Thursday, Oct. 4

Today we continued to take notes on Rome and then we researched slavery in Rome.

General information

Ancient Rome depended on slaves
Most slaves were foreigners and unlike most places it did not depend on race
Slaves worked everywhere
Slaves were captured soldiers, children of slave parents
Not uncommon for desperate Romans to sell their children into slavery
When freed, they could work the same jobs as the Plebeians.
People thought that slaves were OK to have.
Debt slavery was common, where a person could work off a debt by becoming a slave for a certain period of time, depending on the debt
Some slave were forced to become gladiators
Saturnalia- a Christmas for the slaves in which the slaves and masters switched places
During this celebration the master preformed all the task a slave would
It was a way that masters would show appreciation and respect for slaves

Jobs

Manual labor
Domestic services
Could be highly educated and skilled, worked as teachers and physicians
Slaves task include working on farms-produced the food and materials the cities depended on
Businesses-managed shops for store owners, in charge of shopkeeping, lending of money and selling of merchandise
Public buildings- worked on aqueduck systems, built roads and bridges and arenas

Treatment

Testimonies in court would only be accepted if the slave was tortured so the master could not persuade the slave to give a false testimony
Depending on the master, the slave was treated accordingly
Some slaves were treated like sons and daughters by their masters
Some favored slaves had many privileges and comforts
They were whipped, branded, and mistreated.
Owners could kill slaves for no reason without punishment.
Some slaves were treated better and could earn their freedom easier than others, for example a Greek slave working in a rich man’s house was treated with respect and was spared manual labor
Slaves could not own land but some had the right to earn money to eventually buy their freedom
Eventually a law was made where a slave could file a complaint against their master
Crucifixion was the ultimate punishment for slaves, traitors, and bandits.

Geography-
Rome was built on 7 rolling hills around the Tiber River near the center of the Italian peninsula.
It is the midway point between the Alps and Italy’s southern tip.

First Romans-
From 1000 to 500 B.C. 3 groups inhabited the region and fought for control of it.
They were the Latin, Greek, and Etruscans.
Latins built the original settlement at Rome it was a cluster of wooden huts on top of 1 of the 7 hills.

Greek Influence-
Between 750 and 600 B.C. Greeks established colonies along the southern part of Italy and Sicily.
The cities became very prosperous and commercially active.
They brought all of Italy, including Rome into closer contact with Greek civilization.

Republic-
A form of gov. in which the power rests with the citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders.
In Rome citizen ship with voting tights was granted only to free-born adult male landowners.

Patricians and Plebeians-
In the early republic, different groups of Romans struggled for power.
Patricians- wealthy landowners who held most of the power.
Plebeians- the common person, but could still vote, usually farmer and merchants.
Patricians inherited their power and social status and claimed that they had the right to rule due to their ancestry.
They barred the Plebeians from holding high offices in the gov.
In time the leaders of Rome allowed the Plebeians to form their own assembly and elect their own representative to protect their rights from the Patrician officials they called their tribunes.

Legislative branch-
Rome-
Senate- 300 males that owned land, most powerful of the legislative branch, served for life, advised consuls.
Centuriate Assembly- soldiers, pick consuls, served for live.
Tribal Assembly- ordinary people, made laws, served for live.

Roman Army-
Along with their gov. the Romans also took great pride in their military as well
All men who owned land were required to serve in the army.
Some of the high public office positions required 10 years of military service.

Legions-
Roman soldiers were organized into large military units called Legions.
Legions were made up of 5,000 foot soldiers.
A group of cavalry would support each legion
The military org. and fighting skill of the Roman army were key factors in Rome’s rise to greatness.

Expansion-
By 4^th century B.C. Romans dominated central Italy.
They had defeated the Etruscans to the north and the Greek city states to the south.

Treatment-
Latins on the Tiber became full citizens.
In territory farther from Rome, the conquered people were citizens as well but didn’t have voting power.
The remaining people became “allies” of Rome.

Punic Wars-
Series of 3 wars.
Rome vs. Carthage.
1^st war was over control of Sicily.
2^nd war- when Hannibal became general of Carthage and he wanted to avenge the 1^st defeat, Hannibal attempted a sneak attack through the Alps to attack and capture Rome.
3^rd war- Scipio attacked Carthage and Hannibal retreated and fought back at native city.
Rome defeated Carthage all 3 times.
Wars 1-2 Rome was on the defensive. Aggressor in the last war.
Key players- Hannibal (Carthage), Scipio (Rome), Cincinnatus (Rome).

Roman Republic-
Shortly after their victories in the Punic Wars the quick and rapid expansion began to hurt the empire.
The land was going to large estate and the small farmers were not making any money and were out of jobs.
One of the reasons leading to a civil war.

Augustus-
The term given to Octavian meaning “exalted one.”
Rome was at the peak of its power and at peace throughout Augustus’s Rule and even to 180 A.D.
Pax Romana-“Roman Peace.”

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