Geography Italy is a peninsula that looks like a boot spot had
mild climate, good farmland Rome is centrally located Built city on
seven hills that could be defended Alps, Apennines mountains
protected Rome, but didn't isolate it
Slide 5
Mediterranean surrounds the peninsula lay next to Tiber River
Roman ships could sail to other lands Fertile plains in the North
(under the Alps) and in the West Population growth Early farmers
had small plots of land for wheat, barley
Slide 6
Early Myths According to legend, Romulus founded Rome in 753
B.C. Legend begins after Aeneas Trojan War herosettles in Italy his
twins Romulus and Remuswanted to found city twins fought over citys
position; Romulus killed Remus Romulus traced Romes boundaries
around Palatine Hill (centermost of the seven)
Slide 7
Roman Beginnings Latin ancestors migrated to Italy by 800 BC
Shared peninsula with the Greeks and Etruscans Romans drive out
hated Etruscan king in 509 BC Set up a republic- officials chosen
by the people
Slide 8
Government The Senate 300 members were patricians, members of
the landholding upper class Senators served for life Consuls
elected by senators, supervised government and commanded armies,
served for one year 12 Tables Plebeians (farmers, merchants,
traders) become angry, laws weren't posted 450 BC, Laws of Rome
inscribed on 12 tablets in the marketplace Plebeians elect
officials, Tribunes, could veto laws
Slide 9
Expansion in Italy 270 BC Rome occupied all of Italy Masters of
War Success due to diplomacy and well disciplined army Mixed armys
rewards with harsh punishments Conquered Lands Treated defeated
enemies with justice, made them acknowledge Roman leadership Built
network of all weather military roads to link distant provinces to
Rome
Slide 10
Rivalry with Carthage Carthage, a city-state on the northeast
of Africa Between 264 BC & 146 BC Rome fights against Carthage
in Punic Wars First Punic War- Rome defeated Carthage, forcing it
to surrender Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia.
Slide 11
Second Punic War- Hannibal embarks across the Alps Surprised
Romans, expected invasion from the South Hannibal moves across
Italy for 15 years wining battle after battle Rome eventually
attacks Carthage, gains all of Carthage land except Africa Third
Punic War Carthage kept peace, Rome still saw them as rival Rome
attacks and completely destroyed the 700 year old city
Slide 12
Rulers of the Mediterranean World Romans confront Hellenistic
rulers, who divided empire of Alexander the Great Macedonia,
Greece, and parts of Asia fall under Roman rule By 133 BC, Roman
power extended from Spain to Egypt
Slide 13
Effects of Expansion Generals, officials, and traders get rich
from loot and taxes New class of wealthy Romans emerged People
become poor and angry New reformers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus
attempt reform Call to distribute land to poor farmers
Slide 14
Senate is angered at the brothers reforms, have them killed
Rome plunged into a series of civil wars for 100 years Julius
Caesar, after nine years of fighting, brings Gaul under Roman
control Pompey, jealous of Caesar's power orders him to disband his
army
Slide 15
Crossing the Rubicon Caesar defies Pompey and leads army across
Rubicon River, toward Rome Civil war erupts, Caesar crushes Pompey
Veni, vidi, vici- I came, I saw, I conquered Caesar becomes
absolute ruler of Rome Keeps Senate and other features of the
Republic
Slide 16
Caesars Reform Between 48BC and 44BC, Caesar pushed through
reforms to deal with Romes problems Launched a program of public
works giving jobs to the poor Gave public land to the poor Granted
Roman citizenship to more people Organized Rome into provinces
Slide 17
To enact these reforms he packed the Senate with his followers
Most lasting reform was the introduction of a new calendar based on
Egyptian knowledge Julian Calendar was used for over 1,600 years,
with minor changes still the calendar we use today
Slide 18
The Ideas of March Caesars enemies worried that he planned to
make himself king of Rome To save the republic, they plotted
against him According to legend, in 44BC a fortune teller warned
Caesar to beware of the Ides of March (March 15) Caesars enemies
stabbed him to death in the Senate building The death of Julius
Caesar plunged Rome into a new round of civil wars
Slide 19
Mark Antony, Caesars chief general and Octavian, Caesars
grandnephew, joined forces to hunt down the murders The two men
soon turned on each other and a bitter power struggle began In
31BC, Octavian finally defeated Antony and his powerful ally Queen
Cleopatra of Egypt The Senate proclaimed Octavian Augustus, or
Exalted One and declared him princeps, or first citizen Careful not
to call himself a king, the Romans hated the title since the
Estruscan times Augustus exercised absolute power and named his
successor, just as a King would Ruled from 31BC to 14AD The 500
year old republic came to an end The Roman Empire had emerged
Slide 20
Imperial Rome Augustus created a stable government Left the
senate in place Created an efficient well trained civil service,
which enforced the laws High level jobs were open to men of talent,
regardless of class Cities pledged allegiance to Rome because they
were allowed to self- govern, to an extent Made tax system fair by
ordering a census, or population count Set up a postal service and
issued new coins to make trade easier
Slide 21
Put the jobless to work building roads and temples and sent
others to farm the land The government functioned well for 200
years, but Romans didnt accept the idea of power automatically
passing from father to son The death of an emperor often led to
intrigue and violence
Slide 22
Bad Emperors and Good Emperors Caligula Insane, appointed his
favorite horse as consul Nero Viciously persecuted Christians and
was even blamed for setting a great fire that destroyed much of
Rome Between 96AD and 180, the Empire benefited from the rule of a
series of good emperors Hadrian- Codified Roman law, making it the
same for all provinces Marcus Aurelius, read philosophy and came to
close to Platos idea of a philosophy king
Slide 23
The Roman Peace The 200 year span that began with Augustus and
ended with Marcus Aurelius is known as the Pax Romana, or Roman
Peace Roman rule brought peace, order, unity, prosperity Empire
steatched from Euphrates in the East the Britain in the West,
similar to the continental U.S.
Slide 24
Legions maintained roads and had fleets to chase pirates from
the seas People traveled along Silk Road spreading ideas and
exchanging goods Ideas from Greece and Palestine would have a large
impact on the western world
Slide 25
Family and Religion Family was the basic unit of Roman society
Under Roman law, the head of the household, usually the father, had
absolute power in the family Enforced strict discipline and
demanded total respect for his authority Wife was not allowed to
interject
Slide 26
Role of Women Women gained more freedom during the late
republic/early empire Played a larger role in society than Greek
women Went to the public baths Dined out Ran businesses Most women
worked at home and raised their family
Slide 27
Education and Religion Education Girls and boys both learned to
read and write, all classes of people The wealthy hired private
tutors, often Greek slaves, learned Rhetoric Religion Roman Gods
and Goddesses resembled those of the Greeks Roman calendar was full
of feasts and other celebrations and festivals to honor the
gods
Slide 28
Bread and Circuses Circus Maximus, was Romes largest racecourse
Fans bet on teams and Chariot drivers Gladiator contests, slaves
that were trained to fight, battled one another in the arena Could
often fight for their freedom or be booed to death Events were a
way to control the citys restless mobs Government provided free
grain to feed the poor
Slide 29
The Rise of Christianity The Jews in Rome Palestine was
conquered by Rome in 63 BC Romans allowed them to practice their
religion In 70 CE, a revolt led the Romans to destroy their temple.
(Now the Wailing Wall) Many Jews fought for independence They hoped
for a messiah A second revolt in 135 led the Romans to kick the
Jews out of Palestine Diaspora- The scattering of Jewish people
from their homeland in Palestine
Slide 30
Christianity Church Pope head of church Accept Jewish teaching
(Ten Commandments, prophets) Forgiveness/ generosity Afterlife:
Heaven- for good life Hell- for sinful life Bible (Old and New
Testaments) and Gospels Jesus is son of God (messiah),
Monotheistic
Slide 31
Early Christianity spread by Jesus followers, apostles and
evangelists such as Paul of Tarsus Quickly spread throughout Asia
Minor, Greece and even Rome Early Roman Emperors persecuted
Christians Edict of Milan in 313 legalized Christianity Becomes the
official religion of Rome by 380
Slide 32
The Long Decline, End of Pax Romana Problems in Rome 200s CE
Unstable government- many emperors after 180, were assassinated
High Taxes- taxes were needed for the military but forced poor
farmers to quit their jobs and collect welfare instead. Weak
Military- faced barbarians attacks and lacked discipline Bread and
Circuses- Emperors gave people free food and entertainment to hide
the problems of the empire
Slide 33
Efforts to Reform Diocletian 284- 305 split the empire into
East West and North South section to make it easier to rule
strengthened image of emperor with robes and jewels to gain respect
controlled prices and made people keep their jobs to stop people
from collecting welfare Constantine 306- 337 reorganized the army
and enhanced training legalized Christianity (Edict of Milan) made
a new capital in the wealthy eastern empire at Constantinople Their
efforts only helped delay the end of the empire.
Slide 34
Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire PoliticalEconomic
SocialMilitary
Slide 35
Slide 36
Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire Political authoritarian
government: no longer looked out for the people corruption made the
government look bad many emperors were not qualified Economic
SocialMilitary
Slide 37
Slide 38
Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire Political authoritarian
government: no longer looked out for the people corruption made the
government look bad many emperors were not qualified Economic heavy
taxes- to pay for welfare/ military expenses slaves labor-
unemployment and lack of new inventions few rich and many poor
SocialMilitary
Slide 39
Slide 40
Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire Political authoritarian
government: no longer looked out for the people corruption made the
government look bad many emperors were not qualified Economic heavy
taxes- to pay for welfare/ military expenses slaves labor-
unemployment and lack of new inventions few rich and many poor
Social lazy due to welfare and wealth Loss of values such as
patriotism and discipline did not want to protect a corrupt govt
not producing quality leaders Christianity- preached forgiveness
Military
Slide 41
Slide 42
Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire Political authoritarian
government: no longer looked out for the people corruption made the
government look bad many emperors were not qualified Economic heavy
taxes- to pay for welfare/ military expenses slaves labor-
unemployment and lack of new inventions few rich and many poor
Social lazy due to welfare and wealth Loss of values such as
patriotism and discipline did not want to protect a corrupt govt
not producing quality leaders Christianity- preached forgiveness
Military used German mercenaries that were not loyal and
undisciplined legions were not as well trained as before barbarian
invasions In 476, the invasion of the Visigoths led by Odoacer
brought an end to the Western Roman Empire. The Western Emperor,
Romulus Augustulus was overthrown, but the Eastern Empire continued
with its capital at Constantinople.
Slide 43
Roman Accomplishments Architecture and Engineering Borrowed
columns from Greeks Built domes and arches Invented aqueducts, is a
water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. -
Built roads and bridges throughout harbor Art and Literature Copied
Greek sculpture except used realism Virgil- poet wrote Aeneid about
the founding of Rome Ovid- wrote Metamorphoses about Greek and
Roman god Law Largest centralized government in ancient world US
borrowed many Roman laws 1) all people are equal 2) innocent until
proven guilty 3)decisions in court should be based on fairness
Science Galen- doctor who dissected animals to learn about anatomy
Ptolemy- astronomer that suggested that collected knowledge from
other cultures to make encyclopedias