RISE
OF
i. Tribal monarchs elected by noble warriors
ii. Council of noble warriors or patricians known as the Senatus
i. Elected for one year
ii. Could veto (I forbid) each other
iii. Commanded the army, convened the assembly and supervised finances
i. Chief advisory body
ii. Held office for life unless ejected by the censor
i. Elected consuls
ii. Determined political policies
i. From 3rd c. BC on, influx of slaves, loot and tribute undermined traditional Roman economy
ii. Senators acquired huge estates (latifunda) and turned fields into pasture for cattle
iii. Displaced agricultural workers became urban proletariat
iv.
40 percent of
v. Increased disparity between rich and poor
i. Instituted program of public works
ii. Founded colonies
iii. Extended citizenship to provincials
iv. Redid the calendar
i. Murdered on Ides of March, 44 BC
ii. Deified by populace
i. Senate packed
ii. Proclaimed Princeps or First Citizen
iii. Made imperator “emperor” (commander) of the army, supreme priest
iv. Titled Augustus (Revered)
i. 27 BC offered to give up power but Senate resisted
ii. Claimed to rule with advice and consent of the people
i. Restored law and order (creating the Roman police force, the Praetorian Guard)
ii. Created professional civil service and professional standing army
iii. Passed a series of laws to reform family life and to increase the birthrate
i. Although problem with Augustus’ successors -- 7 of first 10 caesars met violent ends (Caligula stabbed by own guard; Claudius fed poisoned mushrooms by wife; Nero committed suicide)
ii. No law regulating succession; most named successors
i. Usually respected traditions of peoples they ruled, e.g. religion
ii. Granted all freemen in the empire Roman citizenship by 212 AD
i. Jews refused to worship Roman gods or emperors; led to diaspora in 2nd c. AD
ii. Many achievements due to widespread use of slave labor
iii. Debate over decadence; Bread and Circuses
1. Roman citizens devoted afternoons to entertaining
2. 175 festivals by the 4th c.
3.
Indulged in public baths – 800 in
4. Attended theatre and chariot races (Circus Maximus seated 200,000+)
5. Sponsored gladiatorial and animal games at Colosseum (neuter of the Latin word for gigantic) which seated 45,000+
6. Provided outlet for aggressions
7.
Distributed free grain to poor in
“The bath, wine, and love ruin one’s health but make life worth living.”