Lecture 2. The Rise of the Roman Republic
I. Legends of Rome's Foundation
A. Romulus and Remus: Militaristic
B. "Rape” of the Sabines: Melting
pot
II. Monarchy (753-509 BC)
A. The Latins and the Etruscan Kings
B. Growth from Village to City
C. Expulsion of Etruscan Kings by Latin Aristocrats (509 BC)
-Defining moment in Roman consciousness: fear of monarchs
III. Republic (509-31 BC)
A.
Early (509-264 BC)
-Formation of magistracies: 2 consuls each
year
-Inequalities:only aristocrats (patricians)
can be magistrates; voting assemblies favor elite over masses (plebeians)
-Defining moment: "Struggle of the Orders" helps form government
Plebeian assembly; new magistrates (tribunes, dictator)
-Conquest of Italy
-390
Sack of Rome by Gauls leads to militarization
-Conquest
of Southern Italy by 285
-Each
group granted citizenship; coloniae aid Romanization
B.
Middle (264-133 BC)
-Mediterranean Powers: Hellenistic Kingdoms + Carthage
-Carthage
v. Rome:
Three “Punic” (Carthaginian) Wars (264-146 BC) = Hannibal the Carthaginian
-Defining Moment: Rome fights back and wins
-Rome conquers Mediterranean:Spain, N Italy, Greece and Balkans, W Anatolia,
N Africa by 133 BC
-Accord
between Senate and Masses
IV. The Consequences of Conquest
A.
Massive Influx of Capital
Spoils
>> Rise of ultra-rich >> Increase in Slaves >> Massive Estates
B.
Demographic displacement
Continuous
warfare >> Absence forces loss of land >> Rise of urban masses
C. Defining moment: Social Discontent
-Welfare:
grain distributions; free entertainments
V. The First Explosions: Conservatives v. Demagogues
A.
Gaius and Tiberius Gracchus (133-121 BC)
1.
Proposals:Land redistribution; grain subsidies
2.
Violence:Romans shed Roman blood
3. Optimates v. Popularists: Elite v. Masses
B. Marius
Common
Man; Military Hero; Seven consulships; allows non-landholders into army; land
for veterans?
VI. The Strong Men
A. Sulla:warfare; absence from Rome; dictatorship;
senatorial supremacy; proscriptions
B. Pompey: warfare; special pirate command; absence from Rome; land for veterans?
C. Julius Caesar: the first triumvirate (Pompey; Caesar; Crassus); warfare in Gaul; dictatorship
