TELEVISION
About
The Roman Republic was one of the most breathtaking civilizations in world history. This powerful civilization inspired America's founding fathers, gifted us a blueprint for amazing engineering innovations, left a vital trove of myths, and has inspired the human imagination for 2,000 years. The Rise of Rome offers you the chance to find out what made this state so powerful.
Related Subjects
Episodes
1. The City on the Tiber
30m
Begin with a simple question: "How did Rome become so powerful?" This core theme will run through much of this course. Here, Professor Aldrete considers the role of the city's geography and the republic's unique political structure, both of which allowed Rome to flourish.
2. The Monarchy and the Etruscans
30m
The rise of Rome begins with a monarchy, though much of the city's early years are shrouded in mystery. Unpack some of the key myths, including the epic of Aeneas and the story of Romulus and Remus, to gain insight into the city's founding. Then reflect on neighboring civilizations such as the Etruscans.
3. Roman Values and Heroes
30m
Tales and literature from early Rome give us only partial insight into factual history, but they give us great insight into Roman values - what the Romans themselves identified as qualities of ideal citizens. Examine how a few Roman heroes, like Mucius, Horatius, Lucretia, and others embody values of courage, resourcefulness, determination, and more.
4. The Early Republic and Rural Life
30m
Witness the transition from the monarchy to the republic - a new era of government that would carry the city through half a millennium. Wade through the mythology and propaganda, as well as Roman historical sources such as the author Livy, to reconstruct how the transition happened, and what the new republic looked like.
5. The Constitution of the Roman Republic
30m
One of the most lasting facets of the Roman Republic is its constitution, which inspired America's founding fathers, among others. Continue your exploration of the early republic with a look at its system of government and its different classes of people - citizens and noncitizens, patricians and plebeians, senators, soldiers, and more.
6. The Unification of the Italian Peninsula
30m
What distinguished Rome from neighboring city-states was the republic's dogged persistence in matters of war. Watch as the Romans conquered neighboring territories to gain control of the entire Italian peninsula - and witness defeats against the Gauls to the north and the Greeks to the east. See how the Romans treated those it conquered.
7. Roman Religion
30m
Most of us are familiar with some of the gods in the Roman pantheon, which included the likes of Jupiter and Mars, but one of the most fascinating aspects of Roman religion was the way it integrated elements from other cultures. Survey Roman religion as well as its institutions and personages such as the Pontifex Maximus and the vestal virgins.
8. The First Punic War
30m
The First Punic War is the longest continuous war in Greek and Roman history. Here, delve into the third century B.C.E., when Carthage commanded sea travel throughout the Mediterranean and the Roman Republic was looking to advance beyond the Italian Peninsula. Trace the first war against Carthage.
9. The Second Punic War
30m
Although the First Punic War was a major victory, the Second Punic War was, in Professor Aldrete's words, "the crucible in which the Roman Empire was forged." Encounter the brilliance of Hannibal, learn the strategy and impact of the infamous Battle of Cannae, and see how Roman leaders combatted and eventually defeated him.
10. Rome Conquers Greece
30m
Although the Romans had seen great military and political victory, they were still provincial in many ways until they conquered the Greeks. At that point, Greek civilization entered and began to influence the Romans in unexpected ways. But, as you'll learn in this lecture, the Roman expansion beyond Italy may have been something of an accident.
Extended Details
- SeriesGreat Courses
- Closed CaptionsEnglish