CHAPTER 7: The Roman World

Founding the Roman Republic

A. Geography and Early Settlers of Italy

1. Geography shaped Roman history

a. Italian peninsula long, mountainous, centrality of Rome served to unify Italy

2. In 9th century B.C. Etruscans dominated central Italy; organized loose confederation of city-states

a. Libri Haruspicini, Libri Fulgarales, Libri Rituales

B. Rome’s Origins

1. Virgil’s Aeneid described legendary founding of Rome in 753 B.C. by Romulus/Remus

2. Scholars believe Latin settlements in 8th century B.C., Etruscans took Rome c. 625 B.C.

C. The Roman Monarchy, 753-509 B.C.

1. Political growth went through all stages found in Greek polis, except for tyranny

2. King advised by senators, from patrician class

3. Other Roman class, plebeians, commoners

D. Establishment of the Republic

1. Change from oligarchy to democracy, gave power to two consuls, or a dictator in war

E. Struggle for Equal Rights

1. Plebeians gradually gained rights

a. Tribunes with veto power, Code of the Twelve Tables, c. 450 B.C.E.

b. Recognition of Concilium plebis (Tribal Assembly), 287 B.C.E.

2. Roman Republic = democracy, noble patricians and rich plebeians dominated

Rome Expands Its Borders

A. First Punic War 264-241 B.C.E.

1. Rome defeated Carthage and took Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica; first overseas empire

2. Carthage set up colony in Spain to raise an army

B. Second Punic War 218-201 B.C.E.

1. Carthage moved toward Spain, sparked second Punic War

a. Hannibal led troops, elephants across Alps into Italy

2. Rome’s allies remained loyal, despite Hannibal’s victory at Cannae

a. Hannibal won several battles, but could not achieve decisive blow

3. Scipio defeated Carthage

C. Third Punic War 149-146 B.C.E.

1. Rome became suspicious of Carthage’s reviving prosperity

a. Rome provoked, destroyed Carthage for 3 years

The Birth of the Roman Empire

A. Effects of Roman Expansion

1. Expansion destroyed Republic’s institutions

2. Wars, expansion devastated small landowners

B. Reform Movement of the Gracchi

1. Tiberius Gracchus proposed reform, Gaius Gracchus tried reforms for masses

C. Civil Wars

1. The First Civil War: Marius vs. Sulla (88-82 B.C.)

2. The Second Civil War: Pompey vs. Caesar (49-45 B.C.)

3. The Third Civil War: Mark Antony vs. Octavian (31 B.C.)

D. Reconstruction under Augustus

1. Late Republican civil war replaced by two centuries of Imperial order, the Pax Romana

2. Built monarchical power, referred to self as princeps(first citizen), power split with senate

E. The Julio-Claudian Emperors

1. Tiberius (14-37AD) and Claudius (41-54AD) adequate rulers

2. Caligula (37-41AD) and Nero (54-68AD) were immoral madmen

F. The Antonines: “Five Good Emperors”

1. Nerva (96-98), Trajan (98-117), Hadrian (117-138), Antonius Pius (138-161), Marcus Aurelius (161-180)

Roman Society and Culture

A. The Roman Spirit

1. Republican virtues, plain living, discipline, duty, capable of cruelty, arrogance, lack of mercy

B. Society and Religion

1. Family basic unit of society, Father’s power absolute

B. Evolution of Roman Law

1. Written Law of Twelve Tables

2. Emperors depended on jurisprudentes or law based on idea of equity, law of nature

C. Roman Engineering and Architecture

1. Based on needs for communications systems: roads, bridges, aqueducts

2. Made major contributions to architecture, building techniques

a. Barrel vault, keystone, dome, triumphal arch, bath

D. Sculpture and Painting

1. Keyed on Greek models

E. The Golden and Silver Ages of Latin Literature

1. Cicero, master of Latin prose, stood as major influence

2. Virgil’s Aeneid glorified work of Augustus, asserted Rome’s destiny to conquer, rule

3. Ovid and Juvenal notable poets

F. The Writing of History

1. Livy, Tacitus, and Plutarch

G. Religion and Philosophy

1. Early religion based on placating spirits

a. Strict ritual, spirits personified in Pantheon

2. Epicureanism and Stoicism

H. Science in the Roman Empire

1. Ptolemy and Galen

The Rise of Christianity

A. Jewish Foundations

1. Jews in Palestine lived in theocratic society

a. Torah based, life centered at Jerusalem Temple

b. Most powerful figure, high priest, assisted by Sanhedrin, high court, law enforcement

c. Jews of Diaspora met at synagogues

B. Development of Jewish Religious Thought

1. Great vigor, debate over nature of faith

a. Aristocratic Sadducees, high priests, stood for strict following of Torah

b. Pharisees stated that humans, with divine help, could change the Law

2. 1947 discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls gave documents on Essenes

C. The Life and Teaching of Jesus

1. Biggest imprint left by founder, Jesus of Nazareth

a. Bible account relates teaching, healing activities, impact on people

b. Condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, crucifixion

D. Reasons for the Spread of Christianity

1. Offered solace in troubled times, gained popularity in Roman Empire

2. Christianity shared many practices with mystery religions, but offered more

a. Creator real historic personality, lofty ethics, New Testament record, equality of all believers

E. Persecution of the Christians

1. Empire tolerated non-threatening faiths, but viewed Christians as subversive

a. Christians refused to offer sacrifice to state cults, to serve in army, to associate with pagans

2. Messianism or Apocalypticism

F. Church Organization

1. Church Heirarchy: parish priests, bishops, archbishops, patriarchs, Pope/Curia

a. parishes = dioceses = province = patriarchates

G. Foundations of Christian Doctrine and Worship

1. Council of Nicea, 325, established Doctrine of the Trinity

a. Arianism vs. Athanasianism

2. Battle of Milvian Bridge, Edict of Milan, Constantine’s conversion important events

The Fall of the Western Empire

A. The Roman Crisis

1. Anarchy and invasion weakened Empire

a. Decline seen in Commodus reign, 180 C.E.

2. Political, economic, social conditions deteriorated during Severan Dynasty

a. Twenty-six “emperors” in 50 years (235-85), only one died natural death

3. Diocletian (285-305) restructured Empire

a. Established oriental despotism in east

b. Strengthened currency, froze prices, wages

4. Constantine (306-337)

a. Overcame rivals in brief civil war

b. Biographer claimed he won Battle of Milvian Bridge after seeing cross

c. Issued Edict of Milan tolerating Christians throughout the Empire

d. Moved capital to old Greek colony of Byzantium (Constantinople)

B. The Germanic Invasions

1. Visigoths received right to enter Empire, 376

a. Visigoths defeated Romans at Adrianople, 378; Emperor Valens killed

2. After 395, Visigoths under Alaric went on rampage

3. Romans pulled troops from Rhine frontier, Britain

a. Vandals through Spain in North Africa

b. Franks to northern Gaul

c. Angles, Saxons, Jutes to Britain

4. Huns pushed into Europe under Attila

C. The End of the West Roman Empire, 395-568

1. Last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, son of German commander of Roman troops

a. Sworn in 475, deposed by Odovacar, 476