La Republica Romana

Study Notes

The early Romans established a republic, which grew powerful and spread its influence.
Rome developed from a small settlement into a mighty civilization, conquering the Mediterranean world.
Rome's origins are legendary, with Romulus and Remus, twin sons of the god Mars, attributed to founding the city in 753 B.C.
Rome was strategically located on seven rolling hills along the Tiber River, in central Italy, and near the Mediterranean Sea.
Early settlers in Italy included the Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans. The Latins are considered the first Romans.
The Etruscans influenced Roman architecture (especially the use of the arch).

The last Roman king was Tarquin the Proud, who was expelled in 509 B.C.
Following this, a republic was established.
"Res publica," the Latin phrase, means "public affairs".
Power in the republic rested with citizens who elected their leaders.
Patricians, the wealthy landowners, initially held most power.
Plebeians, the common farmers, artisans, and merchants, also were citizens, but often lacked the right to hold positions of power.
Plebeians eventually gained the right to form their own assembly and elect representatives called tribunes.
The Twelve Tables, established in 451 B.C., were a written law code intended to protect all free citizens.

Rome gradually increased its control in Italy.
By 265 B.C., Rome dominated almost all of Italy.
Rome treated different regions differently
Rome's growing power put it into conflict with Carthage.
The Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.) were a series of conflicts that resulted in Carthaginian defeat.
Hannibal, a brilliant Carthaginian general, attempted to conquer Rome but was ultimately unsuccessful.
Following victory, Rome's power spread significantly beyond Italy.

Rome's internal problems and external pressures led to the collapse of the Republic.
Economic issues such as rising inflation and growing disparities of wealth created tensions.
Political instability and civil wars weakened the republic.
Military leaders like Julius Caesar gained significant power, eventually leading to civil wars.
Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C., further destabilizing Rome.
A period of civil war followed Caesar's death.
Augustus, Caesar's adopted son, emerged as the first Roman emperor and established the Roman Empire in 27 B.C.
This period was called the Pax Romana (Roman Peace).
The empire embraced most of the Mediterranean world.

Christianity, originating in Roman-occupied Judea, emphasized a personal relationship with God, differing from impersonal Roman worship.
Jesus, believed to be the Messiah, preached for three years.
Christianity began as a Jewish sect but evolved into a separate religion.
Jesus' followers, called apostles, spread his message throughout the Roman Empire.
Persecution of Christians was commonplace during the empire's later periods.
Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity and the Edict of Milan (313 CE) ended persecution and allowed Christianity to flourish.
Christianity became a major force in the Roman Empire and beyond.

Internal problems such as inflation and political instability led to decline.
Military issues included unreliable legions and reliance on mercenaries.
Economic problems hindered trade and caused food shortages.
External pressures such as German invasions severely weakened the Western empire.
The Western Roman Empire collapsed in 476 CE.
The Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire endured for centuries.
The fall of Rome was a gradual process with multiple contributing factors.

Roman culture borrowed heavily from Greek and Hellenistic cultures, creating a Greco-Roman culture.
Romans developed fine arts (painting, sculpture, and mosaics).
Romans excelled at building (aqueducts, roads) and engineering.
Rome produced significant works of literature, including Virgil's Aeneid and Tacitus' histories.
Roman law had enduring influence on later legal systems (e.g., concepts of innocence until proven guilty).
Roman architectural themes (e.g., arch, dome, and concrete) were adopted and adapted in later European and American architecture.

Important Roman engineering projects included great buildings such as the Colosseum.
Romans were masterful engineers and builders of large-scale public works.
The Colosseum was a large amphitheater used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles.