Roman Empire-1

CS/SE/BBA/AF
Lecture 11
Course: World History

Roman Empire
Instructor: Ms. Rabia Saba
04/01/2023 1
The Early Period
Tribes
Founding of Rome is rooted in
mythology
Rome sits on the western side of Italy
The national epic poem of mythical Rome, the Aeneid by
Virgil, tells the story of how the Trojan prince, Aeneas, came
to Italy. The Aeneid was written under the emperor Augustus,
who, through Julius Caesar, claimed ancestry from Aeneas.
The Alba Longan line, begun by Iulus, Aeneas’s son, extends
to King Procas, who fathered two sons, Numitor and Amulius.
According to the myth of Romulus and Remus, Amulius
captured Numitor, sent him to prison and became king.
Despite Amulius’ best efforts, Rhea Silvia, daughter of
Numitor, had twin boys, Romulus and Remus.
Founding of Rome is rooted in
mythology
Romulus and his brother Remus are left to die; they float in
a basket
Lupa, the Greek goddess Artemis in wolf form, finds the
boys and nurses them
Faustulus later rescues the boys; the brothers fight to rule.
Romulus and Remus eventually overthrew Amulius, and
restored Numitor.
In the course of a dispute during the founding of the city of
Rome, Romulus killed Remus and names the city 'Rome'.
Thus, Rome began with a fratricide, a story that was later
taken to represent the city’s history of internecine political
strife and bloodshed.
Significance of the Seven Kings of Rome
to Roman culture
Romulus was Rome ‘s first king and the city’s founder. He is
best known for the Rape of the Sabine Women and the
establishment of the Senate, as well as various voting
practices.
Numa Pompilius was a just, pious king who established the
cult of the Vestal Virgins at Rome, and the position of
Pontifex Maximus. His reign was characterized by peace.
Tullus Hostilius had little regard for the Roman gods, and
focused entirely on military expansion. He constructed the
home of the Roman Senate, the Curia Hostilia.
Ancus Marcius ruled peacefully and only fought wars when
Roman territories needed defending.
Significance of the Seven Kings of Rome
to Roman culture
Lucius Tarquinius Priscus increased the size of the Senate and
began major construction works, including the Temple to
Jupiter Optimus Maximus, and the Circus Maximus.
Servius Tullius built the first pomerium—
walls that fully encircled the Seven Hills of Rome. He also
made organizational changes to the Roman army, and
implemented a new constitution for the Romans, further
developing the citizen classes.
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus’s reign is remembered for his use
of violence and intimidation, as well as his disrespect of
Roman custom and the Roman Senate. He was eventually
overthrown, thus leading to the establishment of the Roman
Republic.
Roman society in its early years
Roman society was extremely patriarchal and hierarchical.

The adult male head of a household had special legal
powers and privileges that gave him jurisdiction over all
the members of his family.
The status of freeborn Romans was established by their
ancestry, census ranking, and citizenship.
The most important division within Roman society was
between patricians, a small elite who monopolized political
power, and plebeians, who comprised the majority of
Roman society.
The Roman census divided citizens into six complex classes
based on property holdings.
Rome transition from a monarchy to a
republic
The Roman monarchy was overthrown around 509 BCE,
during a political revolution that resulted in the expulsion
of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the last king of Rome.
Despite waging a number of successful campaigns against
Rome’s neighbors, securing Rome’s position as head of the
Latin cities, and engaging in a series of public works,
Tarquinius was a very unpopular king, due to his violence
and abuses of power.
When word spread that Tarquinius’s son raped Lucretia,
the wife of the governor of Collatia, an uprising occurred
in which a number of prominent patricians argued for a
change in government.
Rome transition from a monarchy to a
republic
A general election was held during a legal
assembly, and participants voted in favor of the
establishment of a Roman republic.
Subsequently, all Tarquins were exiled from Rome
and an interrex and two consuls were established
to lead the new republic.
Patricians and Plebeians
Patricians and Plebeians
Roman Government
Roman Government
Roman Government
Thank You - Questions?
04/01/2023 16

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CS/SE/BBA/AF

Course: World History

Roman society was extremely patriarchal and hierarchical.

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