Roman Civilization: The Republic

Roman Civilization: Week 1 Class 1 Lecture

Romans believed Romulus founded Rome in 753 BCE.
Tradition and archeology suggest a period of Etruscan domination in the 6th century.
Etruscan expansion through the Italian peninsual ends with defeat at Capua in 524 BCE.
Roman aristocracy establishes a Roman Republic 509 BCE.
Rome and Carthage make their first treaty in 509 BCE (RCiv, v. 1, #13, p.75-76.)
Plebian secessio in 494 BCE
Spurius Cassius signs a treaty on behalf of Rome with the Latin League in 493.
The war between Rome and (Etruscan) Veii:
- In 474 a truce ends the efforts of the Fabianii (a Roman clan) to seize control of the Etruscan town of Fidenae.
- In 435 the Romans capture Fidenae.
- In 396, the Romans capture and raze Veii.
The war between Rome and the Umbrian tribes:
- In 495, Rome establishes a defensive colony at Signia.
- In 492, Rome establishes a defensive colony at Norba.
- In 491, Corioloanus leads the Volsci to the walls of Rome, but is defeated.
- In 486, the Hernici enter into a treaty with the Romans on the one hand, and the Latin League on the other.
- In 442, Rome establishes a defensive colony at Ardea.
- In 431, A. Postumius Tubertus finally defeats the Aequi at the Algidus pass.
In 452 and 451 two boards of decemviri publish the Twelve Tables, codifying Roman law.
In 390, Gaulish tribes invade Rome.

What is Romanitas?
How did Etruscan culture influence Rome?
How did Rome's elite transform itself from an aristocracy of birth to an aristocracy of wealth and office?
How did Rome interact with other political and cultural entities as its influence expanded?