Roman HistoryRoman HistoryPart I: Monarchy to Part I: Monarchy to
RepublicRepublic
Culture Unit for 1Culture Unit for 1stst and 2 and 2ndnd yearyear
Prehistory: Aeneas, Rome’s Prehistory: Aeneas, Rome’s Great AncestorGreat Ancestor
Aeneas: Trojan, son of Venus, Aeneas: Trojan, son of Venus, survivor of Trojan Warsurvivor of Trojan War
Visits ancient Carthage, enrages Visits ancient Carthage, enrages queen Dido and creates eternal queen Dido and creates eternal enmity between Rome and Carthageenmity between Rome and Carthage
Comes to Italy, founds Lavinium Comes to Italy, founds Lavinium (named for his 2(named for his 2ndnd wife, Lavinia) wife, Lavinia)
Prehistory: Iulus, Founder of a Prehistory: Iulus, Founder of a Kingly LineKingly Line
Iulus: son of Aeneas, sometimes Iulus: son of Aeneas, sometimes called Ascaniuscalled Ascanius
From Lavinium, sets out to found his From Lavinium, sets out to found his own city, Alba Longa.own city, Alba Longa.
All the Alban kings descend from All the Alban kings descend from him.him.
Iulius Caesar claims him as the Iulius Caesar claims him as the founer of the founer of the gens Iulii.gens Iulii.
Ab Alba ad RomamAb Alba ad Romam
Numitor and Numitor and Amulius: Brothers, Amulius: Brothers, rivals for throne of rivals for throne of AlbaAlba
Rhea Silvia: Rhea Silvia: daughter of daughter of NumitorNumitor
Numitor is rightful Numitor is rightful king, but Amulius king, but Amulius overthrows him.overthrows him.
Amulius places Amulius places Rhea in the order Rhea in the order of of Virgines Virgines VestialesVestiales..
Ab Alba Ad RomamAb Alba Ad Romam
Mars, god of war, Mars, god of war, visits Rhea, and visits Rhea, and she bears him two she bears him two sons, Romulus and sons, Romulus and RemusRemus
Amulius has Amulius has children carried to children carried to Tiber to drownTiber to drown
River floods, River floods, carrying boys carrying boys downstream and downstream and landing them on landing them on the shore of what the shore of what will be Rome.will be Rome.
Found by a Found by a lupalupa, , nursed by her.nursed by her.
Ab Alba Ad RomamAb Alba Ad Romam
Bronze image of the “Capitoline Wolf” as would have been seenin the Curia (Senate House) in the Forum Romanum
Ab Alba Ad RomamAb Alba Ad Romam
Later found by shepherd Faustulus, Later found by shepherd Faustulus, who raised them as his sons.who raised them as his sons.
In time, boys learn of their true In time, boys learn of their true heritage, return to Alba and restore heritage, return to Alba and restore Numitor to the throne.Numitor to the throne.
Urbem Aedificemus!Urbem Aedificemus!
Romulus and Remus return to the site of Romulus and Remus return to the site of their landing, deciding to found a city.their landing, deciding to found a city.
Romulus chooses what will be the Palatine Romulus chooses what will be the Palatine hill to start the city; Remus chooses what hill to start the city; Remus chooses what will be the Aventine hill.will be the Aventine hill.
Who is right? Well, we don’t call it “Reme” Who is right? Well, we don’t call it “Reme” now, do we?now, do we?
Signum Ex DeisSignum Ex Deis
Both pray for a sign about what to doBoth pray for a sign about what to do Remus sees 6 vultures fly towards him.Remus sees 6 vultures fly towards him. Romulus then sees 12 vultures fly Romulus then sees 12 vultures fly
towards him. Declares his sign the towards him. Declares his sign the better of the two.better of the two.
Mors! Caeds!Mors! Caeds!
Two versions of what happens next:Two versions of what happens next: I- Romulus and his followers fight Remus I- Romulus and his followers fight Remus
and his followers. Remus dies in the and his followers. Remus dies in the scuffle.scuffle.
II- Remus jumps over the wall of II- Remus jumps over the wall of Romulus’ new city. Romulus kills him Romulus’ new city. Romulus kills him for violating sacred space (pomerium).for violating sacred space (pomerium).
Romulus Rex Est!Romulus Rex Est!
With the death of Remus, Romulus’ With the death of Remus, Romulus’ city becomes THE city.city becomes THE city.
Early people declare Romulus king.Early people declare Romulus king.
Cum Romulus Romam rexit…Cum Romulus Romam rexit…
Rome is a rough town, mainly Rome is a rough town, mainly shepherds and outcasts.shepherds and outcasts.
Many men, few women. Romulus Many men, few women. Romulus has a plan, though.has a plan, though.
Invites neighboring tribe, the Sabini Invites neighboring tribe, the Sabini (Sabines) to a festival to Neptune. At (Sabines) to a festival to Neptune. At his signal, Romans snatch up Sabine his signal, Romans snatch up Sabine maidens.maidens.
Romani Sabinas RapiuntRomani Sabinas Rapiunt
“Rape of the Sabine Women” by Nicolas Poussin, 1635
Romani et SabiniRomani et Sabini
Sabine men return in force to attack Sabine men return in force to attack Rome.Rome.
Let into the city by a traitorous woman Let into the city by a traitorous woman named Tarpeia.named Tarpeia.
Fighting ceases when Sabine women Fighting ceases when Sabine women claim that they do not want to be claim that they do not want to be widowed and orphaned on the same widowed and orphaned on the same day.day.
Romulus vixit!Romulus vixit!
Romulus for a time co-ruled with a Romulus for a time co-ruled with a Sabine named Titus Tatius.Sabine named Titus Tatius.
Two stories about Romulus’ death:Two stories about Romulus’ death: Rushed by people and killed in the Rushed by people and killed in the
Forum.Forum. Taken to Olympus by Mars in a fiery Taken to Olympus by Mars in a fiery
chariot. Deified as Quirinus, Romans chariot. Deified as Quirinus, Romans then called “Quirites.”then called “Quirites.”
Reges RomaniReges Romani
Numa PompiliusNuma Pompilius Sabine originSabine origin Established most of Established most of
Rome’s religious Rome’s religious customs.customs.
Tullus HostiliusTullus Hostilius Military focusMilitary focus Conquered Alba Conquered Alba
LongaLonga
Died during a Died during a plague while plague while performing a performing a sacrifice to Iupiter.sacrifice to Iupiter.
Ancus MarciusAncus Marcius Descendant of Descendant of
NumaNuma Built walls, prison, Built walls, prison,
bridge, and port bridge, and port city (Ostia).city (Ostia).
Reges RomaniReges Romani
Tarquinius PriscusTarquinius Priscus Came from EtruriaCame from Etruria Elected king by Elected king by
fraudfraud Killed by Ancus’ Killed by Ancus’
sons.sons.
Servius TulliusServius Tullius Son-in-law of Son-in-law of
PriscusPriscus Expanded Rome to Expanded Rome to
cover 7 hills.cover 7 hills. Began a census and Began a census and
assigned Romans to assigned Romans to classes based on classes based on wealth and wealth and pedigree.pedigree.
Reges RomaniReges Romani
Tarquinius Tarquinius SuperbusSuperbus Killed Servius, his Killed Servius, his
father-in-lawfather-in-law Built Templum Iovis Built Templum Iovis
Optimi Maximi and Optimi Maximi and the Cloaca Maxima the Cloaca Maxima (Rome’s main (Rome’s main sewer)sewer)
Son, Sextus, raped Son, Sextus, raped Lucretia, his Lucretia, his cousin’s wife.cousin’s wife.
Told husband Told husband Collatinus and Collatinus and friend L. Brutus friend L. Brutus (ancestor of M. (ancestor of M. Brutus) what Brutus) what happened, then happened, then killed herself.killed herself.
Mors LucretiaeMors Lucretiae
“Rape of Lucretia” by Alessandro Botticelli
Regnum Non Iam!Regnum Non Iam!
Brutus and Collatinus, along with others, Brutus and Collatinus, along with others, move to overthrow Tarquin the Proud and move to overthrow Tarquin the Proud and his family.his family.
Last king’s rule ends in 510 B.C.Last king’s rule ends in 510 B.C. Following year, Brutus and Collatinus Following year, Brutus and Collatinus
elected the first heads of the new elected the first heads of the new government, the government, the Res Publica Res Publica (Republic). (Republic). This government lasts for almost 500 This government lasts for almost 500 years. years.
Reges SeptemReges Septem
The Seven Kings in order, then:The Seven Kings in order, then: RomulusRomulus Numa PompiliusNuma Pompilius Tullus HostiliusTullus Hostilius Ancus MarciusAncus Marcius Tarquinius PriscusTarquinius Priscus Servius TulliusServius Tullius Tarquinius Superbus (the Proud)Tarquinius Superbus (the Proud) RRome ome NNow ow HHates ates AA TTyrant, yrant, SSo o TThey hey SSayay