Lecture 11: The Roman Empire

Topics: From approx. 700 BCE to 300 CE Civilization spreads further west: Rome & beyond

Questions: What distinguished the Roman Empire from the Roman Republic? What distinguished the Roman Empire from the Athenian Empire? What effect did the Roman Empire have on the Mediterranean basin, and on Europe? The Etruscans and Rome’s Beginnings

(c. 525 BCE)

Trade Networks and Colonies (800-600 BCE)

Minor wars over territory (early 6th c. BCE) Rome develops into a city (c. 600 BCE) The Roman Republic

Latinized Hellenism

Republican government After 509, executive power invested in two consuls on one-year terms Senate = advisory body (controls $$) Legislation passed by all male citizens Patricians dominate; plebs have a say

350-254 BCE - conquered Italy Punic Wars

By 264 BCE: Rome = one of largest cities in Need to import grain Mediterranean

264-241 & 218-202 BCE: Punic Wars vs. Carthage

By 201 BCE: Romans control western Mediterranean

The Celts

Bust of a god? (c. 150-50 BCE)

Large silver cauldron (c. 100 BCE) Julius “Caesar” (100-44 BCE) Cicero conquest of Gaul (58 BCE) (106-43 BCE) appointed dictator (49 BCE) declared divine (46 BCE) assassinated by 3 senators (44 BCE)

civic virtue vs. dictatorship

Roman forum Octavian “Augustus” Caesar (68 BCE- 14 CE)

Battle of Actium (31 BCE) end of triumvirate control of Egypt Emperor after 27-23 BCE

Contradictions! First emperor + restorer of the Republic Princeps (First Citizen) + Pater patriae (Father of the country) Pontifex maximus (highest priest) + deified after death Progressive reform cloaked as conservatism

dictatorship as civic virtue

Administrative, legal, military, and economic reforms = “PAX ROMANA” support the Roman Empire for 200 years

“Pax Romana” West East

Prosperity Peace

Agricultural productivity Wider trade networks Trade networks Urbanization Roman culture GREEK Literacy & law Public baths, amphitheaters, etc.

Complete Assimilation of Celts

LATIN

Administration

Citizenship Roman law

Idea of Rome Building an Empire

Roads Military Public buildings

Roman theater in Anatolia CONCRETE (Marcus Aurelius)

Roman bridge in Spain

Wall painting of a major harbor (1st c. CE)

Aqueduct near Nimes (c. 20 BCE)