Rome

Romulas and Remus

Romulus + Remus = twin sons of a queen and Mars, the god of war

-Left to die but rescued by shepherd

Founding of rome

Adults = found a city in honour of their parents → disagree on location + let gods decide

Gods favour Romulus’ choice (Palatine Hill)

Remus = angry. Romulus killed him

Romulus = found Rome Palatine Hill 753 BC.

Hierarchy

Patrician (Bloodline)
-Rich, Political Positions

Plebians
-Could still be v. rich
-Could hold political position but often no money + power

Slaves
-Prisoners can’t pay debt
-Property, could kill if own
-Could be granted rights by master

Senate (Make laws, stop a single person gain power + tyrant)

Magistrate = elected by people
-Censor (type of magistrate) = choose senators
-only former consuls

Consuls = 2 elected officials = lead for 1 year (elected by people). Could be more than once
-Full military power

-Ruled alternating months but also disagree on decisions

Senators = elected by magistrate

Senate

Serve for life
Advise magistrate + made big decisions
Controlled public finances + foreign affairs
600 people
Met in curia

Julius Caesar

Family = patrician = powerful
59BC = Consul
Cut taxes, harsh punishments for corruption

Went to Gaul after consul → political image, popular in Rome + build personal fortune

Dictator for life 44BC (from consul to solve a problem + investigate corruption)

Julius Caesar Assassination

When meet senate = did not rise = disrespectful + thought he was better

Some plebians = call “Rex” (King) + wreath of thorn (worn by king of gods) = placed on statue of Caesar

Important festival = Marc Antony place crown on Caesar.

Senators = fear make himself king of Rome = not allowed

JC Plotters

Gaius Cassius Longinus
-senator who support pompey in civil war + offended by caeser’s promotion

Marcus Junius Brutus
-senator, bro in law. Support early career but joined pompey in civil war
(Could not be stopped other way if no war)

Aftermath

Thought welcome as hero but not

Senators not involved = fled
Plebians = riot in protest, burn senate house

Left everything to Nephew w/support of Marc Antony

Cassius + Brutus flee to Greece

Liberators Civil War

March 44BC to October 42BC
Brutas + Cassius army = attack Rome

October 42BC = Octavian + Mark Antony cornered army + defeat it

Cassius + Brutus KYS

Realise Cassius = lost, had his servant kill him. Brutas = declare Cassius = “Last true roman”

After 2 weeks = Brutas = kill himself by sword. “By all means we must flee, but with our hands, not our feet”

Second Triumvirate

After Cassius + Brutas

Octavian + Mark Anthony + Lepidus form Second Triumvirate.

3 consuls, divide territory = not end well

30BC After fell apart, Octavian = defeat Antony + Lepidus.

Senate = exist but no power
→ rename to Imperator Augustus Caesar + face on coin.

End of Rome

End of roman empire = period of peace Pax Romana

After Augustus die 14AD = succeeded by step son Tiberius

Empire collapse 476 AD