The Beginnings of RomeAncient Rome began with the overthrow of foreign Kings in 503 B. C. But romans like to say the history of their city began at 753 B. C.
The Founding of Rome
The legend keeps going with the twins Romulus and Remus the descendants of Aeneas who founded Rome. Their mother abandoned them, but they were saved by a wolf. When the twins grew up they fought over Rome’s location so Romulus killed his brother Remus and traced Rome’s location around Palatine hill. After Romulus a series of Roman kings ruled the city. In the 600s B. C. the Etruscans from northern Italy conquered Rome. In order to regain self-rule the romans overthrew the Etruscans King.
Romes Geography and Early Life Over throw of Estrucans Rome grew from a city to a country, and
eventually into an empire
Hills and Rivers
1st settlers of Rome were Latin They built Rome on seven steep hills They chose Rome for it’s mild climate,
good farmland, and strategic location Located a short distance from the
Mediterranean Sea on ancient trade routes, it also lay next to the Tiber River, an important resource
Italian Peninsula
Location on Italian Peninsula played important role in development
The 2 main mountain ranges of Italy helped protect Rome
The Alps border Italy on the North and the Apennies form Italy’s spine
Italy also had big plains that were good farming
Farm Life
Roman farmers planted wheat, barley, beans, vegetables, and fruit.
They later planted olives and grapes. They raised pigs, goats, sheep, and
chickens. They used oxen to pull their plows. Most Roman farmers lived in simple
homes of mud or timber.
Farm Life Most Roman farmers lived in simple homes
of mud or timber. Had little furniture. Lived with grandparents, aunts& uncles,
nieces& nephews, or cousins. They had to obey the orders they got.
Rise of the Republic
• Rome developed into 2 classes the Patricians and the Plebeians
• There was a conflict between the two classes; when the conflict ended it defined the citizens rights
○ They used this system for 500 years to keep the people under control
Patric
ians
and p
lebei
ans
• Patricians were wealthy land owners that had seats in the gov’t
• Upper class
• Plebeians were commoners that had the right to vote but didn’t have gov’t seats• Lower class
• The Twelve Tables was a system made around 450b.c. to establish basic rights and duties • Made by patricians
REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT
The leaders of the Roman republic established a tripartite government.
The type of government has three branches
legislative
judicial
executive
Types and what they do
Legislative: makes laws
Judicial: interprets law in court
Executive: enforces a country’s laws
THE THREE BRANCHES
Legislative branch included the senate and the assemblies
The senate Was made up of 300
members that advise Roman leaders.
Most senators were patricians.
The assemblies were made up of plebeians.
Their representatives protected the rights of plebeian.
Judicial branch consisted of eight judges they served for one year.
They oversaw the courts and governed the provinces.
2 consuls led Rome’s executive branch.
For 1 year they commanded the army and the directed the government.
Going on
each consul had the power to veto or overrule the other.
In times of crisis the consuls could choose a dictator – a leader with absolute power.
The republic expands For hundred of years after the founding of the
republic, Rome expanded it territories. By the 300s B.C., the Romans dominated central
Italy. By 275 B.C., all of the and the Italian Peninsula was
under Roman control. Rome did not impose harsh rule on conquered
peoples. The republic offered Roman citizenship to most of
them and allowed them to govern themselves. In return , the new citizens had to pay taxes and
provide soldiers for the Roman army.
Effects of Expansion
Romans brought great wealth and slaves They bought large estates and farmed them with slaves But because many small farmers couldn’t compete, they lost their
farms Unemployment and poverty increased The gap between rich and poor grew wider
SECTION 2Rome Becomes an Empire
Conflicts at Home
w/ expansion wealthy Romans neglected civic dutiesThey wanted more power & wealthDistance between rich & poor increasedThreat of an uprising increased
○ Poor resented the wealthy
Reform Fails
Reformers tried to break up huge estates & give land to poorWealthy landowners in the Senate opposed
reforms & had reformers killed
Civil War General who conquered other lands became hungry for
power Hired poor farmers to serve as soldiers
○ Loyalty shifted from Republic to generals
Civil War broke out One side was generals who supported the plebeians On the other were generals backed by patricians & senators
Marius General for plebeians
Sulla General for patricians
82 B.C. Patricians won war Sulla took power & became a dictator
Julius Caesar
Rose to power after death of Sulla General, politician, & dictator Born into noble family Many of many talents & ambition
Would have to prove himself on the battlefield
Military Leader
GaulsFierce fighters in FranceDefeated by Caesar in a brilliant military
campaign○ Conquests won new lands & great wealth for
Rome○ Also won him fame & fortune○ Wrote about exploits in a book entitled
Commentaries on the Gallic War
Dictator for Life Caesar gain reputation as a reformer who supported
common people Popular w/ plebeians
Had enemies Powerful Romans (senators) opposed him
○ Cicero is one such person (key consul) Distrusted Caesar & his quest for power
When Caesar returned from Gaul he was ordered to break up his army, but instead he marched into Italy and began fighting for control of Rome Caesar was victories 46 B.C. he was appointed Roman ruler 44 B.C. he was named dictator for life
Caesar’s Reform
He expanded the senate by appointing supporters from Italy & other regionsSome feared he would make himself king
○ He would rule for a lifetime & family members would also rule after him
Assassination & Legacy
Concerns over his growing power were his downfall
Senate resented his power March 15 44 B.C. some senators
surrounded Caesar & assassinated himLeaders of this conspiracy were eventually
killed or committed suicide
Emperors Rule Rome
Several Roman leaders struggled to gain power after Caesars deathOctavian (great-nephew of Caesar) was one
Struggles led to another civil warWar destroyed what was left of Roman
RepublicOctavian eventually wins the war and took
the name Augustus (means exalted one)
Augustus Rebuilds Rome
Was 1st emperor of RomeLiked to be called 1st citizen insteadRestored some aspects of republican gov’t
○ Senators, consuls, & tribunes held office again Augustus had power over them though
He brought provinces under control & strengthened defenses
Began a civil service (a group of officials employed by the gov’t)Collected taxes, oversaw postal system, & managed grain supply
He also rebuilt & beautified RomeBuilt grand temples, theaters, & monuments
○ Replaced many brick buildings w/ marble ones
The Roman Peace
Rome experienced peace & stabilityCalled Pax Romana (Roman Peace)Lasted about 200 yearsEmpire grew in size (2 million square miles)
Roman army became greatest fighting force in the world300,000 menGuarded empire’s frontiersBuilt roads, bridges, & tunnelsStrong navy created
A Strong Government
Pax Romana continued after Augustus died in A.D. 14
Good & bad rulers followed himThe gov’t started by Augustus was so
effective that it continued to do wellBy A.D. 100s empire reached from Spain to
North Africa to Britain
Agriculture Helped empire prosper Everything depended on it Most people were farmers
Most survived on produce from their local areaAdditional food could be obtained through trade
Industry also grewManufacturing of pottery, metal goods, & glass
increasedWine & olive oil as well
Trade
Economy grew through trade routes Traders sailed Mediterranean Sea Traveled by land to Gaul & other parts of
Europe Acquired valuable good not available at
homeGrain, ivory, silk, spices, gold/silver, & wild
animals
Currency
Economy was united by a common currency
Silver coins called denarius was used throughout empire
Made trade between different pats of the empire easier
Expanding economy benefited the already wealthyDivision between rich & poor grew
SECTION 3The Daily Life of Romans
Family and Society
Head of family was fatherOwned all property & had control over other
family members○ Power limited by public opinion & custom
(Society disapproved of punishing family w/o good cause)
Women
Had some freedoms Expected to run the household & take
care of children Could inherit property & run small
businesses when husbands were away Had little power outside the home &
could not vote
Children
Most educated at home Wealthy families sent boys to private
schoolsGirls stayed home & learned household
skills○ Usually married by 14
Social Classes Old division of patricians & plebeians evolved into
upper & lower classesPatricians & wealthy plebeians became upper classMiddle Class: prosperous business leaders & officialsLower Class: FarmersLowest Class: slaves (largest class in society)
○ 1/3 of population○ Some prisoners of war○ Some slaves because parents were○ Slaves worked as low-level clerical positions, performed
physical labor (worked in mines, on large estates, & as servants)Many suffered cruel treatment; revolts were common
Roman Beliefs
Worshipped 100’s of spiritsSpirits lived in everything around them
Household gods protected themSet up shrines in their homes
Religious Influences
Beliefs became influenced by cultureEtruscans & Greeks influenced Roman
religion○ Etruscans: adopted idea of gods in human
form, rituals designed to predict the future○ Greeks: borrowed many gods from Greeks
Jupiter similar to Greek god Zeus
Religion & Public Life
Government & Religion were linked in RomePriests were gov’t officialsEmperor was head of churchRoman gods were symbols of the stateExpected to honor gods in public
ceremoniesOvertime emperors became worshipped as
gods
Life in Roman Cities
At the height of the Roman Empire, Rome had nearly 1 million peoplePeople from across the empire moved to
Rome○ Created a blend of ideas & customs
The Crowded City Crowded, dirty, & noisy Many were unemployed & poor
Lived in rundown apartment buildings w/ no running water or toilets
Public bathhouses were a means of adapting
People dropped their trash out the windows injuring pe0ple walking on the streets below
Fire was a constant danger
Rich and Poor Poor had little to eat
Bread, olives, & fruitGov’t provided free grain
WealthyLife of luxuryLived in large, comfortable homes in the
countrysideWent to theatersHad fancy dinner partiesHad fine foods: dates, oranges, ham, salted
jellyfish, roast parrot, & boiled flamingo tongue
Responding to Urban Problems Built sewer & plumbing systems for
sanitation Built aqueducts to carry water to Roman
towns Public baths
All classes visited baths to bathe & socialize Gov’t provided entertainment to distract
Romans from problems w/ city lifeCircus Maximus: oval stadium where chariot
races took placeColosseum: gladiators fought, naval battles,
etc.
SECTION 4The Development of Christianity
Christianity’s Jewish Roots 63 B.C.
Romans conquered Jewish kingdom of Judah (Judea)○ Jews had been treated badly & wanted
to be free from foreign rulersSacred writings promised a Messiah
(descended from King David) who would free them
The Life of Jesus
Born in a province of JudeaFollowed many teachings of
JudaismAlso taught ideas & practices that
differed
Birth & Early Life
Know of the life of Jesus from the Gospels
He was born in Bethlehem & grew up in Nazareth
Was raised by Mary & Joseph
Jesus’ Followers
He became a traveling teacher Biblical accounts say he cured the sick
& lame & turned water to wine He had 12 disciples (close followers)
The Teachings of Jesus He preached justice, compassion, & the coming of God’s
kingdom Delivered messages in parables or stories with morals 3 best known are: Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, & the
Lost SheepGood Samaritan: teaches importance of helping others, even if they
are differentProdigal Son: deals w/ God’s call for the lost soul to repentThe Lost Sheep: deals w/ God’s concern for every individual, no
matter how lost or seemingly insignificant Most famous teachings were given in the Sermon of the Mount
Obey the law but also change their hearts Jesus was also disliked by certain people for his teachings &
who he associated with
The Death of Jesus
Claim of Jesus as the Messiah threatened the RomansQuestioned their political power & authority
The Early Christians
Jesus’ disciples were JewsEventually developed beliefs & practices
that broke away from Judaism○ Became known as Christians
The Early Church
Disciples though Jesus fulfilled propheciesTried to convince other Jews to accept Jews
as the Messiah The early Church
Stressed sharing property, charity, helping prisoners, & taking common meals○ Women & slaves were eager to join
Disciples hoped to spread Jesus’ message & convert others
Conflicts Arises
1st members of church were Jewish converts to Christianity
Conversions of Gentiles (non-Jewish people) to Christianity sparked debate
Roman leaders ignored early ChristiansViewed as a division of Judaism
Paul Spreads Christianity
SaulEarly leader of Christian church
The Road to DamascusSaul experienced a sudden conversion
○ Jesus was revealed to him as son of God○ Saul was appointed to proclaim Jesus among
the Gentiles○ Became to believe Jesus was the Jewish
MessiahSaul’s cultural & political background helped
to convert nonbelievers○ As Saul traveled he used his Roman name
Paul
The Journeys Change Christianity Paul made 4 missionary journeys Christianity spread through Roman
Empire Paul thought people did not have to
become Jews before becoming ChristiansSeparated Christianity from JudaismMade new religion appealing to Gentiles
The Letters
Paul started new churches & kept in touch by writing lettersLetters explained Christian beliefs & urged
coverts to live according to God’s law
Paul’s Death & Legacy
Paul wanted to travel to Rome to spread Christian faithHe reached Rome but not in the way he had
hoped Near the end of his career he returned
to JerusalemHe was taken into custody by Romans (was
in prison for 2 years, demanded to be tried before Caesar in Rome)
A.D. 60He arrived in Rome & remained under
house arrest for 2 years○ He wrote several letters from captivity