupiterZeus (G) Jupiter

Families private Families private workshiped their workshiped their ancestral spirits and ancestral spirits and Vesta, goddess of the Vesta, goddess of the hearth.hearth.

Venus Roman statue at the British Museum

Family Family

► The family was the The family was the basic unit of Roman basic unit of Roman society.society.

• Father was absolute Father was absolute head of the householdhead of the household

• Controlled property, Controlled property, education and could education and could sell family members or sell family members or even kill themeven kill them

• Women had few legal Women had few legal rights but they had rights but they had more freedom than more freedom than Greek womenGreek women

► Parents used to teach Parents used to teach children reading, children reading, writing and moral writing and moral standardsstandards

Expansion and CrisisExpansion and Crisis► Roman Legionaries were well trained Roman Legionaries were well trained

and if deserted were punished by and if deserted were punished by deathdeath

► Economic and social problems Economic and social problems brought down the Roman Republicbrought down the Roman Republic

► Its forces were fighting the Punic Its forces were fighting the Punic wars in the west and other fights in wars in the west and other fights in the east.the east.

► Provinces complained of corrupt Provinces complained of corrupt Roman officialsRoman officials

► By 100 BC slaves formed about 30 % By 100 BC slaves formed about 30 % of Rome’s people. This labor of Rome’s people. This labor replaced paid labor.replaced paid labor.

► Landless and poor people look for Landless and poor people look for “bread and circuses”“bread and circuses”

► Danger of revolts (73 to 71 BC, Danger of revolts (73 to 71 BC, Spartacus led an army of 70,000 Spartacus led an army of 70,000 slaves to win freedomslaves to win freedom

Roman legionaries

Reformers and GeneralsReformers and Generals

* 133 BC Tiberius Gracchus * 133 BC Tiberius Gracchus proposed limiting the proposed limiting the size of the latifundia but size of the latifundia but the Senate opposed himthe Senate opposed him

► Ten years later his Ten years later his brother Gaius Gracchus brother Gaius Gracchus proposed the sameproposed the same

► 107 BC the General 107 BC the General Marius became consul Marius became consul and professionalized the and professionalized the armyarmy

► From 88 to 82 BC From 88 to 82 BC military political leaders military political leaders fought each other to fought each other to control Romecontrol Rome

Tiberius Gracchus

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar► From an aristocratic family, From an aristocratic family,

became one of Rome’s became one of Rome’s greatest generals and political greatest generals and political leaders.leaders.

► Some of his military victories Some of his military victories were: were:

• Conquered the CeltsConquered the Celts• Fought Germanic tribesFought Germanic tribes• Crossed the RubiconCrossed the Rubicon• 45BC took the government:45BC took the government:• Carried out social reforms to Carried out social reforms to

benefit the poorbenefit the poor• A new calendar based on A new calendar based on

Alexandria’s one (365 days in Alexandria’s one (365 days in a year and 1 more year every a year and 1 more year every 4)4)

• Death on March 15, 44 BCDeath on March 15, 44 BC

End of the RepublicEnd of the Republic

► After Julius Caesar’s After Julius Caesar’s death, his 18 year death, his 18 year old grandnephew old grandnephew Octavian joined with Octavian joined with Marc Antony and Marc Antony and Marcus Lepidus.Marcus Lepidus.

► Octavian forced Octavian forced Lepidus to retired Lepidus to retired and after Marc and after Marc Antony’s death Antony’s death became the ruler of became the ruler of Rome.Rome.

Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus

The Roman EmpireThe Roman Empire► THE FIRST EMPERORSTHE FIRST EMPERORS• Augustus CaesarAugustus CaesarIn the 40 years of his reign (27-In the 40 years of his reign (27-

14 BC) he became a great 14 BC) he became a great promoter of the arts.promoter of the arts.

• The Julio-Claudian The Julio-Claudian EmperorsEmperors

1.1. Augustus’s adopted son Augustus’s adopted son TiberiusTiberius

2.2. Tiberius’ grandnephew Tiberius’ grandnephew Caligula (mentally Caligula (mentally disturbed)disturbed)

3.3. Caligula’s uncle, ClaudiusCaligula’s uncle, Claudius4.4. Nero, Claudiu’s stepson, Nero, Claudiu’s stepson,

cruel and probably insane cruel and probably insane (he killed his mother, wife (he killed his mother, wife and senators)and senators)

Caligula at Louvre

Nero

The Good EmperorsThe Good Emperors

► For 28 years after Nero’s For 28 years after Nero’s death, Rome was ruled death, Rome was ruled by several emperors by several emperors that were backed by the that were backed by the army.army.

► In 96 AD Nerva became In 96 AD Nerva became the first of the so-called the first of the so-called good emperors:good emperors:

2. Trajan2. Trajan

3. Hadrian3. Hadrian

4. Antoninus Pius4. Antoninus Pius

5. Marcus Aurelius5. Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius

The Pax RomanaThe Pax Romana

► From about 31 BC to From about 31 BC to 180 AD the Roman 180 AD the Roman world enjoyed the world enjoyed the Roman Peace.Roman Peace.

► ECONOMY:ECONOMY:Artisans made pottery, Artisans made pottery,

woven clothes, blown woven clothes, blown glass and jewelry.glass and jewelry.

They were good They were good traders with India traders with India and Chinaand China

Roman urn

Roman Education, Architecture Roman Education, Architecture and Artsand Arts

► They erected many impressive buildings during this period: The They erected many impressive buildings during this period: The Circus Maximus, Colosseum, rebuilt the Pantheon, roads and Circus Maximus, Colosseum, rebuilt the Pantheon, roads and aqueductsaqueducts

► The Romans studied geometry, astronomy, philosophy and oratory. The Romans studied geometry, astronomy, philosophy and oratory. Lower classes: reading, writing and arithmeticLower classes: reading, writing and arithmetic

► The language was Latin and they published beautiful written The language was Latin and they published beautiful written speeches:speeches:

Cicero, Ovid, Horace, Virgil, Livy and TacitusCicero, Ovid, Horace, Virgil, Livy and Tacitus

The Rise of ChristianityThe Rise of Christianity► Christianity started as a sect Christianity started as a sect

in Rome.in Rome.► Meanwhile the Jews were Meanwhile the Jews were

fighting to regain their fighting to regain their freedom from 6 to 132 AD.freedom from 6 to 132 AD.

► A few decades before the A few decades before the Jewish revolts a Jew named Jewish revolts a Jew named Jesus grew up in NazarethJesus grew up in Nazareth

► In about 33 AD the Roman In about 33 AD the Roman governor Pontius Pilate governor Pontius Pilate arrested Jesus as a political arrested Jesus as a political rebel, he ordered that he be rebel, he ordered that he be crucified, a common crucified, a common punishment for Roman punishment for Roman criminals.criminals.

► Jews and non-Jews who Jews and non-Jews who accepted Jesus as a messiah accepted Jesus as a messiah were called Christianswere called Christians

Robert Powell as Jesus

Roma DeclineRoma Decline

► Political InstabilityPolitical Instability• Emperor Commodus Emperor Commodus

(Marcus Aurelius’s son)(Marcus Aurelius’s son)• From 192 to 284 AD From 192 to 284 AD

army legions installed army legions installed 28 emperors.28 emperors.

• Army was fighting each Army was fighting each otherother

• Due to political Due to political instability economical instability economical problems appeared.problems appeared. Emperor Marcus Aurelius Commodus

Antoninus

Fontana di Trevi 25.9 meters high 19.8 meters wide