HY 1010 Columbia Southern University The Roman Culture Discussion Rome and Romanization This assignment gives you the opportunity to practice determining

HY 1010 Columbia Southern University The Roman Culture Discussion Rome and Romanization

This assignment gives you the opportunity to practice determining the purpose and function of artifacts in order to create your interpretation of a specific historical development—Romanization.

Discuss the impact of the process of Romanization on the Roman world. Identify at least two examples of cultural structures that were patterned across Roman-conquered cities. Cultural structures can include physical features of Roman-ruled cities, practices, policies, ideas, or any artifact that was used to shape the conquered religions.

Discuss how these structures impacted daily life, which may include politics, economics, or social roles. Describe how and with what intent these events were “memorialized” or used in the cultural arena.

Step 1: Choose two appropriate sources. At least one source must come from the CSU Online Library. The Academic OneFile and Ebook Central databases in the CSU Online Library would be good places to start your search. If you need additional help with using or locating information in the online library, there are library video tutorials available on the main page of the online library under the heading “Research Guides.” Resources from outside of the library should be credible and peer-reviewed and cannot include Wikipedia, Biography.com, History.com, any type of message board, or other similar encyclopedias.

Step 2: Complete your research. Choose one interesting development that illustrates the main point that you want to make about your chosen physical structures, practices, or ideas. Gather details about your choice. For example, what types of buildings were first introduced in Rome, and why were they purposely replicated in other, smaller cities?

Step 3: Draw conclusions from the details you found, and prepare your thesis. A thesis is prepared after you have completed your research and gathered enough information about the chosen structures. You should sit back to think about what it means to see the influence on culture. Your thesis statement should offer your reader the overall insight into the use and impact of the structure on Roman development.

Use the following guidelines to help decide on your thesis.

Ask yourself about how the cultural element (idea, practice, or structure) was shaped by its time period and environment.
Ask yourself how the structure impacted the lives of the people around it, the general public, and the immediately following period in the history of Rome.
Find the perfect specific example to demonstrate the qualities of the structure you would most like to show.

Step 4: Write your essay. Your essay must be at least 500 words in length. All sources must be referenced and cited according to APA guidelines.

Be sure to consider the following guidelines in your essay.

The introduction should engage the reader and clearly present the essay’s thesis and summarize the main points that clarify your point of view. The last sentence of the introductory paragraph should be your specific thesis.
Organization should clearly present points arranged to illustrate your opening thesis. Paragraph order and organization should clearly present points arranged to illustrate your opening thesis rather than to narrate the chronological story.
Writing should be clear and concise with no spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors.
The number of sources should meet or exceed any expressed assignment requirements, and the sources should be peer-reviewed or academic in nature. At least one source must be from the CSU Online Library.
APA guidelines should be used for reference entries and in-text citations. UNIT III STUDY GUIDE
Roman Republic and Early Empire
Course Learning Outcomes for Unit III
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
5. Discuss artifacts of historical importance in Western civilization.
5.1 Describe how the process of Romanization left traces of Western values throughout Europe.
5.2 Identify the significance of cultural establishments constructed in different Roman periods.
5.3 Discuss how the layout of a Western city directly influenced daily life.
Course/Unit Learning
Outcomes
5.1
5.2
5.3
Learning Activity
Unit Lesson
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Unit III Scholarly Activity
Unit Lesson
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Unit III Scholarly Activity
Unit Lesson
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Unit III Scholarly Activity
Reading Assignment
Chapter 5: The Rise of Rome, ca. 1000–27 B.C.E.
Chapter 6: The Roman Empire, 27 B.C.E.–284 C.E.
Unit Lesson
At the time that Hellenistic Greece dominated the ancient world, numerous tribes of non-Greek peoples
formed and developed outside of the lands that Alexander had once conquered. Some of these tribes,
centered along the Tiber River (ca. 1000 B.C.E.), would grow steadily into what we know now as the
Roman people.
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The Foundations of Rome: History, Symbol, and Myth
From 6th century B.C.E. onward, Rome strove to
conquer and expand its footprint from the Italian
Peninsula and into Europe. However, unlike many
similar cultural populations, the tribal kingdoms of early
Rome fell to revolts by the most influential families,
which resulted in a republic of and for the people. At its
heart was the Senate, the symbol of the people of
Rome. So powerful was this symbol that, as the
government again transitioned, this time into an
Empire, this republican body would continue to meet.
Even from the field of battle, banners identifying SPQR
(Senātus Populusque Rōmānus—The Roman Senate
and People) flew as a symbol of the city/state,
illustrating the power of this idea.
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
(Remacle, n.d.)
Like Greece, Rome developed in waves, from the Kingdom (753–509 B.C.E.) to the Republic (509–27 B.C.E.)
and finally to the Empire (27 B.C.E.–476 C.E.). The earliest Roman tradition gained great influence from the
southern regions of the Italian peninsula; while still Greek-inspired, these were independent of Alexander’s
power and that of his successors.
The geography of Italy provided both great lands for farming and development and natural protections, which
made Rome a formidable city. Within the walls, the city was very reminiscent of Greek influence, from temples
to gods resembling Greek myth to a public meeting plaza (like the Greek Agora). Greek art has even been
found there and preserved by historians and archaeologists. The first culture to embrace the region had been
the Etruscans (ca. 750–500 B.C.E.), who likely invaded from the east and settled in the northwest of the
peninsula. As the Etruscans expanded to the south, they met and were eventually conquered by the Roman
tribes.
The history of Rome, like that of Greece, is deeply connected to myth. The most celebrated story is of twin
brothers, Romulus and Remus. They were sons of the god Mars (parallel to the Greek god Aries) whose
mother, Rhea Silvia, was descended from the Trojan hero Aeneas, son of the goddess Aphrodite (Venus) and
King Priam of Troy. The story recounts a harrowing childhood and eventual disagreement between the two
over where Rome should be built. This led to the death of Remus at the hands of Romulus, the namesake of
Rome and the founder of the Senate, or “council of old men.” There are several things tying the story to the
area where Rome sits. In the myth, the local Sabine ancestors appear as conquered but virtuous people, an
honored part of Roman foundations due to the brave actions of the women. On the other hand, the myth
presents the overthrow of Etruscan kings as the result of their lack of virtue.
While the story can be argued as myth, the regional influences are very evident in early Roman culture, and
this regional identity stayed with the Roman people even with its spread throughout Europe and the
Mediterranean. Today, several dates remain central to the Roman legacy, including 753 B.C.E. as the
founding of the city, 509 B.C.E. as the expulsion of the Etruscan kings, and, as we will see later, 27 B.C.E. as
the birth of an Empire like none ever seen before. The Senate is traced back to as early as the 6th century
B.C.E., led by aristocracy with consuls serving as elected executives.
A New Form of Citizenship Emerges
For most of its history, to be Roman meant to be at war. This meant there was a sense of pride in men to
serve and frequent use of diplomacy in the construction of alliances. Many of Rome’s political structures and
traditions were deeply seated in the expectation of near constant battle, and many stories told among the
people emphasized the glory of victory and the valor of battle, even in the face of certain defeat. While the
number of wars is too long to address here, many recognizable terms and names came from this tradition,
including the Roman dictator Cincinnatus and the Epirus king and general Pyrrhus.
Religion and religious practice, too, would become a part of war, including developing an attitude for war,
dealing with crisis, and praising those who were lost. One of the most recognizable Greek influences in the
Roman culture was religious overlap, including parallels for almost every major god, such as Jupiter/Zeus,
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Juno/Hera, Neptune/Poseidon, and Saturn/Cronus (the first in each pairing is UNIT
Roman;
the second
is Greek).
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Many of the stories from the two cultures would be unique, however, and the Roman
Title gods seem to be
portrayed as more divine in their roles than the Greek gods, who appeared to encompass some human traits.
Like the Greeks, citizenship had great significance and responsibilities. In exchange for military service and
paying taxes, there were also gains in the form of roads for trade and support in times of conflict. In some
cases, even allies were granted forms of citizenship, though maybe without all perks. However, not all citizens
of Rome were equal. In the early years of the republic, there were clear lines between the lineage of
aristocracy (patricians) that had helped topple the kingdoms and the common person (plebeian). This
separation was most visible in politics, and the divide was enforced by the law.
Until a period known as the Struggle (Conflict) of the Orders, the rights of plebeians were limited in
comparison to those of the patricians. This included political opportunities, rights under the law, and even the
ability to marry into the patrician class. This idea of law even extended into the expectations of different
members of the family, which traditionally was a patriarchy led by the oldest male, called the paterfamilias.
Women were considered citizens, but men controlled every part of a woman’s life, whether he was a father,
brother, or husband. Other elements of society also developed heavy Greek cultural influence during the
Republic years, from art and literature, to drama, and even to bathing and leisure activities. While some
behaviors at public baths (for example) would lead to scorn by conservatives, Romans as a whole welcomed
Greek influences as a part of their daily lives.
Starting in the 5th century B.C.E. and lasting more than 200 years, new positions and opportunities were
created for plebeian citizens. This was done mainly to appease what had become, by expansion and growth,
an overwhelming majority of the population, including the lion’s share of the military and city service positions
essential for Rome to function and protect itself. Tradition notes a literal walk out or what we today would
consider a strike by the army in 494 B.C.E.
While the political concessions were significant to ensuring greater equality, and the lex Canuleia (ca. 445
B.C.E.) helped end legal elitism by allowing marriage across classes, arguably the most significant victory
involved granting rights to the law itself, which had before this time only been known by the patricians. This
printing and codifying of the law onto 12 bronze tablets (ca. 449 B.C.E.), The Law of the Twelve Tables,
outlined a range of offenses and punishments as well as more practical city and family law. The passage of
the lex Hortensia in 287 B.C.E. made Plebeian Council resolutions binding on all Romans, signaling the end
of the Struggle of the Orders.
The Central Role of Militarism in Expansion and Social Fractions
While Rome’s internal struggles found some resolution, external struggles continued during the Republic
years. As noted earlier, Rome’s determination to expand kept it almost consistently at war. Perhaps the most
notable conflicts from this period would be with neighboring Carthage. The increase of trade with Greece led
to competition with the Carthaginians, and from 264–241 B.C.E., the two powers engaged in the first of three
Punic Wars. In the end, Rome was simply too much for Carthage, especially in naval battles, and Rome took
control of the island of Sicily in 241 B.C.E.
The end of the First Punic War did nothing to bring peace to either side, and Rome continued to expand into
the Mediterranean. In 218 B.C.E., during the Second Punic War, Hannibal led the Carthaginian army into the
Italian Peninsula over the Alps, famously with tens of thousands of troops and a pack of elephants and took
many victories, including the Battle of Cannae (ca. 216 B.C.E.), before being forced back due to a lack of
resources. Rome countered with its general, Scipio Africanus, defeating Hannibal at Zama (ca. 202 B.C.E.).
The Third Punic War finally ended the conflict in 146 B.C.E. with Carthage being burned to the ground.
The Fall of the Republic: Personal Betrayal or Systemic Challenge?
Even with victories, internal and external, Rome was not without vulnerability. Political vulnerabilities, coupled
with epic personalities, would lead to the end of the Republic. Wars of conquest had taken a great toll on
Rome. They left some regions in shambles while making others rich and creating what was, in a sense, a new
form of class warfare, based on economic means.
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The concerns of the poor became the charge of one aristocrat, Tiberius Gracchus,
he took
a political
UNITand
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stand for the lowest class, which angered those who had gained from the conflicts.
Title There were riots in
favor of his opponents, which led to his public death at the hands of a mob (ca. 133 B.C.E.). His brother,
Gaius Gracchus (d. 121 B.C.E.), followed in the footsteps of Tiberius. He, too, would die of politically
charged violence. This pattern became more common during the Late Republic and eventually led to its
eventual collapse.
Following the traditions going back to the Early Republic, more and more major political personalities rose
within the Senate. Some, like Sulla, would even be granted ultimate power as a dictator in times of crisis.
However, Sulla was unlike the legendary Cincinnatus who willingly gave up power after the crisis was over;
he finally abdicated this role in 79 B.C.E. only due to illness. Rome’s leaders began acting less and less in
the traditional interests of the people, but instead worked only for their own benefit, at least in the eyes of
the Senate.
With little argument, the most famous example of this was Julius Caesar. A noble with military training,
Caesar, along with the wealthy Crassus and commander Pompey, would be seen as the successors of Sulla.
In 60 B.C.E., the three joined into a partnership called the First Triumvirate with the goal of advancing each
other, but after Caesar used the others to become Council, the bond dissipated.
Caesar led Rome into war with Gaul. Crassus died in battle while Caesar’s supporters rioted against Pompey,
who sided with the Senate’s view that Caesar should give up his growing power with the people. Caesar
charged Pompey with treachery and led his army against the Senate and those loyal to Pompey. Pompey
died in Egypt, where Caesar allied with Cleopatra VII.
Caesar was unmatched in power; he was given the position of dictator where none could stand against him.
He had made the position, which to that point had been a very positive term, into the one symbolizing
unchecked power, as we can recognize today. He then started to demand changes to the culture of Rome,
from economics to the calendar, but his lust for power led to the most famous political assassination of all
time. On March 15, 44 B.C.E., Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of patricians led by Marcus Brutus,
who was a close friend, and Gaius Cassius. The group stabbed Caesar repeatedly until he fell dead in the
Senate House.
Artist rendering of the assassination of Julius Caesar
(Sullivan, ca. 1888)
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The Empire Begins
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
Title
As had become the recurring norm, the political chaos erupted into civil war until Caesar’s adopted son
Octavian joined with two of Caesar’s former lieutenants, Mark Antony and Lepidus, during the Second
Triumvirate. They planned to avenge Octavian’s adopted father against those who had plotted against him,
known as the Liberators. While successful with their initial goal, this grouping too would end in political
violence as Octavian defeated Antony in Egypt and Lepidus was forced into exile. The title Augustus (revered
one) was bestowed on Octavian in 27 B.C.E.; this date is today regarded as marking the end of the Roman
Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.
Octavian (Augustus) understood the significance of SPQR, that the traditions of Rome directly reflected in its
greatness, and that a successful reign would require the support of the people. The Senate, which had been
at the cornerstone of the Republic era, was the truest symbol of this, but he also recalled the unity under the
leadership of his adopted father. What he created was a new kind of government that drew from elements of
each. What was perhaps the most effective plan for rebuilding Rome was returning it back to some sense of
normalcy, hiding the publicity of the dictators before him, and this needed to begin where his father had fallen:
the Senate.
Publicly, Rome was again under the power of the Senate; the people had their representation, and no single
man held absolute power. In actuality, Octavian had been given the titles of imperator, which came to mean
emperor, and princeps, which he elevated from first citizen into sovereign ruler. With these, he had a powerful
grip on society in a much more solid way than the dictators before him did.
Octavian commanded the military, which was paid by increased taxation and land grants from conquered
lands and returned it to regular order. He also controlled the Senate behind the scenes, even serving as a
chief religious figure—pontifex maximus. With an eye on restoring the glory of Rome and securing the
provinces, his was truly an imperial goal, and his was a power greater than that of any leader before him—
even his adopted father, Caesar. What made Octavian successful at transforming Rome, however, was the
person, not the office, and this fact would become evident quickly.
Romanization: Assimilation of the Conquered
As had been true in the Republic, Rome was always seeking to expand, and thus was almost constantly at
war. The land grants given to veterans were more than a pension—they were strategic in that they helped to
enforce Roman rule and spread Roman culture into new lands without forcing conquered peoples to adopt
Roman ways. This process, called Romanization, included miniature replications of national symbols,
buildings, and temples. There were even examples of the offering of citizenship to people in these new areas
as payment for supporting and joining the army. This form of relatively peaceful cultural adaptation was built
on the ideas of great previous leaders such as Cyrus and Alexander.
While Rome had previously taken control of much of the Mediterranean, including some of what had
previously been Alexander’s lands, sights were now set on lands to the north, which had increasingly adopted
Germanic and Slavic influences. Established Roman provinces in the north allowed for trade, which also
reinforced the Roman cultural influence throughout new areas of Europe.
Sports and Bodies are Historical Artifacts, Too
How do ideals of bodily beauty, perfection, and performance reveal the
impacts of conquest? “Romanization of Greek Sport” provides a window into
how the conquering Romans changed forms of citizenship for the vanquished
Greeks and how Greek views of the body reveal hidden resistance against
the Romans. Click here to see an example of how to use images of bodies
and how bodies are regarded when learning and writing about history.
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Octavian had succeeded in reestablishing Rome, and, for this, he was deified UNIT
upon xhis
death in
14 C.E. The
STUDY
GUIDE
near 200-year period after his assuming the throne (until 180 C.E.) has been dubbed
Title the pax Romana, or
Roman Peace, for the relative lack of chaos that had destroyed the Republic.
While his direct successors (named the Julio Claudian dynasty) shared in this period of prosperity, Rome
was not without chaotic elements. Tiberius was chosen by Octavian to assume power after his death, a
practice that became common among many emperors, but his reign would begin a clear decline. The
Praetorian Guard, which was charged with protecting the emperor, at times served to protect Rome from the
people instead. Such was the case with Caligula, Rome’s third emperor, and one of the most infamous
persons to ever take the throne. He, along with Nero, proved especially unfit to control the power Octavian
had wielded, and even more suitable politicians, such as Tiberius and Claudius, paled in Octavian’s shadow
(McKay et al., 2017).
Nero’s suicide would leave the throne without a clear successor, and civil concern again rose until war hero
Vespasian took command. With his sons Titus and Domitian as successors, Nero was able to halt the chaos
that was seizing control. Following Vaspasian’s Flavian dynasty was nearly a century of stability led by the
Antonine dynasty, which included Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius, who were
dubbed centuries later as “Five Good Emperors.” Political capability and military prowess kept Octavian’s pax
Romana intact until the death of Marcus Aurelius. The ascension of Commodus to the throne was not the end
of the Empire, but it proved just how necessary the vetting of successors was for the future of Rome.
Rome, like any major city, had to take care of
a growing population in a limited amount of
space. This became an especially big issue
as the population grew with Rome’s
successes. To handle it, several civil works
projects were undertaken that still serve as
marvels and models today.
Arguably the most immediately recognizable
are the aqueducts that continually brought in
freshwater to the city and aided in the
removal of sewage under the city. The
construction of these gravity-driven devices
was so well managed that several examples
of this system remain intact today, many
centuries later. Such proficiency in
construction was only one example of a
blossoming Roman culture. While there had
been a surge of Greek cultural influence
during the Republic years, the first centuries
of the Empire embraced a Latin “golden age.”
Another form of this prowess came from
Old Roman aqueduct at Constantine
(Jackson, 1894)
scientific understanding and discovery. Galen
(ca. 129–200 C.E.) advanced the
understanding of the human body, and his studies increased our understanding of anatomy and physiology
well beyond his Greek pred…
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