The course Ancient History II will provide you with a working knowledge of the history of Rome, Roman Italy, and the Roman Empire from c. 750 BCE to c. 650 CE, from the legendary foundation of the city to the fall of the Roman empire in the west and the Arab conquest of the Near East. We’ll trace...
Ancient History II
CHAPTER 12 EARLY ROMAN HISTORY (753-265 BC)
The Western Mediterranean
Between 800 and 500 BC, civilizations emerged in the western Mediterranean;
Etruscans in central Italy, the Carthaginians in North Africa, the Greeks in the
Greek colonies in southern Italy, Siciliy and southern Gaul.
The Etruscans were an urban civilization, became quite wealthy because of
metalwork and pottery. Origin is debatable Italy or Asia Minor. Etruscan
civilization was a blend including Near Eastern, Italian and Greek elements.
Reached its peak in 7th and 6th c. After 500 BC, undermined by Celts (Gauls).
Carthage was founded in the 9th or 8th c and was a prosperous city based on
maritime trade in the Western Mediterranean, import of gold from Senegal, tin
from Western Europe and agricultural activities. Carthage held a monopoly on
shipping in the southwest Mediterranean and on the Atlantic Ocean between
West Africa and the British Isles. Carthage established a network of fortified
bases and was always prepared to engage in warfare if these bases were
threatened. cause of many wars between Greeks and Carthaginians.
The origins of Rome
- First people were Latins
- Roman legend Romulus king of Rome in 753 BC
- Early settlements were simple famers led by the Patres (fathers)
- 600 BC influence of Etruscans increased Rome grew into city with
markets etc.
- Rome favorably situated fertile, densely populated region, junction of
important road linking Etruria to the Greek and Etruscan settlements in
Campania, shipping route (Tiber) and road to salt-pans at the coast.
State and society in early Rome
Rome in earlier days was already characterized by degree of social
differentiation:
- Upper layer of Aristocratic families who owned large proportion of land.
- Well-to-do peasants
- Poorer peasants
- Farms were self-sufficient family
- More and more craftsmen
Peasants were often dependent/protected by Aristocrats (Patroni, later
Patricians) = clientes (later Pleibeians).
Kings Commanded the army, administered justice and led the
ceremonies for the state deities, enjoyed absolute power.
Senate Council of heads of aristocratic families, assisting and advising
the King. Could summon a public assembly.
Comitia Curiata public assembly, the organ that formally conferred the
imperium on the kings and consequently sanctioned their position.
Consists of 30 curiae
Curiae consisted of number of gentes (group of several familiae). Each
curiae had a vote.
Familiae consisted of husband, wife, (grand)children, slaves and clients.
Pater familias head of a familiae, enjoyed absolute authority.
The army and the Comitia Centuriata
The army was dominated by the Aristocrats. The wealthiest citizens served in the
cavalry (equites). Almost all the patricians and a few wealthy plebeians
,Summary Ancient History II
Emma Binnendijk
belonged to this property group. They served as heavily armed infantrymen,
while lower classes as lighter armed soldiers. This classification based on
property was also employed in imposing property taxes and in organizing a new
public assembly Comitia Centuriata. There were 5 property classes,
subdivided into centuriae (unit of 100 men). Each centuria had 1 vote. The first
class pulled the strings. The citizens without property (proletarians) collectively
had one vote.
THE EARLY REPUBLIC (509-265 BC)
State and society
Around 500 BC the era of Kings came to an end. The Romans had a desire to
break away from the Etruscan sphere of influence and rebellion of the nobles
against the increasingly powerful kingship. Rome became an important member
of the Latin League of city states in which they shared ‘Latin Rights’ which
granted all members the right to conduct trade with one another and to marry
partners of all League’s member states. Rome became a republic.
The power was transferred to 2 magistrates (consuls). Their power was restricted
because they could veto each other, and term of office was limited to 1 year. The
magistrates were assisted by two questors. The patricians dominated everything
in the republic: the state (magistrates, senators, comitia centuria), economic
(debt bondage). The two most important processes up to the third century BC:
1. The so-called ‘Struggle of the orders’ between the patricians and the
plebeians
2. The expansion of the Roman empire in Peninsular Italy
Roman expansion in Italy (509-265)
From 509-338 BC there were endless struggles in Rome between Rome, the
Latins, tribes around the hills and the Etruscan cities. Main issues: fertile land in
the Valleys and control of land trade routes. 4 th c: Rome annexed southern
Etruria. In 338 Rome subjected the Latin cities and dominated the League. In 326
after some coalition wars, Rome received dominance over the whole of Italy
except the Greek city states.
Rome founded colonies in most of the lands she conquered. On the public land
they conquered, Rome settled Roman and Latin peasants with military
experience and propertyless Romans and Latins. These colonies were Latin
colonies and were scattered across Italy, usually on fertile soil and at road
junctions and were subject to Rome. Colonists were allowed to rent public land
which became a source of competition between farmers and wealthy landowners.
The colonization policy was of great benefit to Rome:
1. A network of strategically based fortifications all over Italy
2. Means of solving internal conflicts by helping poor citizens to start new life
under better conditions
3. Leasing of public land was great income
4. Considerable growth of Rome’s military resources (more people had
property and were allowed to participate in army
Italian states that already existed and were not founded as colonies were called
municipia. They could earn the status of a Roman city by good behavior. The
citizens of these states had Roman citizen rights without the right to vote.
Rome’s colonization policy encouraged the adaptation of the Italian peoples to
the organization, language and culture of the Romans Romanization.
, Summary Ancient History II
Emma Binnendijk
The wars before 265 were small plunderings. Roman citizens began to regard
warfare as a lucrative but dangerous source of income. What the Romans
considered valid reasons for starting a war were:
- Attack on Roman territory
- Aggression towards a Roman ally
- Violence committed against Roman ambassador
- Failure to pay damages
- Extradite individuals guilty of crimes
The struggle of the orders (500-287 BC)
Rome also suffered internal problems. Rich plebeians demanded to be admitted
to the governing elite monopolized by the patricians and poor plebeians wanted
relaxation of the harsh debt laws.
The plebeians demanded:
- the main rules of the unwritten law be recorded in a written code
- arbitrary acts of the patrician magistrates be checked
- plebeian’s assembly be recognized as an official popular assembly
The plebeians had a powerful position because their middle ranks formed the
backbone of the army
When tensions between the patricians and the plebeians became so high that the
plebeians refused to participate in the army, the patricians made some political
concessions:
326 BC abolition of debt bondage
494 BC the recognition of the tribunes. The tribunes of the plebs were
elected annually in the Concilium Plebis. Tribunes had the right to
intercede to prevent the implementation of arbitrary decisions of the
patrician magistrates. (right to veto)
451 BC first codification of a number of laws in the Twelve Tables. The
formed the basis of Roman civil law.
367 BC the leges Liciniae Sextiae admitted wealthy plebeians to the
highest administrative office (consulship).
287 BC The Lex Hortensia’s recognition of the Concilium Plebis as an
official popular assembly.
The institutions of the Roman republic at the end of the struggle of the orders
The Magistrates embodied the Roman state. The tribune of the Plebs had the
right to veto against the magistrates especially against arbitrary acts. The
Magistrates were assisted by slaves and freedmen. Most important magistrates:
Consuls (two) = charged with military command, maintenance of public
order and general administration, elected by Comitia Centuriata.
Praetors = replaced the consuls where necessary, responsible for
administration of justice. Elected by Comitia Centuriata
Tribunes of the Plebs (ten) = Right to veto and right of intervention. Led
the Concilium Plebis
Aediles (two patricians and two plebeians) = charged with the
maintenance of order in markets and other police matters, firefighting and
organization of games in Rome.
Questors = Management of the state treasury
Comitia Tributa chose the tribunes of the plebs, aediles and questors.
- Censors = chosen by Comitia Centuriata from consuls who were appointed
for a term of 1,5 years. Their tasks were select new members for Senate,
register all citizens and divide them into property classes, commission the
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