Ancient Rome Republic - Assignment Example

199417 QUESTION 2: "The woman which thou sawest is that great which reigneth over the kings of the earth. ... Here is the mind which hath wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth" (Revelation 17:18,9). Ancient Rome was built on seven hills called Palatine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian and Aventine. In the beginning of Iron Age, approximately around 1000 BC, there were many hilltop wooden settlements on these hills and this date is supported by archaeological evidence. The settlements were to the east of Tiber River and not very far from the sea. The river was highly navigable and this spot was only around 15 miles inside Tyrrhenian Sea. It was a lovely, fertile river valley, well protected by the hills. Also the settlers might have noticed that the height would give shelter from floods and the heat of the summer. In those wild days, they had to defend themselves from animal and human predators, and the hill stones were porous enough to have a number of fresh water perennial springs on their slopes and most of the necessities of the settlers were provided by the place, as the available archaeological evidences show. “Although the writings and material remains are inevitably no more than a tiny, random sample of what once existed, there is still quite enough to impress and engage us, and to permit a fair degree of insight into many dimensions of the nature and development of Roman civilization,” Boatright (2004, p.xxi). SEVEN HILLS . http://www.mmdtkw.org/ALRItkwRom101BasicTopo.html Remains of huts and cemeteries were found by the archaeological findings, especially in important hills like Palatine and Esquiline. Romulus was the city’s founder, according to the legend; but the kings succeeded him were elected to serve for life. It is difficult to judge the power that the kings wielded, although there is ample mention that people were powerful in a kind of democracy and the king’s place was not attributed to the hereditary right, but was due to the virtue of the person. Perhaps he was the chief executive, commander of the army, Head of the State and in addition, he was also the Chief Priest. No doubt the Senate took active part in the entire decision making process; but there is enough proof that the king had enormous power in his hands and some kings had more power than the others. In 753 BC, when Romulus established the small city, he invited all the outlaws, slaves and exiles and offered them asylum and thus, expanded his small city to cover all the seven hills. The fighters were Roman Legions while others remained citizens out of whom Romulus chose 100 men, who were called Patricians and became members of the Senate. The abduction of Sabine women gave these men wives and slowly Sabines came under his rule and as pacification, he took another 100 from amongst Sabines who also became the members of Senate, so that Sabines could not feel ignored. Comitia Curiata represented all the three groups, the last being the ‘other men’. Romulus was a powerful conqueror, and laid solid foundation to the future empire. Tarquinius Priscus was the fifth King who enhanced the city’s power. It is one of those historical surprises that a group of small hamlets was the base of such powerful and enduring kingdom. Initially it was not even a proper group, but later, bonded together by a few religious games, which initiated them into a common identity. The City came into being as a possible competitor to Etruscans and Greeks who were more powerful. What marks Romans apart was the practical way in which they thought and planned. They drained the marshy valleys and the first markets came into existence in those valleys, so that all the people living in the hilly settlements could reach and buy the products of all the hills. A major river with access to the sea, availability of building material, clean drinking water of the springs, and protection by the hills all helped this initial community. Their further conquering began in 1600 BC when they defeated Tarquin the Proud, the Etruscan King in 509 BC and the next battle was won because of Horatius, who successfully guarded the bridge. Very soon, Rome became a republic ruled by two consuls elected by the senate, and plebeians were rich citizens, although women were not even considered as citizens. Another great quality Romans showed from the beginning was their untiring effort to change a defeat into a victory. After each setback and defeat, they returned with more determination repeatedly till they overcame the enemies. They conquered Italy and by 280 BC they were the major power in Mediterranean and clashed with another higher power, Greece and no doubt they were defeated in a costly success for Pyrrhus, called ‘Pyrrhic Victory’. Interaction with better cultured Greeks taught a higher life of art and architecture to Romans. In 260BC their conflict with Carthage unfortunately led to 120 years of terrible wars. In 218 BC they faced Hannibal in many disastrous battles, but refused to concede defeat and continued to attack till Hannibal was defeated in 202 BC in a decisive battle. By then Rome had taken vast territory in Spain, North Africa, East etc. and generals became powerful and empire plunged into civil wars. By second century BC, Rome defeated Greece and Asia Minor and the conquered regions were ruled by Roman Governors. Continuous wars did not discourage them; on the contrary, they made their army more powerful with each defeat and war. Roma army consisted of four legions with the flexibility of part time soldiers who were needed only for certain wars and thus, experience of foreign countries helped them to develop the empire. They were trained, rewarded, profusely eulogised, and the war tactics like testula, ballista, giant catapults were brilliant. In 107 BC they raised their permanent army, in which people without land could become soldiers and were used to build infrastructure during peacetime, later to retire after 15-20 years with land and money. Hence, the unemployment did not plague the society. “The Roman army built thousands of miles of roads for military use, which were later used by merchants. Milestones along the roadside gave the mileage to the nearest large city,” Stewart (2006, p.14). In 55 BC the most brilliant general of them all, Julius Caesar invaded Britain and the defeat of Britain was completed by Claudius in 43 AD. Romans accepted others’ religions, did not interfere much, did not threaten the way of life and tried not to plunder. They imposed their own laws, but never disregarded the traditional law of the land. Mostly, they showed great tolerance and acceptance towards the vanquished. They created one government, one common language and one currency to the entire empire. Their alphabets, numerals, months, public health, public baths, hospitals, roads, flats, civil service, international trade are continued even today, while Latin became the basis of all European languages. A desire to thrive, achieve, understanding of other cultures and religions, not destroying the ways of life of the vanquished helped Romans to create and retain the empire. More than that, they were highly practical and bridled with determination to change the setbacks into victory. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Boatright, Mary et al (2004), The Romans, from Village to Empire, Oxford University Press. 2. Stewart, David (2006), Inside Ancient Rome, Book House, Brighton. ONLINE SOURCES 1. http://www.mmdtkw.org/ALRItkwRom101BasicTopo.html Read More