PP Notes ROME

ROME
The Aeneid by Virgil
After the defeat at Troy, Aeneid wondered the sea with those who would follow. A seven year odyssey followed, then he was led by the gods to what would be Italy. There began Italy and the seeds of Roman dominance.
Romulus and Remus
The Etruscans
Rome as a Republic: Around 509 BCE the Etruscan king was forced out of Rome, and the Senate became the ruling body.
An alliance with other Latin communities followed which helped Rome maintain its independence until 340 BCE.


Government and Law

Executive Branch
The two leaders of the executive branch, the consuls, were elected for just one year by the upper class. They supervised the Senate and ordered the Roman army during wars. Other members of the executive branch were the tax collectors, mayors, city police, and other people in positions of power in cities.



Judgment
Slander – clubbed to death
A thief - flogged, unless a slave- thrown off Tarpaian rock on Rome's Capitoline hill
Defrauding a client – executed
Perjury - executed
Judge who took a bribe – executed
Conspiring with an enemy or delivering a Roman citizen to an enemy – executed
Vestal Virgins who were unchaste - buried alive

Infant deformities - put to death shortly after birth, and parents could kill infants if at least five neighbors consented.
Roman Patriarchs - could sell his son or daughter into slavery, could have a rebellious son put to death, daughters could be sold in marriage, could choose son’s wife or declare when to divorce.
Slavery in Rome
Important part of Roman society:
-debtors could be forced into slavery
-children could be sold into slavery
-traitors or conquered peoples became slaves
-slaves had no rights – property.
- could be killed, sold or abused.
- they could earn money and eventually buy freedom.
Class System
Plebeians were common citizens.
Patricians were aristocracy.
Military created varying classes:
Plebeian cavalrymen were Equites.
Slaves were made up of conquered people and debtors.
Wars
Gauls-390 BCE
Samanite Wars- 343 – 282 BCE
Punic Wars- 264-241, 218-202, 149-146 BCE
Macedonian Wars- 215, 197, 168 BCE
Julius Caesar’s Campaigns
Battle of Pharsalus - 48 BCE
Battle of Actium - 31 BCE

Tiberius Gracchus
Noble family, valiant military leader - complained warriors did not receive appreciation for securing Rome and poor needed land
In 133 he was elected as a tribune – ultimately to be killed
First recorded, political murder in Rome, in 400 years
Gains would soon follow (123)
Julius Caesar
First dictator of Rome 49 – 44 BCE:
Started out in a Spanish posting, then went on to govern over public games
Eventually became a consul. Conquered areas of the Rhine –leading to an attack on Rome.
Thus Julius Caesar was voted Dictator.
The Egypt saga led to his assassination on the 15th of March 44 BCE
Thus begins the era of Caesars
Octavian Augustus Caesar
First Emperor of Rome (44 BCE – 14 AD):
Took the name of Augustus
Caesar’s grandnephew and adopted son.
Defeated conservatives who had Caesar assassinated.
Defeated Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra in 27 BCE

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ROME ENDED (70 BCE – 14 AD)

Religion

Pantheon of gods, Jupiter ruling on Mt. Olympus, patron god of Rome
Mars –god of land and war was important to Rome
Vesta – goddess of fire
Venus – bringer of good fortune and victory, protector of feminine chastity.
RELIGIOUS PARTICIPATION was a patriotic duty.
Pontifex Maximus – religious head of Roman church.
Economics and Trade

Economy - trade and now, war.

Slave populations - all time highs (as high as 80%), eventually devaluing the market.

War increased, farmers decreased having a direct impact on the growth of Roman crops.

Taxes and tributes helped fund building projects, the military and public works.
Booty from war helped raise the standard of living for soldiers at various times.
Merchant class contributed to the economy and politics
Roads, bridges, and cities were built.
Literature and the Arts
Horace –poet, adapted Greek poetic meters to Latin
Vergil – epic poet of the Golden Age, wrote Aeneid
Ovid – exiled by Augustus, wrote sensual poetry
Livy – historian, believed in the virtues

Science and Philosophy

Romans were much more conservative and inhibited than the Greeks.
Astronomy was rejected, as was Greek medicine and philosophy.
Advances in military technology were made, while manufacturing technology again suffered.

The Decline of Rome (began around 120 CE)

Government lacked fiscal resources to maintain vast empire.
Lack of cohesion made government unstable.
Continual war eventually weakened ties of loyalty, disturbed trade, city life, etc.

Economic disruption reduced prosperity and tax revenues (concentration of land, number of tenants increased).
Slavery declined and regions focused internally.
Epidemics significantly reduced populations sizes.