Preroman Italy

CLAS 2407 War and Society in the Roman World Sept 15, 2011 Italy Before the Romans The Founding of Rome Warfare in Early Rome The many Cultures of archaic Italy c. 8th century The Cultural Geography of Early Italy Early Italy was home to many different cultures and languages Local cultural traditions continued well into the 1st century AD Most important cultural and linguistic groups that occupied early Italy included: the Ligurians. Veneti, Gauls/Celts, Umbrian/Sabines, Oscans, Picentes, Latins, Etruscans, Greeks. Over time Rome would incorporate all these different cultures into its own - some by conquest, others by assimilation, others by ‘persuasion’ The Greaco-Roman World Roman culture heavily influenced by Greek culture from its very beginning (Hellenization); intensified by later wars of conquest Most important cultural influence came from Etruscans – Rome situated between Latins (south) and Etruscans (north) - From South influenced by Greek City States – Magna Graecia The Etruscans Non Indo-European people Called themselves “Rasenna.” (Tusci in Latin; Tyrsenoi in Greek) Know most about them through archaeology (elaborately painted housetombs) Greek and Roman sources are generally hostile. Occupied much of the territory between the Tiber and the Po rivers (north of Rome); highly sophisticated agricultural society; their territory rich in metal deposits and timber. Etruscan civilization developed rapidly in the 8th century BCE through trade contacts with Greeks and Phoenicians; significant influence on Romans Etruscans: Political Organization Not a unified single state - but loose league of 12 independent Etruscan cities. Each city ruled by a king. Kings were supported by a landed aristocracy; Power was in hands of a few aristocratic families; many cities formed Republican governments run by magistrates elected from the aristocratic class (similar developments in Rome in 6th century). Agricultural economy Land worked by peasants without political rights. Etruscan Social and Cultural Life Many cultural developments stimulated by contacts with Greeks and Phoenicians. Adopted and adapted the Greek alphabet (we cannot decipher their language) Art and Religion appears to have been heavily influenced by Greeks and Phoenicians Many aspects of Etruscan culture and politics would be adopted by Romans; Etruscan rulers in Rome (# 5 Tarquinius Priscus616-578 BCE, # 7 Tarquinius Superbus 534-510 BCE) Politics: Curule chair, Lictors, Fasces. Religion: 1. Augury. 2. Haruspicia. 3. Pontifex (Pontifices – Pontiffs). 3. Divine trio Jupiter, Juno, Minerva. Tria nomina The three Roman names (i.e. Marcus Tullius Cicero); Praenomen, nomen (of gens), cognomen. Greek Colonies in Archaic Italy and Sicily 770 BCE – Pithekousai – mother cities = Eretria and Chalkis 750 BCE – Rhegium – mother cities = Chalkis and Zankle 734 BCE – Syracuse – mother city= Corinth 725 BCE – Cumae – mother cities= Pithekousai and Chalkis 720 BCE – Sybaris – mother city = Achaea 709 BCE – Croton – mother city= Achaea 706 BCE – Tarentum – mother city = Sparta Region called Magna Graecia by Romans The Greeks of Magna Graecia Reasons for founding colonies: overpopulation and land shortage, trade, civil wars, famines, etc.,, – not a unified Greek state collection of independent city states (polis) competing with each other. Trade with peoples of Italy (esp. the Etruscans) stimulated cultural, economic, and political developments of Italy. The Sources for Early Rome a) ancient Historians Livy (Titus Livius) History of Rome from foundation to 9 BCE in 142 books (35 survived complete) Wrote during Augustus’ reign, died in AD 12 or AD 17 Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities, Greek Historian, 20 books (11 survived) wrote late first century BCE (See Southern, the Roman Army, p. 26).

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