The Origins of Rome - Lecture 13

The Origins of Rome

Key Dates

• Prehistory: c. 1100 BCE – 753 BCE
• 753 BCE: Founding of Rome
• 509 BCE: Transition to the Regal Period
• 509-31 BCE: Roman Republic
• 31 BCE - 476 CE: Roman Empire

Geography and Early Rome

• Rome began as a village in the 8th century BCE.
• Regional context: Periphery to Eastern influence, little coastal access; hilly and marshy.
• Early resources: fish, wildlife, and salt trade (etymological link to salary).
• Central Italy was influenced by indigenous groups like the Etruscans.

The Etruscans

• Originated from Etruria (modern Tuscany).
• Used a distinct language but adopted many Greek cultural aspects.
• Key contributions to Roman culture (4th - 1st c. BCE):
  • Toga praetexta, sella curulis, fasces.

The Formation of Rome

• The original communities residing on the seven hills of Rome.
• Palatine Hill considered the founding site of Rome, established in 753 BCE.
• The city experienced over 200 years of monarchy before transitioning to a Republic in 509 BCE.

Roman Regal Period Institutions

• Leadership centered around the rex (king) and a Senate of 100 representatives.
• Society divided into two orders:
  • Patricians: The elite class.
  • Plebeians: Commoners, including farmers and traders.

Historiography

• Titus Livius (Livy):
  • Ab Urbe Condita: A historical account covering Rome’s early years.
  • Historical method: tension between moral decline and societal achievements.

Livy’s Main Themes

1. The memory of Roman achievements.
2. Causes for Rome's growth into an empire.
3. Societal values illustrated through narratives:
   • Aeneas among the Latins.
   • Romulus and Remus: sibling rivalry leading to Rome’s founding.
   • The interactions with neighboring groups such as the Sabines.

Romulus and Remus

• Myth of Romulus and Remus:
  • Born to Rhea Silvia, a Vestal Virgin, and the war god Mars.
  • Raised by a she-wolf, symbol of Roman toughness.
  • Founding of Rome followed by enacting laws and appointing senators.
• The Sabine women: kidnapped during a festival, leading to their eventual integration into Roman society.

Transition to the Roman Republic

• 509 BCE: Expulsion of the Tarquin kings.
• Introduction of two elected consuls.
• Battle of Lake Regillus (496 BCE): Key victory against the Tarquins.

Republican Structure

• Consuls had inherent imperium (authority).
• The Senate expanded from 100 to 300 members over time.
• Learners must follow the cursus honorum to progress through political offices:
  1. Quaestor
  2. Aedile
  3. Praetor
  4. Consul

Republican Principles

• Res publica (public matter): every citizen's voice was valued.
• Motto: “Senate and People of Rome” (SPQR)
• Systems of checks and balances established; limitations on repeated offices.

Struggle of the Orders (494 - 287 BCE)

• Ongoing conflicts between Patricians and Plebeians.
• The Secession of the Plebs (494 BCE) led to the establishment of the Tribunes as representatives.
• Legal reforms initiated including The Twelve Tables (c. 450 BCE), which formalized rights and laws.

Key Legal Outcomes

• Equal legal recognition and the abolishment of debt slavery.
• Significant legislative changes through the Lex Hortensia (287 BCE) allowing plebiscites to apply to all citizens.

Punic Wars and Expansion

• Dominance in the Mediterranean achieved through the Punic Wars (264-146 BCE) against Carthage.
• Notable figures: Scipio Africanus, who defeated Hannibal.
• Rise of financial strain due to increased land ownership leading to social issues.
• Emergence of the Gracchi brothers advocating for land redistribution.

Cultural Aspects - Romanitas

• Defined as “Roman-ness”: adherence to values like mos maiorum (ancestral ways).
• Characteristics of Romanitas:
  • Rusticitas (rural values)
  • Religio (respect for the divine)
  • Dignitas (reputation)
  • Pietas (duty to gods and family)

Family Dynamics in Rome

• Paterfamilias: male head with absolute power over the family members.
• Naming conventions include praenomen, nomen, and cognomen for males.
• The significance of domestic worship and family dynamics reinforced social hierarchies.

Roman Slavery

• Slavery comprised a significant portion of the population.
• Differences in treatment and rights among slaves.
• Systems of manumission allowing slaves to acquire freedom and take on new identities.

Key Events and Social Transformations

• Economic turmoil and rebellions, such as Spartacus’ revolt (73-70 BCE).
• Changing perspectives around leisure (otium) and business (negotium), focusing on Roman societal norms.

The Late Republic and Civil Wars

• Rise of generalship, with figures like Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla leading to increased political tensions.
• Development of the First Triumvirate with Crassus, Pompey, and Caesar.
• Breakdown of governance culminating in civil wars and the eventual dictatorship of Julius Caesar.
• The impact of Caesar's assassination and subsequent power struggles marked the end of the Republic and the rise of the imperial system under Augustus.

The Julio-Claudian Dynasty

• Augustus’s establishment of the empire through effective governance and reforms.
• The dynastic challenges following Augustus’s reign revealed tensions between tradition and reform leading into the Flavian and Antonine Dynasties, with a contrasting focus on effective governance and expansion strategies.