Mediterranean Society: The Roman Phase 1
! Legend of Romulus and Remus! Rome Founded 753 BCE! Indo- European migrants c. 2000 BCE! Bronze c. 1800 BCE, Iron c. 900 BCE 2
! Originally from Anatolia! Colonized Roman regions! Society declines late 6 th c. BCE! Greek maritime attacks! Celtic invasions from north 3
! Monarchy through 7 th - 6 th c. BCE! Streets, temples, public buildings! Major center of trade routes 4
! 509 BCE Romans overthrow last Etruscan king! Roman forum built! Republican constitution! Executive: 2 consuls! senate 5
! Patricians (aristocrats)! Plebeians (commoners)! Major class conflict 5 th c. BCE! Plebeians allowed to elect tribunes for representation! Rights expanded through 3 rd c. BCE! Yet 6- month appointments of dictators 6
! Dominated Etruscans! Took over iron industry 5 th - 4 th c. BCE! Expansion via military threat and incentives! Tax exemptions! Trade privileges! Citizenship 7
! Conflict with Carthage, 264-164 BCE! Three major wars over Sicilian grain supply! Later conflict with declining Hellenistic Empires! Rome dominates Mediterranean by middle of 2 nd C. BCE 8
! Land distribution! Perennial problem! Development of large latifundia! Unfair competition for smaller landholders 9
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! Tiberius and Gaius! Attempted to limit land holdings of aristocrats! Assassinated! Development of private armies made up of landless peasants! Gaius Marius (with reformers)! Lucius Cornelius Sulla (with aristocrats) 11
! 87 BCE Gaius Marius takes Rome! Lucius Cornelius Sulla drives Marius out 83 BCE! Reign of terror follows 12
! Nephew of Marius! Escapes Sulla s terror! Relatively young, well- timed trip abroad! Rises to popularity! Public spectacles, victories in Gaul! Attacks Rome 49 BCE! Names self Dictator for life in 46 BCE 13
! Centralized military, governance under personal control! Redistribution of land to war veterans, other allies! Major building projects reduce urban unemploymnent! Extended citizenship to provinces! Aristocrats threatened, assassinate Caesar in 44 BCE 14
! Civil conflict follows death of Caesar! Nephew Octavian fights Mark Antony & Cleopatra! Takes title Augustus 27 BCE 15
! Monarchy disguised as a republic! Increasing centralization of political, military power! Stablilized empire! Death in 14 CE 16
! Roman occupation of increasingly remote areas! Gaul, Germany, Britain, Spain! Coordination of crop production, transport of natural resources! Developed infrastructure, cities emerge 17
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! 27-250 CE! Facilitated trade, communication! Roadwork! Curbs, drainage, milestones! Postal service 19
! Twelve Tables, c. 450 BCE! Adapted to diverse populations under Roman Rule! Innocent until proven guilty! Right to challenge accusers in court 20
! Latifundia: production for export! Regional specialization increases! Integration of Empire- wide economy! Mediterranean Sea: Mare Nostrum, our sea 21
! Cash flow! Taxes, tribute, spoils, commerce! Massive construction projects! Statuary, monumental architecture, aqueducts! Technology: concrete 22
! Imported goods! Underground sewage! Circus Maximus! 250,000 spectators! Colosseum! Gladitorial Games 23
! Pater Familias: father of the family! Right to arrange marriages, sell children into slavery! Women not allowed to inherit property! Rarely enforced 24
! Newly rich challenge aristocracy! Yet poor class increasing in size! Distraction: Bread and Circuses 25
! 2 nd c. CE: estimated at 1/3 of Empire population! Customary manumission at age 30! Agricultural work, quarries, mines! Chain labor! Revolt under Spartacus, 73 BCE 26
! Polytheistic! Major gods! Tutelary deities! Absorption of gods from other cultures 27
! Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-46 BCE)! Major orator, writer! Influenced by Greek thought! Proponent of Stoicism 28
! From Zoroastrian myth: god of Sun, light! Roman version emphasizes strength, courage, discipline! Women not admitted into cult! Appealed to military! Cult of Isis also popular 29
! Jewish monotheism at odds with most ancient cultures! Refusal to recognize state gods! Repeated Jewish rebellions! Romans finally crush Jewish self- governance in Jewish Wars (66-70 CE) 30
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! Messianic Jewish Cult! Baptism! Ascetic lifestyle! Dead Sea Scrolls 32
! Jewish teacher! Moral code, reputation for miracle- working! Romans fear instigation of rebellion, crucify Jesus 33
! Belief in Jesus resurrection, divine nature! Title Christ: Anointed One! Teachings recorded in New Testament 34
! Extends teachings far beyond Jewish circles! Intensive travel, missionary activity 35
! Local leaders: Bishops! Regional variation in doctrine and ritual! Nature of resurrection! Role of women! Gradual acceptance of core texts 36
! Roman persecution! Yet dramatic expansion of Christianity! Especially with dispossessed, disenfranchised classes Urban poor women 37