Origins of the Roman Republic

1
Origins of the Roman Republic
2
(No Transcript)
3
Periods of Roman History

• The foundation of Rome and the Monarchy (753-509
  BCE)
• The Republic (509 c. 27 BCE)
• The Empire (27 BCE 476 CE)

Roman Monarchy
Roman Republic
Roman Empire
1 CE
4
Geography of Italy
5
(No Transcript)
6
Traditions about the Founding of Rome

• Various founders suggested including Odysseus.
• Romulus and Remus preferred.
• Legend recorded by Livy (59 BCE 17 CE)
• Virgil (70 BCE 19 CE)

7
What can legends and tales tell us about a people?

• One important element of Roman legends
  inclusion
• Romulus and Remus
• Building a population
• Snatching of the Sabine Women
• Compare to Greek Ideas

8
Poussins Rape of the Sabine Women
9
From Monarchy to Republic

• Traditionally in 509 BCE Roman aristocrats
  rebelled against King Tarquinius Superbus.
• Set up the Republic, literally res publica
  public affairs
• 2 Consuls, Senate, other magistrates

10
Romans Latins

• Common culture
• Religious military alliances
• Latin War (340-338 BCE)
• 338 Settlement with Latins Crucial
• Control of Italy largely complete by mid third
  century

11
Punic Wars

• Punic Wars are wars with Carthage.
• First Punic War 264 241 BCE
• Second Punic War 218 202 BCE. Hannibal crosses
  the Alps with elephants!!!
• Third Punic War is lame 149 146 BCE is
  protracted seige of Cartharge.

12
Control of Mediterranean (3rd 1st Centuries)
13
Problems with Republic

• Landless peasants
• Italian resentment
• Equestrian resentment

14
Social and Civil Wars

• Caesars Dictatorship

• Social War (90-88)
• First Civil War (88, 82-1)
• Marius Sulla

• The (second) Civil War (49-47)
• Caesar Pompey

15
Augustus