Mapping the Expansion of the Roman Empire

Rome’s Beginnings: Romulus and Remus

Mythical Version:

• Trojan Prince Aeneas discovers Latins while looking for the promised land

• Romulus and Remus, sons of Latin princess and god Mars, abandoned

• Romulus and Remus cared for by she-wolf, discovered by shepherd and wife

• Romulus kills Remus, becomes the first king of Rome.

Rome’s Beginnings: Romulus and Remus

ContHistorical Version:

• Latins settled on Palatine, a fertile area with pleasant climate, around 1200 BC

• Etruscans (“people of the sea”) of Etruia ruled Rome (Latins) for 200 years

• Romans overthrew Etruscan leaders and set up a Republic in 509 BC

The Expansion of the Roman Empire: The

Battle of ZamaRomans conquered and controlled all of Italy by 275 BC

City-state Carthage ruled much of North Africa, Spain, and Sicily

Roman conflict with Carthage started the Punic Wars

Romans fought Carthaginians for control of the Mediterranean Sea

Hannibal defeated at Zama; Carthage lost all it territories to Rome

By 146 BC Rome was the leading power of the Mediterranean

The Final Years of the Roman Republic: Julius

CaesarRome’s Conquest caused changes in economy and government

• Large estates replaced farms; cities become crowded

• Gap grew between rich and poor

Attempts were made to improve conditions in Rome

• Gracchi brothers gave land and wheat to poor

• General Mariusa gave power to the army

• General Sulla gave more power to the Senate

The Final Years of the Roman Republic: Julius

Caesar Cont.Julius Caesar built up an army and took power

• Conquered Britain, Libya, Egypt, Cyrenaica, Numidia, Syria, Asia Minor

• Caesar is assassinated by those who opposed his dictatorship

The Roman Empire: Cleopatra’s Death

After Caesar’s death, power shared by Marc Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian

Civil war broke out between Antony and Cleopatra and Octavian

Octavian won the naval victory at Actium in 31 BC

When Antony was defeated and Egypt was made a Roman province, he and Cleopatra committed suicide to avoid being paraded through Rome as captives

The Roman Empire: Cleopatra’s Death Cont.

Octavian became absolute ruler of Rome; he was give the title “Augustus” (honored)

As Rome’s “First Citizen” Augustus ended the expansion of the empire at its defendable boundaries: English Channel, Rhine, Danube, and Euphrates Rivers; and Sahara desert

Augustus introduced the “Pax Romana”, a time of peace and unity for the Empire

The Roman Empire: Gladiatorial Games

Augustus’ successors accepted his defensive foreign policies

Trajan, Rome’s last great conqueror, established ne provinces in Dacia, Armenia, Assyria, and Mesopotamia

Empire reached its greatest height under Trajan in 117 AD

Five Good Emperors ruled Rome between 96 AD and 186 AD

The Roman Empire: Gladiatorial Games

Cont.After 186 AD, civil wars broke out in the Empire and emperors lost control

Rome’s size was difficult to manage; Diocletian divided it in two

Barbarians attacked the Empire from many sides

Internally, gladiatorial games were one sign of Rome’s decline.