History 107 Lecture 19

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History 107Lecture 19

• Etruscan Italy and Early Rome

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Etruscan Italy

• The Etruscans originated in central Italy
• Dominated central Italy 1000 B.C. to 750 B.C.
• Not a branch of the Indo-European language group,
  but basically original peoples of central Italy
  
• Etruscan remains small buildings, pottery and
  terra cotta artwork, inscriptions (based on Greek
  alphabet), and a few cities
  
• Etruscan religion polytheistic rituals involve
  entrails and examining naturals patterns (birds,
  etc.)

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Etruscan Italy

• Etruscan artwork emphasizes dynamic movement,
  expressions, and lively human forms (Stacey, p.
  185)
  
• Etruscan women had more rights that other ancient
  women public access, education, limited voting,
  matrilineal naming
  
• Gifts to Rome from Etruscan civilization
  Etruscan Arch and gladiatorial combat
  
• About 50 A.D. the Roman Emperor Claudius wrote a
  history of the Etruscans that became influential

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Etruscan Art Pottery and Mythology

• Etruscan Italy
• 7th century B.C.
• Odysseus and his men kill the giant Polyphemus
• Influence of Greek style and mythology

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Etruscan Art Sculpture

• Etruscan Italy
• 6th century B.C.
• Terracotta funeral sculpture (sarcophagus)
• Reclining couple

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Greeks in Italy

• In the 6th and 5th centuries B.C., Greeks
  colonized Italy
  
• Greeks stay in the South and Etruscans stay in
  central Italy
  
• Greeks founded towns of Croton, Naples, and
  Syracuse (on Sicily)
  
• Pythagoras and even Plato got away from it all
  by moving to Italy for a time
  
• Etruscans and later Italians absorb Greek
  culture, including alphabet, religious concepts,
  art, mythology, government
  
• Geography point Italy vs. Greece (farms vs.
  ports)

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The Coming of the Romans

• The Romans or Latins were not the original
  inhabitants of Rome, but came to Italy from the
  North (beyond the alps) c. 1000 2000 B.C.
  
• Romans eventually imagined themselves to be
  descendents of the Trojans through Aeneas, who is
  mentioned in Homers Iliad and is the subject of
  Virgils book The Aeneid.
• Romans basically say that they are from the same
  warrior stock as the Greeks
  
• Romans found Rome c. 753 B.C. on Tiber River
• Early Roman culture community based
• Rather than constant jealousy, Roman communities
  extended rights to others in terms of commercial
  contracts, marriage rights, and citizenship.

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Early Rome

• Romans expand slowly, ousting the Etruscans and
  dominating the Greeks, until the whole of modern
  Italy is in their control c. 265 B.C.
  
• Each new community receives the same basic
  rights
  
• Romans initially ruled by a monarchy, but become
  interested in democracy and elect a Senate
  
• In 534 B.C. an Etruscan named Tarquin the Proud
  rules Rome as a tyrant.
  
• In 510 B.C. Tarquin apparently raped Lucretia,
  the virtuous wife of a Roman noble, and this
  triggers a rebellion against the Etruscans.

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Republican Rome

• In 500 B.C. Rome as refounded as a republic
• King replaced by 2 consuls elected by the
  citizens
  
• Slaves, women, and foreigners could not vote
• Senate also elected and controls the use of
  public funds
  
• Only aristocrats (patricians) can be elected as
  senators, a source of bitterness for the other
  citizens (plebeians)
  
• A comparison Roman republic vs. Greek
  democracy
  
• Roman checks and balancesmonarchical,
  oligarchic, and democratic principles worked
  together in institutions such as the plebian
  council, Senate, consul, tribune, judge, and
  administrator

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Conflict Patricians vs. Plebeians

• After 500 B.C. increasing tension between
  patricians and plebeians
  
• Patricians are aristocrats who own most property,
  hold public offices, and run Roman society
  
• Plebeians are small farmers, artisans,
  foreigners, tradesmen, etc. Not all the
  plebeians are poorsome are just new money
  
• Plebeians forced to fight in Roman wars but
  cannot serve as officials
  
• Plebeians complain that they dont receive equal
  treatment under the law, and that there are no
  written laws
  
• All laws are customary
• In 450 B.C. a plebeians victoryThe Law of the
  Twelve Tables is written down and becomes Romes
  written law
  
• In 367 B.C. plebeians get another small
  victorythey can elect people to a plebian
  council. By 287 B.C., plebian council can pass
  legislation that is binding