What was life like in the Roman Republic?

1. Relationship with Religion

1.1. polytheistic, add on more gods

1.2. reverence for ancestors, household deities

2. Romulus & Remus

2.1. Romulus kills brother for city

2.2. story is message that Rome is ruthless, violent, people are willing to kill for Rome

3. Gladiators

3.1. for entertainment

3.1.1. some volunteered, some were paid

3.2. volunteers, criminals, slaves

3.3. revolt of Spartacus

3.4. 1/10 end in death

3.5. 50,000 spectators

3.6. popular with Caesar and Augustus, built Colosseum

4. Life for Women

4.1. Lucretia raped by Sextous, sought revenge

4.2. republic as guardian of "virtue"

4.3. "Paterfamilies" = subordinate to patriarchy by law; father has absolute power over kids for life

4.4. Vestal Virgins as symbol of women seen as figures of "virtue"

5. Slavery

5.1. enslaved those who owe debt, were conquered; children could be sold

5.2. 1/3 of population, or 600,000 slaves

5.3. dangerous, inhumane

5.4. reversible (ex: if you pay off debt)

5.5. revolt of Spartacus (50,000 slaves)

6. Punic Wars

6.1. series of wars with neighbors

6.2. consequences: agriculture suffered, widened gap between rich and poor, influx of conquered slaves into Italy

6.3. conquered all of Italy