Midterm #2: Roman History p.15-19 (STUDY GUIDE NOTES)
Monarchy (753 - 509 B.C.E)
- The traditional date for Rome's founding is April 21, 753 B.C.E. - Archaeological evidence confirms the existence of several primitive villages on the hills next to the Tiber at that time and suggests why some Latins might have settled there. - Rome occupied the first spot inland from the coast (about 20 miles) where the Tiber River narrowed enough to be easily bridged. - In the mid-eighth century B.C.E. the Greek and Etruscan civilizations that flourished on tighter side of Latium began to take an interest in the trails the covered on the Tiber crossing, and this could have motivated the Latins to stake their claim to this corner of their territory.
Seven kings are said to have reigned over Rome from 753 B.C.E. to 509 B.C.E.
- They ruled in tandem with an aristocratic council called the Senate. - Most of the stories told about the monarchy are legends, but some historical information can be gleaned from them. - Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Ancus Marcius, Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius, Tarquinius Superbus.
The Founding of the Roman Republic
After the death of Tarquin the Proud, Rome grew under the leadership of the great families (patricians). At the same time, however, a new government developed. In 494 BCE, as a result of a strike by the plebeians (commoners), a new representative government emerged. This was the start of the Roman Republic.
2) Numa Pompilius 715-673 B.C.
Numa Pompilius was a Sabine Roman, a religious figure who was very different from the warlike Romulus. Under Numa, Rome experienced 43 years of peaceful cultural and religious growth. He moved the Vestal Virgins to Rome, founded religious colleges and the Temple of Janus, and added January and February to the calendar bring the number of days in a year to 360.
Roman Empire (27 B.C.E - 500 C.E.)
Octavian is given the life-long title of Augustus by the senate in Rome, becoming in effect the first Roman emperor...........
The Julio-Claudians (27 B.C.-68 A.D.)
In 27 B.C., Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus was awarded the honorific title of Augustus by a decree of the Senate. So began the Roman empire and the principate of the Julio-Claudians: Augustus (r. 27 B.C.-14 A.D.), Tiberius (r. 14-37 A.D.), Gaius Germanicus, known as Caligula (r. 37-41 A.D.), Claudius (r. 41-54 A.D.), and Nero (r. 54-68 A.D.). The Julio-Claudians, Roman nobles with an impressive ancestry, maintained Republican ideals and wished to involve the Senate and other Roman aristocrats in the government. This, however, eventually led to a decline in the power of the Senate and the extension of imperial control through equestrian officers and imperial freedmen. Peace and prosperity were maintained in the provinces, and foreign policy, especially under Augustus and Tiberius, relied more on diplomacy than military force. With its borders secure and a stable central government, the Roman empire enjoyed a period of prosperity, technological advance, great achievements in the arts, and flourishing trade and commerce. Under Caligula, much time and revenue were devoted to extravagant games and spectacles, while under Claudius, the empire—and especially Italy and Rome itself—benefited from the emperor's administrative reforms and enthusiasm for public works programs. Imperial expansion brought about colonization, urbanization, and the extension of Roman citizenship in the provinces. The succeeding emperor, Nero, was a connoisseur and patron of the arts. He also extended the frontiers of the empire, but antagonized the upper class and failed to hold the loyalty of the Roman legions. Amid rebellion and civil war, the Julio-Claudian dynasty came to an inglorious end with Nero's suicide in 68 A.D.
The Flavians (69-96 A.D.)
In 69 A.D., Vespasian (r. 69-79 A.D.) emerged as victor from the carnage of the civil wars. He restored confidence and prosperity to the empire by founding the Flavian dynasty and securing a peaceful succession for his two sons, Titus (r. 79-81 A.D.) and Domitian (r. 81-96 A.D.). The Flavians paid particular attention to the provinces, encouraging the spread of Roman citizenship and bestowing colonial status on cities. Artistic talent and technical skill inherited from Nero's regime were used to aggrandize the military accomplishments of the new imperial dynasty. In the end, however, Domitian incurred the Senate's displeasure with his absolutist tendencies and by elevating equestrian officers to positions of power formerly reserved for senators. Plots and conspiracies, followed by a vicious round of executions, eventually led to his assassination in 96 A.D.
Plebeians vs. Patricians
Roman citizens were divided up into two distinct classes: the plebeians and the patricians. The patricians were the wealthy upper class people. Everyone else was considered a plebeian. Patricians The patricians were the ruling class of the early Roman Empire. Only certain families were part of the patrician class and you had to be born a patrician. The patricians were only a small percentage of the Roman population, but they held all the power. Plebeians All the other citizens of Rome were Plebeians. Plebeians were the farmers, craftsmen, laborers, and soldiers of Rome. In Early Rome In the early stages of Rome, the plebeians had few rights. All of the government and religious positions were held by patricians. The patricians made the laws, owned the lands, and were the generals over the army. Plebeians couldn't hold public office and were not even allowed to marry patricians. The Plebeians Revolt Starting around 494 BC, the plebeians began to fight against the rule of the patricians. This struggle is called the "Conflict of the Orders." Over the course of around 200 years the plebeians gained more rights. They protested by going on strike. They would leave the city for a while, refuse to work, or even refuse to fight in the army. Eventually, the plebeians gained a number of rights including the right to run for office and marry patricians. The Law of the Twelve Tables One of the first concessions that the plebeians got from the patricians was the Law of the Twelve Tables. The Twelve Tables were laws that were posted in the public for all to see. They protected some basic rights of all Roman citizens regardless of their social class. Plebeian Officers Eventually the plebeians were allowed to elect their own government officials. They elected "tribunes" who represented the plebeians and fought for their rights. They had the power to veto new laws from the Roman senate. Plebeian Nobles As time went on, there became few legal differences between the plebeians and the patricians. The plebeians could be elected to the senate and even be consuls. Plebeians and patricians could also get married. Wealthy plebeians became part of the Roman nobility. However, despite changes in the laws, the patricians always held a majority of the wealth and power in Ancient Rome. Interesting Facts About Plebeians and Patricians A third social class in Roman society was the slaves. Around one third of the people living in Rome were slaves. One of Rome's most famous senators, Cicero, was a plebeian. Because he was the first of his family to be elected to the senate, he was called a "New Man." In general, plebeians and patricians did not mix socially. Julius Caesar was a patrician, but he was sometimes considered a champion of the common people. The Plebeian Council was led by the elected tribunes. Many new laws were passed by the Plebeian Council because the procedures were simpler than in the senate. The Plebeian Council lost its power with the fall of the Roman Republic. Freshmen students in the United States military academies are nicknamed "plebs." Some of the most famous patrician families include Julia (Julius Caesar), Cornelia, Claudia, Fabia, and Valeria.
1) Romulus 753-715 B.C.
Romulus was the legendary founder of Rome. According to legend, he and his twin brother, Remus, were raised by wolves. After founding Rome, Romulus returned to his native city to recruit residents; most who followed him were men. To secure wives for his citizens, Romulus stole women from the Sabines in an attack known as the "rape of the Sabine women. Following a truce, the Sabine king of Cures, Tatius, co-ruled with Romulus until his death in 648 B.C.
6) Servius Tullius 578-535 B.C.
Servius Tullius was the son-in-law of Tarquinius Priscus. He instituted the first census in Rome, which was used to determine the number of representatives each area had in the Senate. Servius Tullius also divided the Roman citizens into tribes and fixed the military obligations of 5 census-determined classes.
Etruscans Kings (616 - 509 "Tarquin the proud"
Tarquin, Latin in full Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, original name Lucomo, (flourished 6th century BC), traditionally the fifth king of Rome, accepted by some scholars as a historical figure and usually said to have reigned from 616 to 578. His father was a Greek who went to live in Tarquinii, in Etruria, from which Lucumo moved to Rome on the advice of his wife, the prophet Tanaquil. Changing his name to Lucius Tarquinius, he was appointed guardian to the sons of King Ancus Marcius. Upon the king's death Tarquin assumed the throne. Eventually Ancus' sons had Tarquin murdered. Tanaquil then managed to put her son-in-law Servius Tullius in power. The legends maintain that Tarquin increased the number of persons of senatorial and equestrian rank. He is thought to have instituted the Roman Games and to have begun the construction of a wall around the city.
Roman Republic (509 - 27 B.C.E)
The Roman Republic was installed after the Roman kingdom was overthrown in 509BC and lasted until 27BC. One of the most important figures of this period is Julius Caesar. A number of important events took place at the end of the Roman Kingdom and beginning of the Roman Republic. In 509 BC, King Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was overthrown by the noble men of Rome. The king of Clusium, Lars Porsenna, sieged Rome. The city signed a treaty of support with Carthage, the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus was consecrated and a new office, called consul, was created. The Fasti consulares (documents with the names of the consuls or magistrates that described the main events of the period) are essential to understand the Roman Republic from 503 BC, from when they are considered credible. Another very important method used to understand this period of Roman history is the ritual of the clavus annalis. This practise began one year after the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus was consecrated and it consisted in fixing a bronze nail to the right of the altar once a year. The first nail was placed in 508 BC. The temple of Jupiter Capitolinus had the cella of Jupiter, as well as the cella of Minerva and Juno. The decade after 509 BC (the year when the last King of Rome was dethroned, while he was away from Rome) is a dark period and very little is known, only isolated events. Transition to the Roman Republic The transition of Rome from a monarchy to a republic led to severe internal social tensions. This lack of control over the city led neighboring tribes to siege the city and reduce its power. This is why Rome had to ratify its identity in numerous occasions during the first seventy years of the Republic. The early years of the Republic are of political turmoil. The population was divided, certain wanted a monarchy, others a republic, others favored the king of Clusium, Lars Porsenna, and others wanted to form part of the Latin civilization. The nobles who had overthrown the king and his family had not come to an agreement regarding the type of government that would replace the monarchy. The consuls, which would later replace the leadership of the Roman kings, was not put in place immediately, but many years later. Many historians believe that in the first stages of the Roman Republic, a praetor maximus was appointed for one year only. Later his duties would be split in two by choosing two consuls at a time to govern Rome. This form of government went on until 449 BC, with the Valeria Horaria law. The position of chief magistrate was not exclusively for the "patres", who formed the Roman senate, and controlled the army and the priests since the time of Romulus, as there is evidence that shows plebeians, common civilians, becoming consuls up until 485 BC. The political instability led the strongest factions to form alliances between themselves. From 485 BC, the patricians no longer allowed commoners to take part in the government and began to control all civil and religious matters. Roman law As well as the constant rivalry between patricians and plebeians, the Republic is also known as a period in which the power of Rome reached the whole peninsula of Italy and Roman law was founded with the Law of the Twelve Tables in 450 BC. Moreover, it is also a period when many wars took place for equality between the Roman inhabitants. The Twelve Tables were written up to appease the demands of the commoners. Until the Tables were written, the Roman law was considered sacred, for having been established by the monarchy and pontiffs. By putting it on paper, it became the basis of all laws in the western world. Between the years 133 BC and 27 BC Rome suffered from great internal tensions, leading to numerous civil wars. The Graco brothers, who proposed a series of laws in favor of the plebeians, also led to a social crisis in Rome. Dictatorship: transition from the Republic to the Roman Empire Sila, dictator between the years 82 to 79 BC, greatly influenced politics in Rome at the time, concentrating all the political power in the hands of the Senate. To sustain the Empire the Senate was forced to choose a natural born leader, a General, who also understood politics to rule the people. During this period the plebeians wanted to seize the power, which led the dictator to be given more political power to ensure that they wouldn't seize the control of Rome. This personalism resulted in a triumvirate political regime and the dictatorships of Julius Caesar and Augustus. A new form of government began in Rome, the Roman Empire.
5) L. Tarquinius Priscus 616-579 B.C.
The first Etruscan king of Rome, Tarquinius Priscus (sometimes referred to as Tarquin the Elder) had a Corinthian father. After moving to Rome, he became friendly with Ancus Marcius and was named as guardian to Marcius's sons. As king, he gained ascendance over neighboring tribes and defeated the Sabines, Latins, and Etruscans in battle. Tarquin created 100 new senators and expanded Rome. He also established the Roman Circus Games. While there is some uncertainty about his legacy, it is said that he undertook the construction of the great Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, started the construction of the Cloaca Maxima (a massive sewer system), and expanded the role of Etruscans in Roman governance.
Dominate: (180 - 500) Deccinet fall of the Roman Empire
The invading army reached the outskirts of Rome, which had been left totally undefended. In 410 C.E., the Visigoths, led by Alaric, breached the walls of Rome and sacked the capital of the Roman Empire. The Visigoths looted, burned, and pillaged their way through the city, leaving a wake of destruction wherever they went. The plundering continued for three days. For the first time in nearly a millennium, the city of Rome was in the hands of someone other than the Romans. This was the first time that the city of Rome was sacked, but by no means the last.
7) Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud) 534-510 B.C.
The tyrannical Tarquinius Superbus or Tarquin the Proud was the last Etruscan or any king of Rome. According to legend, he came to power as a result of assassination Servius Tullius and ruled as a tyrant. He and his family were so evil, say the stories, that they were forcibly ousted by Brutus and other members of the Senate.
4) Ancus Martius 642-617 B.C.
Though Ancus Marcius was elected to his position, he was also a grandson of Numa Pompilius. A warrior king, Marcius added to Roman territory by conquering neighboring Latin cities and moving their people to Rome. Marcius also founded the port city of Ostia.
3) Tullus Hostilius 673-642 B.C.
Tullus Hostilius, whose existence is in some doubt, was a warrior king. Little is known about him except that he was elected by the Senate, doubled the population of Rome, added Alban nobles to the Senate of Rome, and built the Curia Hostilia.
287 - 133: Roman Imperial Expansion
http://www.san.beck.org/EC24-RomanExpansion.html
509 - 287: "Struggle of the orders"
https://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~klio/republic/lecture5.htm
