History of Ancient Rome Notes

Notes History of Ancient Rome Coniglio 1/28 - Foundation History and Culture ​ What is history? - events (aka what happens) ○​ “The whole series of past events connected with someone of something” ​ In...

Notes History of Ancient Rome Coniglio 1/28 - Foundation History and Culture ​ What is history? - events (aka what happens) ○​ “The whole series of past events connected with someone of something” ​ In this class, the someone is the Romans (1200 BCE - 300 CE) (main focus point will be 200 BCE - 200 CE) ○​ “A continuous, systemic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc…” ○​ Culture can influence history ​ What is culture? ○​ How did the events in history dictate culture (what they valued)? ○​ “The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people or other social group.” ​ What evidence do we have? ○​ Primary sources ​ Will probably be several centuries after the fact and that’s okay ​ Literature, art, coins (helped spread roman propaganda!), artifacts (tools, weapons, houses, clothing, etc…) ​ Bias - Lacking information about the lives of poor people (people who wrote history/poems were rich – they had time to do it) ○​ Secondary sources ​ Anything more “modern” (after ~700 CE) ​ Generally less bias (gives more context, sticks to the facts - romans were VERY bias) What is ROMANITAS? ​ “The collection of political and cultural concepts and practices defining what it means to be Roman.” ​ Based more on political, social, moral values and customs vs. language or ethnicity ​ Romanitas = “Roman-ness” ​ Roman leaders wanted this idea to cover every territory (nationalism/patriotism)... what does it mean collectively? ​ Why did the leaders of Rome need to create Romanitas? ○​ Creates unification, obligation, rule following ○​ Every culture has its own quirks but they are still brought together Rome & The Mediterranean ​ How did Rome’s location in the Mediterranean have affected the city’s growth and influence…either positively or negatively? ​ It’s in the middle of the mediterranean, easy to go each way and get resources History of Ancient Rome Coniglio ○​ Sicily and Egypt were known for grain ○​ Spain and France were known for precious metals ​ Access to trade routes ​ Strategic position - mountains (apennine & alps) and sea provide protection (advantageous) ○​ Apennine mountains allows Rome to grow a little more protected (from other ancient italian civilizations) ○​ Key part: Rome is NOT a shoreline town/city - port cities were often pirated ​ Their port town was Ostia ​ Ancient civilizations of Italy ○​ Eturia ○​ Umbria ○​ Rome ○​ Samnium ○​ Apulia ○​ Magna Graecia ○​ Sicily ○​ Sardinia ​ Was built around seven hills (seven hills of rome) and on the Tiber river ○​ Hills give vantage point ○​ River gives access to sea and water source The Trojan War & Rome ​ Greeks vs. Trojans ​ About 10 years long ​ The Fall of Troy ​ The Trojan Horse ○​ Supposedly the greeks hid some soldiers inside of this giant hollow wooden horse and gave it to the Trojans as a gift (then the Greeks faked leaving troy) and the Trojans brought the horse into the city and then the Greek soldiers came out (the other greeks sailed back overnight) and torched the city ​ Aeneas (prince of Troy) escaped Troy with his kid (Ascanius aka Iulus) and went to Italy (eventually) - DID NOT FOUND ROME!!!! ○​ Aeneid - an epic poem by Virgil - written about Aeneas ○​ Symbolic art about Aeneas: Aeneas carries his dad (the past of Troy) and leads his son (the future of Troy) — Aeneas=present, the dad=the past, the son=the future ○​ Founded a town called Lavinium ○​ The son founded Alba Longa History of Ancient Rome Coniglio ​ Out of Alba Longa came a woman named Rhea Siliva, a daughter of one of the kings (a priestess) who had twins named Romulus and Remus - the founders of Rome ○​ April 21, 753 BCE = FOUNDING OF ROME! ​ Romans associated with the Trojans because they did not want to associate with the Greeks (Greeks and Romans do not like each other) 1/29 - Creation of Rome Artwork 🎨 -​ Aeneas’s Flight from Troy -​ Leading his son (carrying) his son (Ascanius/Iulus) to Rome -​ Coins & a painting depicting him bringing the son to Troy Why would Rome associate itself with the losers of the Trojan War? -​ Losers eventually become the winners #underdogs #overcome -​ Associating with certain gods -​ Didn’t like the Greeks AENEAS 💪 -​ Prince of Troy -​ Son of Venus & Anchiese -​ Father of Ascanius/Iulus -​ The link between the age of heroism and Rome Primary Sources: 1.​ Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita 2.​ Vergil’s Aeneid -​ Aeneas travels around the Mediterranean and goes through: -​ Punic wars in Carthage (w/Queen Dido) -​ They had a year-long relationship, Dido thought it was more serious, but IT WASN’T, she curses him off and the Punic wars begin… -​ Ends up in Latium - marries Lavinia - Founds Lavinium 👑 -​ AENEAS DID NOT FOUND ROME. HE FOUNDED LAVINIUM. ASCANIUS (aka Iulus) -​ 30 years after Troy -​ Finds the town of Alba Longa -​ 300 years later there’s a series of kings (all descendants of Ascanius) -​ Amulius is the younger brother but wants to be King…kills his older brother Numitor… Numitor’s daughter is RHEA SILVIA 🎀 History of Ancient Rome Coniglio -​ Became a daughter of some queen - names her a Vestal Virgin -​ So that she can’t have sex and kids! -​ Big deal in Roman religion - having a daughter be a vestal virgin was a huge deal (30yr term) -​ Uh oh… she has twins! Smth happened to her. (not v vestal virgin) -​ Father is Mars/Ares (god of war) / Divine conception -​ Rhea Silvia’s children: ROMULUS & REMUS 👦 -​ Amulius has to figure out what to do with these kids! -​ They are Mars’s children… #divine #cantkill -​ Killing indirectly: used the method called Exposure -​ Exposing nature! Drop them and leave! -​ If the gods want to save the kids… the kids will be saved -​ Got placed in a basket by the Tiber River -​ Found by a wolf! (Lupa) -​ Slang term for Lupa is whore/slut -​ figurative/literal translation! Either a wolf or a slut -​ Other version (Livy’s): found by a shepherd (Faustulus) -​ Make their way back to Alba Longa and overthrow the king (Amulius) -​ THEY FOUND ROME ROME FOUNDING 🏰 -​ R&R reinstated Numitor in Alba Longa and found Rome! -​ April 21st 753 BCE -​ Have an Argument -​ About Augury (using birds to decide who names the town/who should be king) -​ Figuring out gods via birds -​ Romulus KILLS Remus -​ Romulus names the city Rome after himself What does Livy try to do in his history? What are his intentions? -​ 64/59 BCE - 17 CE -​ Writing 700 years after the event -​ Archaeological evidence is a little better! -​ Livy is trying to give both accounts, not telling exactly what happened (neutral) -​ Founded on two gods (Mars, war & Venus, love) -​ The Romans believed that they were coming from gods -​ Julius Caesar one day gets to say he’s related to Iulus History of Ancient Rome Coniglio -​ PROPAGANDA ‼️ Roman’s beliefs about the city’s foundations: -​ Violence -​ Divinity We consider these things myth! 1/31 The Roman Monarchy, The Early Republic, & Roman Expansion in Italy 👑🗡️ ​ Monarchy → long term planning, stability (vs. shifting priorities), one person leading (easier for one person to make a decision, especially in up and coming Rome) ​ April 21, 753 BCE: Foundation of Rome by Romulus (fratricide) ○​ Rape of Sabine Women Rome didn’t have any women (it was made up of society outcasts - men) Romulus threw a festival for the neighboring towns and then kidnapped some of the women (Here, the word rape means to seize/take/steal) Romans then married the women (rape now means what it means) Years later, the Sabine’s came to rescue the women but when the battle was happening, the women stopped the battle and said they were both Roman and Sabine → Rome & Sabine are now allies Roman Monarchy (753-509 BCE) 🌱 ​ Seven Kings of Rome (Romulus → Tarquinius Superbus) 🏛️🏛️ ​ This time period is defined by growth ○​ Growth of city: buildings, infrastructure (still primitive) 💪 ○​ Localized expansion → Etruscans (most powerful civilization in italy at the time), Ostia (became the port city of Rome) 🧑‍⚖️🤼 ○​ Creation of Rome’s culture: religion (influenced heavily by Greeks and Ostians), games, law, government 🧍‍♀️👗 ​ The Legend of Lucretia (509 BCE) ○​ Lucretia was a noblewoman ○​ Sextus Tarquinius, the Roman King’s son raped her ○​ Lucretia told her family that she had been raped ○​ Lucretia 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 ​ End of the Monarchy: ○​ Lucius Tarquinius Superbus → Sextus Tarquinius → Lucretia ○​ Lucius Iunius Brutus (+ Lucretia's family) → expulsion of Tarquinii from Rome History of Ancient Rome Coniglio ○​ Romans did not trust Monarchies anymore (throughout the rest of history) Establishment of Republic ​ Res public = “public matter/affair” ​ Social-political structure ○​ Patricians (→ pater = father) – Upper Class ​ Senate (→ senex = old man –wiser, 100 best men of Rome) ​ Part of the government ​ No more than 10% of the population ○​ Plebeians (→ plebs) – Middle/Lower Class ​ 90% of the population ​ Strength in numbers ​ Cursus honorum = course of honors (sequential order of public offices held by aspiring politicians) 2/3 - Cursus Honorum Translation: Course of Honors Important Members: -​ Monarchy (April 21st, 753 BCE - 509 BCE) -​ 7 Kings -​ First King: Romulus -​ Last King: Tarquinius Superbus How did the organization of the cursus honorum reflect the Romans's anti-monarchy sentiments during the Roman Republic? -​ Anti-monarchy because… -​ Rape of Lucretia -​ Virginity is valued, and people were outraged that the elite could do whatever they wanted -​ Continuous absolute power -​ Family dynasty -​ Combated by: -​ Senate -​ 2 Consul -​ People have to work their way up -​ Elections -​ Peoples choice -​ Limited power (term limits) Structure of the Republic History of Ancient Rome Coniglio -​ Most positions are 1-year terms -​ Can only serve once -​ If you could be re-elected, you had to have 5-10 years in between -​ Minimum age requirement -​ Political survival of the fittest - trying to climb the ranks Ranks: 1.​ Consul (2) a.​ Co-presidents i.​ Army ii.​ Head of govt. iii.​ Laws/vetoes iv.​ Usually elected one more conservative and one more liberal 2.​ Praestor a.​ Judges b.​ Could become a governor of a province i.​ Collect taxes and skim off the top of the taxes 3.​ Aediles a.​ Public buildings, food supply, public games History of Ancient Rome Coniglio 4.​ Quaestors a.​ Dealt with finances Extra positions (only for the consul/previous consul): -​ Dictator -​ A consul can become a dictator when there is an issue -​ 6-month position -​ Censor -​ 18 months -​ Normally 2 of them -​ It could be a retired consul !! SENATE: -​ Advisory body - suggested laws -​ Only consuls could pass 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 - NOT PAID 🙁 POSITIONS Plebeians - Had fewer rights Roles: 1.​ Tribunes (10) a.​ Representative of the plebeians b.​ Had the power of veto 2/5 - Rome becomes dominating force of italian peninsula (500-270 BCE) 💪 Rome’s expansion in Italy brought: ​ Territory ○​ Resources ○​ Trade routes ○​ Wealth 🪖 ​ Military experience ​ Political alliances → gains loyalty and armies!! ○​ Local government and politics ​ Population ​ Culture: government, religion ​ Gave Rome a trial run on how to expand further Roman Expansion in Italy (400s-200s BCE): ​ Slow but deliberate movement through Italy, gradually gaining more territory ​ Fine-tuning of Roman army → land power ​ Varying treatment of conquered towns → adjustments based on how towns respond to Rome’s movement/growth within the peninsula History of Ancient Rome Coniglio ​ Balance of annexation, colonization, and alliances, depending on each situation Roman Sack of Veii (ca. 396 BCE): ​ Veii = Major Etruscan town (capital) ~10 miles from Rome ​ Etruscan-Roman skirmishes for centuries for control of central & northern Italy ​ *know the time because archeological evidence points to more Roman based relics around 350 BCE Gallic Sack of Rome (ca. 390-387 BCE): ​ Swept down from Gual through Etruscan territory and to Rome ​ Led by Brennus 🙁 ​ Vae Victis! - Woe to the Vanquished! ​ Sacked rome ○​ Wasn’t well defended because the Guals had fought more Romans up north and a lot of the Romans died ​ Romans held out on Capitoline Hill → After sacking the city, the Gauls besieged the last Roman stronghold on the Capitoline Hill for months. ○​ Romans experienced famine, Guals got malaria ​ Brennus set the price at 1,000 pounds of gold for their withdrawal → Gauls left Rome goes South - Samnite Wars (343-341 BCE, 326-304 BCE, & 298-290 BCE): ​ “Helping other towns” (Capua, Neapolis) vs. intentional territory grab ○​ Excuse to fight Samnites to get territory (so they didn’t look like overbearing conquerors) ​ Control of southern Italy, better access to Adriatic Sea (east) Pyrrhic War (280-275 BCE): ​ Pyrrhus ○​ Leader of northern Greek territory 🐘 ○​ Tried to take over southern Italian territory ○​ Had elephants ​ Romans fought against him ○​ Gained experience fighting against new/different enemies 🤔 ○​ Didn’t gain much territory in Southern Italy, but they did win ​ Pyrrhic Victory - you won but still lost… 🥉 Roman treatment of conquered towns: ​ Socii: “allies” ○​ Required tribute (money) to Rome, levy soldiers (house soldiers and/or give men to Roman army) 🥈 ○​ Towns that are more likely to revolt = least amount of rights ​ Latini: “Latin rights” ○​ Freedoms of trade (with Rome), marriage (to Romans), and travel (without permission) ○​ Could not vote → not Roman citizens History of Ancient Rome Coniglio ​ 🥇Cives Romani: “Roman citizens” ○​ Sometimes with full voting rights, other times without voting rights Conflict of the Orders (cs. 500-300 BCE): ​ Division between patricians and plebeians ​ Plebeians wanted concessions in Rome ○​ More representative government: to gain more than just tribuneship ○​ Economic concessions: to gain more financial standing and support, especially when Rome was at war ​ Plebeians were drafted into the army → money dries up ​ Expansion through Italy made the poor poorer ​ Looking for Rome to support them and their families financially ​ How did they get what they wanted? What was their leverage? ○​ Leverage: they were the majority of the army, they would protest fighting sometimes to get Rome to do what they wanted (power in numbers) ○​ Rome needed numbers for expansion ​ Change in division: (only) patrician nobility → joint plebeian-patrician nobility → the poorest just kept getting poorer ​ Created new social class of nobility → based on wealth (most patricians & some really rich plebeians) 2/11 - Punic Wars Carthage: ​ Located in North Africa, modern day Tunisia (near Sicily and Rome) ​ Technically Phoenician (came from modern day lebanon) ○​ Phoenicians were known for being traders and sailors (navy known from trading not military) ○​ Established colonies along northern African Coast and the southern tip of Spain (didn’t conquer, but just established influence) ○​ Main colony on trade route was Carthage ○​ Carthage was older than Rome, est. 814 BCE ​ Sailing was part of Carthage DNA, became dominant maritime force after adding military unit to their navy ​ Carthage was in the middle of the Mediterranean, position was very influential ​ Had two harbors: outer harbor for trading ships, inner harbor for military ships Questions about Punic Wars: 1)​ What did Rome gain from their victory in that war? a)​ 1st war: Sicily, $$$, other territories b)​ 2nd war: a lot of money and territory 2)​ What defined Rome and Carthage during each war? History of Ancient Rome Coniglio a)​ 1st war: Rome had to build their own military navy, they were very resilient; Carthage was arrogant and stupid b)​ 2nd war: Rome was resilient, Carthage stayed to long in Italy First Punic War (264-241 BCE): ​ Carthage had control of majority of Sicily ​ Sicily was the battleground (for the most part) ○​ Some Sicilian towns asked Rome for help → Rome sees opportunity to control Sicily (location = control over mediterranean & Sicily had A LOT of grain) ​ Rome needed ships (+expand navy) to fight for Sicily ○​ Rome had to build a military navy (each time the ships would get built, there would be a storm or the Carthaginians would destroy them) ○​ They would lose fleet after fleet, but Rome is resilient because they could replenish their troops because of the territory they controlled ​ Romans adapted ships: Roman Corvus - literally a little bridge that attached to enemy ships, allowed for soldiers to cross over to enemy bridge and engage in hand to hand combat ​ Rome gained control of Sicily (and also Corsica and Sardinia) → gained first provinces ​ Carthage had to pay 3,200 talents of silver in reparations over the next decade Second Punic War (218 - 201 BCE): ​ Carthiginians still had a lot of territory (especially in modern day Spain) ​ Hannibal: Carthaginian General (one of the best generals of the Ancient world) ○​ Hannibal was based in modern day Spain ​ Saguntum was a town in modern day Spain that was allied with Rome ○​ Hannibal attacked Saguntum to aggravate Rome ​ Hannibal led the Carthaginans through the Alps to attack Rome (although he never attacked Rome itself with his army) ○​ Stayed in Italy (for almost 10 years) → tried to turn Roman controlled towns to ally with them… very few of the Roman allies flipped. Hannibal didn't gain anything :( ​ Hannibal did have a bunch of victories, though ​ Roman responses: ○​ Hannibal didn't besiege Rome ○​ Strong alliance with allied towns ○​ Fabian tactics: idea of not drawing Rome out in one big battle, hit Hannibal slowly ○​ Iberian front: Roman attack of modern day Spain (while the main army was in Italy) ○​ Numidinians (tribe in North Africa that allied with Rome) fought against Carthiginians in North Africa ○​ Hannibal had to bring his troops to Northern Africa History of Ancient Rome Coniglio ​ Battle of Zama in Northern Africa → End of 2nd War ​ Results of the War: 🙁 ○​ Carthiginaian navy reduced to 10 warships (from hundreds of ships) ○​ No more elephants (=tanks) ○​ Tribute to rome: 10,000 silver talents of 50 years (=$6-10 billion) ○​ No fighting outside of Africa; need Rome’s permission to fight within Africa ○​ Roman acquisition of Spain Third Punic War (149-146 BCE): Important Dates ​ April 21, 753 BCE = FOUNDING OF ROME!!! ​ Roman Monarchy (753-509 BCE) ​ 509 BCE = establishment of Republic ​ ca. 400 BCE the Romans were able to take over the Etruscans ​ First Punic War (264-241 BCE) ​ Second Punic War (218 - 201 BCE) ​ Third Punic War (149-146 BCE) Test #1 notes Test #1: ​ April 21, 753 BCE = FOUNDING OF ROME!!! ​ Roman Monarchy (753-509 BCE) ​ 509 BCE = establishment of Republic ​ ca. 400 BCE the Romans were able to take over the Etruscans Republic → Government → Cursus honorum ~~ (also be aware of specific details) Roman expansion in Italy, (etruscans were a tribe), roman treatment of conquered towns (3 levels) Roman Monarchy - remember Romulus & Tarquinius Superbus Origin of Rome (Aeneas → Romulus) Questions: explanations and analysis