Roman Society and Law; the War with Pyrrhus

  1. Roman Society and Law
    1. Many of the laws that mark different stages of the 'Struggle of the Orders' had to be passed several times. The repetition indicates that the goals of the plebeians were consistent and that they did achieve successes, but also that the implementation could also be frustrated.
    2. The most important principle embodied in Table XII and in the Lex Hortensia (287) is that sovereignty is derived from the people, that all must conform to law.
    3. Society and the XII Tables Conclusions:
      1. The Tables reveal a society that is primarily agrarian, note how little is said about commerce or crafts.
      2. The tables do not give a vision of justice, but rather provide procedural means to obtain justice.
      3. Note the pervasiveness of the familia in the discussions, the rights of agnates and of clansmen.
      4. There is a distinction between sacral and secular law.
  2. Pyrrhus
    1. Background
      1. The Greek cities in southern Italy, esp. Tarentum.
      2. Anticipating further war with Rome, the Tarantines summoned Pyrrhus, the king of Epirus (Albania) and one of the most highly regarded Hellenistic generals, to assist them.
    2. The War (see Grant for the details).
      1. Heraclea (280).  Elephants.   A vase with elephant representation
      2. Ausculum (279): 45,000 on each side(!!!)The Pyrrhic victory. Pyrrhus does go off seeking adventure in Sicily; Rome extends her control deeper in Samnium.
      3. Maleventum (276). Decisive Roman victory and two Roman armies converge on Pyrrhus. Forced to withdraw and in 272 abandons southern Italy to the Romans.
    3. Significance:
      1. In terms of military considerations, Rome's strength, both in manpower and in technique, had been challenged and dramatically confirmed. Her position in Italy is secure.
      2. Rome's allies, when given the opportunity to abandon Rome, had remained loyal.
      3. Rome assumed new responsibilities to protect the Greek cities of southern Italy..
  3. The Eastern Mediterranean
    1. The Balkans. Piracy in the Adriatic.
    2. The eastern Mediterranean ruled by number of Macedonian dynasties, by kings who owed their positions to the fact that the founding member had been one of Alexander's generals.
      1. Greece and Macedonia: classical city state dominated by Macedonia
      2. Anatolia. The coastal areas were either Greek or heavily influenced by Greek culture.
      3. Syria and Palestine, with a ruling elite consisting primarily of Macedonians, Greeks and some Hellenized Syrians, occupies a precarious position between the major powers in Iranian (to the East) and the rival Macedonian kingdom of Egypt (in the southwest), and contending with minor kingdoms like Pergamum and Judaea.
      4. Egypt. The Macedonian family of the Ptolemies controls and rules; supported by a large number of Greek immigrants especially to Alexandria.
    3. All these states of the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa faced the same problem in that the ruling elite consisted of foreign conquerors.
      1.  
  4. Carthage (founded by Tyre)
    1. A commercial power (note her concern for trade in the treaties of RC § 13). Between 600 and 300 she had come to dominate the Phoenician colonies on the north coast of Africa and prevented the Greeks from expanding into the western Mediterranean. Control points especially at Malta and the western end of Sicily.
    2. Income:
      1. successful and scientific farming of Baradas valley
      2. textile manufacture and purple dying
      3. revenues from commerce. rarely penetrates interior, but effective exploitation of particular spheres. Interest esp in metals, tin and gold, as well as ivory from Atlantic coast of Africa
      4. tribute from Punic and Berber vassals (who gained peace).
    3. Military
      1. Citizens served in fleet which was efficient and extensive.
      2. army: mercenary armies (a common practice in Hellenistic world) recruited throughout Mediterranean, but led by a professional and hereditary Carthaginan officer corps (among them, the Barcids).
      3. Its potential undermined because the home government was suspicious of the intentions of army commanders and systematically failed to provide for pay and benefits.
    4. Government
      1. Like that of Rome, noted for its stability. Like Rome an oligarchy, but this one of wealthy merchants. An annually elected double magistracy that did not lead army.
      2. Policy: limited territorial aspirations; avoided annexation, preferring vassal kings. Cautious; use of diplomacy and treaty to achieve ends. Tenacious when she perceived her interests at stake.

On early literature, read this material on Ennius

For a game, try Age of Empires: the rise of Rome

On Roman arms, try Armamentarium

An early Roman play, the Menaechmus of Plautus.  Here complete with texts and scenes from a presentation.