The Roman Empire

Geography of Italy

   not broken up into small valleys like Greece the Apennine Mts, running like a backbone down Italy, are not as rugged as those in Greece Italy has broad, fertile plains which supported a growing population

Farmland in Tuscany, Italy

Vineyard province of Chianti, Italy

Early Roman Civilization

  Started in 7 villages on 7 hills around the Tiber River Etruscans the Tiber – lived in the north, gave Romans the knowledge of the alphabet and the arch, other engineering techniques, draining marshy lands along

Government

    509 B.C. Romans drove out the Etruscan ruler Officially founded the Roman state Set up a government with officials chosen by the people ( REPUBLIC ). They did this to keep any individual from gaining too much power.

 300 members of the ruling class ( PATRICIANS ) made up the senate. They served for life and made the laws.

Roman patrician with busts of his ancestors, 30 B.C.

 2 CONSULS , elected each year by the senators to supervise the business of government and command the armies. Could only serve one term and had to consult with the senate.

 In event of war, the senate might choose a DICTATOR , who would be granted power to rule for the length of 6 months.

   The rest of the population, the commoners, were called PLEBEIANS .

They got the Roman laws inscribed onto 12 tablets and set up in the Forum Plebeians elected repre sentatives to protect their interests, TRIBUNES . The tribunes could block, or veto, the laws they felt would be harmful.

Did you know?

* Our Constitution is based on the Roman ideas of a republic, senate, veto, and checks and balances.

Society

    The family was the basic unit of Roman society. Father had absolute power Women played a larger role than in Greek society. Girls and boys were both taught to read and write, especially rhetoric for boys who wanted to be statesmen.

Religion

 Gods and Goddesses resembled the Greeks, just different names Jupiter, father of the gods (Zeus) Neptune, god of the sea (Poseidon)

Expansion

    The Romans had powerful armies which allowed them to conquer all of Italy.

Basic military unit ( LEGION ) of 5,000 men.

Romans generally treated conquered peoples fairly, letting them keep their customs as long as they acknowledged Rome’s leadership and paid taxes, even giving some the right of Roman citizenship. Rome built a network of roads guarded by soldiers that helped unite the empire.

Section 2

F R O M R E P U B L I C T O E M P I R E

Carthage

A Phoenician city-state on the northern coast of Africa. Its empire came into conflict with Rome as both powers expanded

3 wars with Carthage PUNIC WARS

   1st Punic War – Rome defeated Carthage and won Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia 2nd Punic War – Carthaginians seek revenge, Hannibal leads his war elephants through the Alps, surprising the Romans from the north…they expected an attack from the south. For 15 years Hannibal won battle after battle. But because Hannibal couldn’t capture Rome, in the end he was defeated and gave up all lands except those in Africa. 3rd Punic War – Rome completely destroyed Carthage and killed any survivors of the previous wars. Carthage was sown with salt so nothing would grow there again.

  Romans committed to a policy of IMPERIALISM , establishing control over foreign lands and peoples.

Conquest brought incredible riches to Rome.

How did wealth affect Rome?

Cheap slave labor Farmers fell into debt, sold farms, moved to cities Population in cities grows Angry mobs, corruption, greed, self-interest

Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus

  Among the first to attempt reform, tried to get the state to distribute land to poor farmers and use public funds to feed the poor. The senate got angry and got them killed with thousands of their followers.

Rome plunges into a period of CIVIL WAR

? W H O S H O U L D H O L D T H E P O W E R ?

First Triumverate

Crossing the Rubicon

“The die is cast…”

Julius Caesar

    Brilliant commander who conquered as far west as Gaul (France) Defied Pompey upon returning and forced the senate to make him dictator 4 years of reform: public works, gave land to the poor, introduced the Julian calendar, based on Egyptian astronomy Assassinated by the senate

A bust of Julius Caesar, circa 25 B.C. It is believed to be an accurate likeness of Caesar —in fact, the most accurate likeness of all portrait busts of Caesar that have survived.

Octavian -1

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Emperor

   Caesar’s nephew was called Augustus Caesar, placed in power by the senate Republic dies, Empire born Good ruler, stable government, civil service, census, postal service, new coins, roads, etc.

Pax Romana

    200 years of peace Began with Octavian, ended with Marcus Aurelius Brought peace, order, unity, and prosperity to the empire, from the Euphrates to Britain Easy movement of people, ideas, religion, and culture on network of roads

Bread and Circuses

   Circus Maximus, Rome’s largest race course Colosseum Chariot races, gladiator fights, even miniature naval battles

Colosseum, ancient Rome’s largest stadium, held 50,000 people

Circus Maximus

Appian Way

Roman aqueduct

Roman mosaic

Roman culture

     Borrowed heavily from the Greeks Art emphasized grandeur more than elegance Sculpture was more idealistic and symbolic Superb engineering and architectural skills Strong commitment to justice and principal of law

Roman law

   “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.” Two systems of law Civil law – applied to Roman citizens   Law of nations – applied to all people under Roman rule, citizens and non-citizens Accused person innocent until proven guilty

Rise of Christianity

   Generally, Rome tolerated various religions All people had to acknowledge the divine spirit of the emperor and honor Roman gods Jewish revolt (66 AD) led to the destruction of Jerusalem and scattering of Jews throughout the empire

Masada, the Zealots last stand against the Romans.

Birth of Christianity

    Jesus, a Jew, attracted thousands of followers who had long waited for a messiah (savior) of the people He preached God’s love and taught the need for justice, morality, and service to others He was betrayed by one of his disciples and crucified by the Romans.

His closest followers, known as the 12 apostles, believed that Jesus resurrected and ascended to heaven. They spread Christianity after his death.

Tolerance did not extend to Christians

    Jesus’ disciples spread Christianity throughout the Roman empire While many Jews converted, others tried to kill Christian converts.

The Romans didn’t like that Christians wouldn’t worship the emperor Christians were used as scapegoats whenever the empire foundered.

Catacombs

The fish was one of the first Symbols of early Christianity. It was understood as a word-image: the Greek translation for "fish", which is iCHTHYS, in an abbreviation for "lessous CHnstos THeou Yios Soter" ("Jesus Christ, the Father's Son. is our savior") This sign was the common basic profession to unite Christians from all cultural origins. Catacombs, Rome

Edict of Milan, AD 313

 Constantine granted freedom of worship for all citizens of the Roman empire  Influenced by his mother, who was a devout Christian

The Long Decline

  Struggles for power (In one 50 year period, 26 emperors reigned) Diocletian and Constantine empire by fixing prices for goods and services, allowing Christianity, moving the capital from Rome to Constantinople.

tried to reform the

Good Emperors

Constantine

Bad emperors

Nero – killed his mother, married his stepsister, and killed his wife to marry someone else, used Christians as torches to light up his gardens Caligula appointed his favorite horse as consul.

Attacks from Germanic peoples

 Attila the Hun – “scourge of God” (434)

www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/ attila.htm

 Odoacer – Germanic leader (476) ousted the emperor of Rome