Ancient Rome: History, Sources, and 'Romanitas'

• The focus of the class is the Romans from 1200 BCE - 300 CE, but mainly 200 BCE - 200 CE
• Culture can influence history
• Understanding how historical events shaped cultural values is key
• Evidence of history is found in primary and secondary sources
• Primary sources: Artifacts, literature, art, and coins, though often biased and centuries after the fact
• Secondary sources: Anything more "modern" (after ~700 CE), generally less biased
• Romanitas defines what it means to be Roman, based on political, social, and moral values rather than language or ethnicity, which implies a "Roman-ness"
• Roman leaders created Romanitas to unify territories under a sense of obligation and rule-following

Rome & The Mediterranean

• Rome's location in the Mediterranean affected its growth positively
• It was easily accessible for resource acquisition
• Sicily and Egypt were known for grain
• Spain and France were known for precious metals
• Strategic position with mountains (Apennine & Alps) and sea protection was advantageous, allowed Rome to grow protected from other Ancient Italian civilizations
• Its port town was Ostia

Trojan War & Rome

• Aeneas, prince of Troy, escaped to Italy. He did not found Rome
• The Aeneid, an epic poem by Virgil, details Aeneas's journey
• Symbolically, Aeneas carrying his father represents the past of Troy, while he leads his son symbolizing the future
• Aeneas founded the town of Lavinium
• Aeneas's son founded Alba Longa

Rome Founding

• Rhea Silva, from Alba Longa, a daughter of one of the kings (a priestess) had twins named Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome
• April 21, 753 BCE, the founding of Rome
• Romans claimed association with the Trojans because they did not like association with the Greeks

Artwork

• Artwork depicts Aeneas's flight from Troy, leading his son to Rome
• Coins and paintings portray him bringing his son to Troy

Why Rome associates itself with the losers of the Trojan War

• Losers eventually overcome
• Association with certain gods
• Dislike for the Greeks

About Aeneas

• Prince of Troy
• Son of Venus & Anchises
• Father of Ascanius/Iulus
• Serves the Link between Heroism and Rome

Aeneas' Mediterranean Journey

• Travels around the Mediterranean to Carthage, which includes the Punic wars with Queen Dido
• Relationship with Dido was year-long relationship, but Dido curses him off and the Punic wars begin when it ends
• Aeneas ends up in Latium, marries Lavinia, and founds Lavinium
• Aeneas did not found Rome

Ascanius

• Ascanius, aka Iulus, finds the town of Alba Longa 30 years after Troy
• Amulius, a descendant of Ascanius, kills his older brother Numitor to become King
• Rhea Silvia, Numitor's daughter, becomes a vestal virgin so that she can't have sex and kids
• Having a daughter to be a vestal virgin was a huge deal with a 30yr term
• Rhea Silvia has twins and the father is Mars/Ares (god of war): Divine conception

Romulus & Remus

• Amulius decides to use Exposure to indirectly kill them because they are Mars' children
• Babies placed in a basket by the Tiber River
• Found by a wolf (lupa) or translated either wolf or a slut

Rome Founding cont.

• Romulus and Remus reinstate Numitor in Alba Longa and found Rome on April 21st 753 BCE
• They argue about Augury (using birds) to decide who names the town/who should be king
• Romulus kills Remus and names the city Rome after himself
• Livy wrote about them 700 years after the event
• Livy attempts to give both accounts, and said there are some that are founded on two gods (Mars, war & Venus, love)
• Propaganda to give Rome foundations, violence and divinity

The Roman Monarchy

• Roman's did not trust Monarchies
• Monarchy means long term planning, stability, one person leading
• In 753 BCE Rome was founded by Romulus (fratricide)

Rape of Sabine Women

• Rome was made up of social outcasts and therefore there were no women in Rome
• Romulus threw a festival for the neighboring towns and then kidnapped some of the women
• Word rape means to seize/take/steal, but the word rape now refers to only one meaning
• Later, the Sabine's came to rescue the women but the women stopped the battle because they were both Roman and Sabine, meaning that Rome and Sabine were now allies

Roman Monarchy (753-509 BCE)

• Ruled by Seven Kings of Rome led by Romulus, ending with Tarquinius Superbus
• This time period is defined by growth

Legend Of Lucretia (509 BCE)

• Definition of growth included buildings, infrastructure (still primitive), localized expansion, and culture
• Lucretia was a noblewoman that Sextus Tarquinius, the Roman King's son raped
• Lucretia told her family that she had been raped and then killed herself because she couldn't live with the dishonor
• Her death incited outrage, leading to a rebellion against the Tarquin dynasty
• The uprising, led by Lucius Junius Brutus, resulted in the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the Roman Republic in 509 BCE
• Lucius Tarquinius Superbus --> Sextus Tarquinius --> Lucretia ; Lucius Iunius Brutus (+ Lucretia's family) --> expulsion of Tarquinii from Rome

Establishment of Republic

• Res public = Public matter/affair
• Romans did not trust Monarchies

Social-political structures

• Patricians (→ pater = father) – Upper Class, Senate, and 10% of the population
• Plebeians (→ plebs) – Middle/Lower Class, 90% of the population, and strength in numbers
• Cursus honorum = Course of honors (sequential order of public offices held by aspiring politicians)
• Translation: Course of Honors

Important Members

• Monarchy (April 21st, 753 BCE - 509 BCE)
• Seven Kings: First King was Romulus, Last King was Tarquinius Superbus

How did the organization of the cursus honorum reflect the Romans's anti-monarchy sentiments during the Roman Republic?

• Anti-monarchy because the Rape of Lucretia was a violation of Virginity, people were outraged that the elite could do whatever they wanted, Continuous absolute power, Family dynasty
• There was Combated by Senate, 2 Consuls meaning People have to work their way up, Elections mean people has a choice , Limited power

Ranks for most positions that are 1-year terms

• Consul
• Praestor
• Aediles
• Quaestors

Extra positions (only for the consul/previous consul)

• Dictator
• Censor

Senate

• Consuls could pass laws

• Advisory body - suggested laws

• Senate made up of anyone who had 1 year of any position

• People had to take a break from normal jobs to join government positions

• Plebeians had lesser rights

2/5 - Rome becomes the dominating force of the Italian peninsula (500-270 BCE)

• Rome's Expansion in Italy brought territory, resources, trade routes, wealth, and military experience
• Political alliances gained loyalty and armies, with local government and politics
• Gaining Population allowed Rome to expand further

Roman Expansion in Italy (400s-200s BCE)

• Slow but deliberate movement through Italy, gradually gaining more territory
• Varying treatment of conquered towns meaning adjustments based on how towns respond to Rome's movement/growth within the peninsula
• Balancing annexation, colonization, and alliances
• They were Veci and Major Etruscan towns 10 miles from Rome
• Etruscan-Roman skirmishes for centuries to gaining control of central & northern Italy so it is important *know the time

Gallic Sack of Rome happened (ca. 390-387 BCE)

• Swept down from Gaul through Etruscan territory and Rome
• Led by Brennus
• The Romans said: Vae Victis! - Woe to the Vanquished!
• But they weren't well defended because the Gauls had fought more Romans up north and a lot of the Romans died
• Romans help out on Capitoline Hill, and Gauls besieged for months gaining Romans who were starving while Gauls got malaria
• Romans gave Brennus 1,000 pounds of gold for their withdrawal

Rome goes South - Samnite Wars (343-341 BCE

• Helping other towns to excuse to fight Samnites to get territory (so they didn' feel like overbearing conquerors)
• They want control of southern Italy because there is better access to the Adriatic Sea (east)
• The Pyrrhic War was from 280-275 BCE with Pyrrhus who was leader of northern Greek territory
• Pyrrhus tried to take over southern Italian territory and they had to fight some elephants

Roman Treatment of conquered towns

• Socii: Were allies that had to required tribute to Rome, levy soldiers, and had the least amount of rights
• Latini: "Latin rights" means freedoms of trade, permission to marry and travel but could not vote
• Cives Romani: "Roman citizens" that had sometimes full or half-time voting rights

Conflict Of the Orders (cs. 500-300 BCE)

• This conflict revolved between patricians vs. plebeians
• Plebeians wanted concessions in Rome because they want more representative government to
• Plebeians were drafted into the army so money dries up
• Expansion through Italy made the poor poorer, Rome needs to support them and their families financially
• There are only patricians and plebeians, there is no joint-nobility they must do something to get power in numbers

2/11 - Punic Wars

• The Punic Wars involved city of Carthage, which is modern day Tunisia
• Technicially Phoenician, those Phoenicians are known for being traders and sailors with establish colonies

Key things that defined Rome and Carthage was there victory in the Punic War

• Rome had to build there own military
• Carthage was arrogant and stupid
• Sicily's control helped give Rome mediterranean

Important Dates For Test

• April 21,753 BCE for founding of Rome!!!
• The Roman Monarchy occurred from 753-509 BCE
• 509 BCE was the establishment of Republic
• During ca. 400 BCE the Romans were able to take over the Etruscans
• The Punic War began in 264-241 BCE

Explore the primary focus and sources of Roman history, including primary and secondary materials. Delve into 'Romanitas,' its definition, and its impact on Roman identity and expansion. Also, learn about Rome's location in the Mediterranean, the myth of Romulus and Remus, and the traditional founding of Rome.