9/29 Roman History

Roman Origins and Founding Myths

  • Founding Stories
    • Romans, like many cultures, have an obsession with their origins.
    • The most famous founding myth involves twins Romulus and Remus.
    • Sons of the god Mars.
    • Romulus and Remus are abandoned by a corrupt king and rescued by a she-wolf and later raised by a shepherd and his wife.
    • They overthrow the unjust king and attempt to establish a city where they were saved.
    • Conflict arises over the naming of the town, culminating in Romulus killing Remus.
    • The city is named Rome by Romulus.
    • Significant Themes:
      • The city starts as an asylum for exiles, criminals, and runaway slaves—indicating foundations in sanctuary.
    • Archaeological evidence indicates Rome was occupied around 750 BCE, likely as a collection of settlements on seven hills.
    • The unification of these settlements into Rome occurred around 600 BCE, marking the establishment of a central authority and civic structures.

The Roman Kingdom

  • Kings of Rome
    • Rome is traditionally seen as a kingdom until approximately 509 BCE.
    • Romulus is often counted as the first king, a figure considered mythical rather than historical.
    • The last king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, is overthrown after a series of tyrannical acts, including the assault on Lucretia.
    • Lucretia's tragic story ignites popular outrage leading to the establishment of the Roman Republic.

The Roman Republic

  • Formation of the Republic
    • The Roman Republic is traditionally dated from 509 BCE to 27 BCE.
    • It grows from humble beginnings to a major power through military conquests.
    • Roman expansion is gradual, involving numerous conflicts with neighboring tribes.

Military Engagements and Expansion

  • Early Conquests:

    • Rome fights numerous battles against local powers including the Samnites and Etruscans.
    • The Gauls sack Rome around 390 BCE, temporarily disrupting Roman power but leading to military reforms.

  • Punic Wars Overview:

    • The Three Punic Wars:
    • First Punic War (264-241 BCE):
      • Lasts 23 years, with significant naval battles.
      • Rome builds a navy to combat Carthaginian superiority at sea.
      • Ends with Rome gaining control of Sicily, which becomes its first province.
    • Second Punic War (218-201 BCE):
      • Notable for Hannibal's crossing of the Alps with war elephants.
      • Rome faces significant defeats but adopts strategies such as warfare of attrition under General Fabius Maximus.
      • Ultimately, the Romans invade North Africa.
      • The war concludes with the complete defeat of Carthage and heavy reparations placed upon it.
    • Third Punic War (149-146 BCE):
      • Carthage attacks a Roman ally, prompting Rome to besiege the city.
      • Results in a complete destruction of Carthage and the enslavement of its populace.

Roman Society and Politics

  • Government Structure:
    • The Senate serves as the primary legislative body, offering counsel rather than enacting laws.
    • Senators gain expertise in governance as Rome expands.
    • In wartime, a dictator can be appointed with supreme powers for six months.
  • Social Structure:
    • Split between classes:
    • Patricians: Aristocratic upper class.
    • Plebeians: Commoners, who eventually gain rights over time but remain marginalized in government.
    • Citizenship is exclusive with significant privileges, including legal rights, marriage rights, and tax exemptions.
    • The Roman military taps into citizens for soldiering, supporting the notion that service can lead to citizenship.

Slavery in Rome

  • Role of Slavery

    • Growth of the institution correlates with military conquests.
    • Different statuses of slaves:
    • Unskilled slaves: Labor-intensive work with little hope for freedom.
    • Skilled slaves: Occupying various roles including skilled labor, artisanship, and education, with some pathways to freedom.
    • Slavery is often heritable, creating generational cycles of enslavement.

  • Servile Wars:

    • First Servile War (135-132 BCE):
    • Initiated by a slave named Eunus in Sicily, leading to a significant slave uprising.
    • Roman forces are initially defeated, showcasing the dire state of their hold over slaves.
    • Second Servile War (104-100 BCE):
    • Following the withdrawal of promised manumission, slaves rise again, but eventually subdued.
    • Third Servile War (73-71 BCE):
    • Led by Spartacus, who escapes with fellow gladiators to lead a massive uprising against Rome, capturing significant territory before being crushed, illustrating the precarious nature of Roman governance.

The Civil Wars

  • Rise of Personal Power and the End of the Republic:
    • Following the Servile Wars and other internal strife, figures like Crassus and Pompey rise to power.
    • Julius Caesar:
    • Returns from campaigns in Gaul, ultimately crossing the Rubicon and igniting a civil war against Pompey.
    • Caesar is declared dictator for life but is later assassinated by senators, sparking further unrest.
    • Post-Caesar Civil Conflict:
    • Leads to a second civil war - the Liberators' Civil War between Mark Antony and Octavian against Brutus.
    • Octavian ultimately emerges victorious, marking the transition from Republic to Empire.