Roman Philosophy

Stoicism Epicureanism

Stoicism     Zeno – Greek Source of happiness is wisdom Only man has morals Apathy – Emotion and passion destroy reason

Epicureanism     Epicurus – Greek No afterlife Maximize pleasure & minimize pain Materialists

Roman Republic

Roman Republic

  Internally – Republic  a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them Externally – Empire

Empire Building: Italian Peninsula  By 268 BC, Rome controlled most of Italy

Empire Building: Punic Wars    Carthage versus Rome  Both wanted the western Mediterranean & Sicily Generals   Hannibal for Carthage Scipio for Rome Rome Won  Kept Spain & North Africa  Literally destroyed Carthage

Empire Building: Macedonian & Seleucid Wars    During & after Punic Wars Gained control of Greece and Syria Total control of the Mediterranean

Empire Building: Asia  Anatolian king willed his empire to Rome

What allowed them to conquer so much territory?

  Military    Disciplined & well trained Each province contributed soldiers Roads Slavery   People from conquered provinces Free labor source helped expansion

Why didn’t conquered peoples rebel?

    Effective governance  Protection/Peace  Citizenship Romanization  Roman culture   Latin language Roman laws Trade benefits   Standardized money Safe trade Cities  Roads  Aqueducts

Roman Government The Republic

Senate In charge of:  Treasury    Foreign relations Enforced laws Declared war

Patricians and Plebeians Patricians  Aristocrats  Large landowners   Held political and religious power  Government officials  Priests Forbidden to marry outside their class Plebian  Lower social class  Land owning men  Had to be a citizen of Rome

Tribune    Elected from the Plebeians Had the power to veto any law Defended assembly against Patricians

Consuls    From the Patricians Made all legislation Shared rule by electing two Consuls at a time    Civil decisions Military power One consul could veto the other

Dictator    Appointed in times of crisis A single leader who had absolute power to make laws and command the army Temporary – 6 months