UNIT 4.

ANCIENT ROME

THE ORIGINS OF ROME

The origin of Roman civilisation is in the city of Rome.

It was founded in the eighth century BC on the banks of

the River Tiber, in the Italian Peninsula, in an area of easy

protection, as it was surrounded by seven hills.

The territory in which it settled was

called Latium, which was inhabited

by the Latins.

Before its foundation, the Italian

Peninsula was populated by Latins

(in the centre), the Greeks (in the

south) and the Etruscans (in the

north).

The Etruscans, in the 6th century BC,

conquered and gained control of

Latium.

THE ORIGINS OF ROME

THE LEGEND OF ROMULUS AND REMUS

According to legend, Rome was founded in

Palatine Hill by Romulus in 753 BC.

The twins Romulus and Remus were put in a basket in the

River Tiber. A she-wolf found the babies and fed them her

milk. Later a shepherd adopted the boys.

When the boys grew up, they decided to build a city by the

River Tiber. One day, they argued and Romulus killed

Remus.

Romulus became de first King!LEGEND:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pp83xYOtt

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SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT

Roman history is divided into three periods:

THE MONARCHY (753 - 509 BC)

Romulus was de first King of Rome. Later, the city was

occupied by the Etruscans.

From its foundation until the year 509 BC, Rome was

ruled by seven Kings. The first four were Latins (Rómulo,

Numa Pompilio, Tulio Hostilio, Anco Marcio) and the final three

were Etruscans (Tarquinio Prisco, Servio Tulio, Tarquinio El

Soberbio).

The last Etruscan king, Tarquin the Proud, was

deposed because he was a tyrant.

The King ruled with the help of the Senate (made up of

patricians), an advisory assembly with no decision-

making powers. Therefore, the kind had all the power

to make any decision.

The citizens elected the government (a kind of democracy).

Power was shared between Comitias, Magistrates and the

Senate.

THE SENATE

The senate was a council of citizens from

the most important families : PATRICIANS

It was responsible for deciding foreing

policy and upholdingdecisions made by the

comitians

COMITIAS

These were assemblies, formed by citizens , in wich magistrates were chosen, laws were

passed and decisions about going to war

were taken

MAGISTRATES

These were annually elected by the

comitias.

The most important magistrates were:

Consuls, Tribunes of the plebeians and

dictator.

THE ROMAN REPUBLIC (509 – 27 BC)

In The Republic…

Initially, the patricians still held all the power. Only they couldbe part of the Senate, and only they could hold public office. Thepatricians in the Senate made laws, patricians and consulsexecuting them, and patricians were also the judges whopunished the lawbreakers.

Because of this, the plebeians began to fight for their rights,which were established in the Law of the Twelve Tables.

During this time, took place the Three Punic wars that facedRomans and Carthaginians. The Romans emerged victorious inall the battles and, consequently, Rome had control of theMediterranean Sea (Mare Nostrum) and others places, such asthe Iberian Peninsula.

The Republic ended when some magistrates and generals (withso much power), including Julius Caesar (and also Pompey andCrassus), took control of the government of Rome. In 48 BC,Caesar was proclaimed perpetual dictator, with all the power.

JULIUS CAESAR

In 100 BC, Julius Caesar was born in Rome. He was froman important family, so in 61 BC he became governor ofSpain.

Next Caesar went to fight the Gauls in France. He was abrilliant general, and he conquered all of France.

Caesar’s soldiers loved him, but the Senator Pompeythought he was too powerful, so he ordered him to return toRome. Caesar went to Rome, but he brought his army withhim, and started a civil war with Pompey. Caesar wan, andPompey was killed.

Caesar made himself consul and dictator for life. Thesenators were afraid that Caesar wanted to be king, so theymurdered him in 44 BC.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE (27 BC – 476 AD)

It began in 27 BC, when the Senate gave political and religious power toAugustus (Octavian). Augustus held all power and the politicalinstitutions lost their importance.

The titles of Augustus: Imperator (leader of the military), Princeps (firstcitizen of the Senate), Augustus (put him on the same level of the gods),Pontifex Maximus (highest religious authority in the Empire).

Some of the most important episodes were:

Pax romana. A long period of peace in Rome. This period lasted twocenturies: the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.

Territorial conquest. The Empire reached its maximum size.

Emperor Caracalla granted citizenship to all free man in theRoman Empire (year 212).

Edict of Milan (year 313): Emperor Constantine allowed freedom ofworship.

Edict of Thessalonica (year 380): Emperor Theodosius proclaimedChristianity official religion.

Crisis of the third century. The empire went into decline.

CONQUEST OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

CRISIS AND FALL OF THE EMPIRE

Starting in the 3rd century AD. WHY?

- Political instability: increased military power, attack of the

barbarians, political corruption…

- Economic instability: shortage of slaves, drop in production, trade

weakened…

- Social instability: social unrest,

- Division of the Empire by Theodosius (395 BC). Emperor

Theodosius divided the Empire into two parts:

1. The Western Roman Empire,

with Rome as capital.

2. The Eastern Roman Empire,

with its capital in

Constantinople (Hard thousand

years).

In 476 AD , the Germanic people deposed

the last Emperor (Romulus Augustus) of the

Western Roman Empire.

It was the ended of the Roman Empire.

AND ALSO THE END OF ANCIENT

HISTORY!!!!!! AND THE START OF THE

MIDDLE AGES!!!!

FALL OF THE EMPIRE

ANCIENT ROME: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_7f-k9sq7U

THE END

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