Lecture Notes: Ancient Rome

Overview

• Ancient Rome: A dominant superpower in ancient history
  • Influences: Cultural, political, military, economic
  • Divided into two main periods:
    • Roman Republic (first 500 years)
    • Roman Empire (second 500 years)
• Lecture focus: Early Roman Republic and its expansion

Pre-Roman Italy

• Neolithic and Bronze Ages: Small warring societies
  • No written records; knowledge based on archaeology
  • Iron Age: Dominated by Villanova people, evolving into Etruscans
• Greek settlers: Arrived ~700 BCE, established colonies called Magna Graecia

Founding of Rome

• Mythological version: Founded by Romulus in 753 BCE
  • Romulus and Remus, sons of god Mars, raised by a she-wolf
  • Romulus kills Remus, founds Rome; first of seven legendary kings
• Historical version: Rome as an Etruscan city, founded by Latins
  • 509 BCE: Roman Republic established, Etruscan rule overthrown

Rome's Expansion

• Republic expansion: Constant warfare, control of Italian peninsula by 276 BCE
• Pyrrhic War: Rome vs. Greek mercenaries, Rome wins despite heavy losses
• Conflict with Gauls: Off and on invasions, Rome eventually defeats them

Roman Society and Government

• Political system: Constitution-based, Senate and consuls
  • Consuls elected yearly, balance of power issues
• Social divisions:
  • Class: Patricians (nobles) vs. plebeians (commoners)
  • Citizenship: Citizens vs. non-citizens
  • Status: Freeman vs. slaves
• Provinces: Expansion strategy, creation of estates for Roman citizens

Conflict of the Orders

• Patricians vs. plebeians: Struggle for political equality
• Plebeian secessions: Effective strikes leading to political changes
• 287 BCE: Formal equality achieved, but class tensions remain

International Conflicts

• First Punic War: Rome vs. Carthage over Sicily, Rome wins
• Second Punic War: Hannibal's invasion, Battle of Cannae
  • Roman resilience, eventual victory under Scipio
• Expansion east: Conquests in Macedonia, Greece, conflict with Seleucids

Internal Crises

• Social and economic tensions due to expansion
  • Hoarding of property by wealthy, influx of slaves
• Gracchi brothers: Attempted reforms, assassinated
• Social War: Non-citizen Italians seek citizenship, Rome grants it

Decline of the Republic

• Generals gain power, Senate weakened
• Civil wars: Generals like Sulla and Marius, conflict between Roman troops
• End of the Republic: Julius Caesar's rise, transition to Empire

Upcoming Topics

• Lecture 14: Civil war, Julius Caesar, fall of the Republic
• Future lectures: History and glory of the Roman Empire