Download SeeleyAncient Rome

Ancient Rome: Republic
to Empire Status
Mrs. Seeley
World History
Fall 2016
What is a Republic?
• A republic is a government in which citizens have the right to vote
and chose the leaders.
• In Ancient Rome, only adult males had the right to vote.
• In addition, lower-class citizens or plebeians had no rights to vote
or hold any governmental position in Ancient Rome.
Ancient Rome Social Hierarchy
Patricians
• Patrician comes from the Latin patres meaning “fathers”
• They owned much of the land
• Noble patricians considered themselves privileged and better
capable of ruling; certain people were born to lead and others
were destined to follow.
• Seized control of the government after ousting the Etruscan king
in 509 BCE
• Held powerful positions such as 2 Consuls, priesthood and used
that power to disenfranchise the Plebeians.
Plebeians
• The majority of Roman citizens were Plebeians at this time.
• They were denied any part in how, or by whom, they were ruled.
• They were considered a lower class. Plebeians could not marry
Patricians. However, they were a very diverse group.
• They were the urban poor, wealthy farmers, tradesmen, and as
well as the core of the Republican Army.
• These positions were considered to be menial by the Patricians.
Republican Government
Rulers of Rome: 2 Consuls
Senate
Tribal Assembly
Each consuls served a oneyear, non-consecutive term.
Had little legislative authority,
Held power to pass laws.
Had supreme executive power.
Commanders of Army
Representative body for the
Patricians.
Representative body for
Plebeians.
Presiding over the Senate and
proposing legislation.
First established had 100
members, grew to 1000,
served for life
All citizens were members.
Had veto power, so they could
veto’s the others decision.
Discussed both domestic and
Elected tribunes to chose
foreign policy but supervised
judges and laws.
relations with foreign powers.
They directed the religious life
of Rome, and most importantly,
controlled state finances
The Twelve Tables, 450 BCE
• This provided the political and social rights for plebeians.
Rome expands it’s power
• It was during this era, that Rome conquered all of Italy.
• With each territory conquered, new laws per territory were
established.
• Rome had created a commercial network, trading items such as
wine and oil for raw and manufactured materials.
• This lead to direct conflict with Carthage, who was the dominant
power of the Western Mediterranean.
Carthaginian
Empire
Founded around 816 BCE.
Trade was it’s main economy.
Had 220 docks and gleaming columns
which rose around it in a half-circle,
and was ornamented with Greek
sculpture.
The Carthaginian trading ships sailed
daily to ports all around the
Mediterranean Sea.
They had a Navy, which protected the
trade routes and was known for being
the best in the region.
The Navy also helped to expand their
territories.
Punic Wars 264 BCE-146 BCE
• Were a series of conflict between the forces of ancient Carthage
and Rome.
• Carthage had powerful Navy, a mercenary army, and through
tribute, tariffs, and trade, enough wealth to do as she pleased.
• Carthage did have a treaty with the small city of Rome, she barred
Roman trade in the Western Mediterranean and, as Rome had no
navy, was able to easily enforce the treaty. Roman traders caught
in Carthaginian waters were drowned and their ships taken.
First Punic War
• Fought over control of the island of Sicily. At the time both
Carthage and Rome had equally divided control of the island.
• The Mamertines at Messana on Sicily call for Carthaginian and then
Roman help in defence against Syracuse, sparking the First Punic
War in 264 BCE.
• Ends in 241 BCE, with the Roman Navy victory on the islands of
Aegates, war part 1 over.
Second Punic War featuring Hannibal
• Started by the great Carthaginian general Hannibal who took siege
to the city of Saguntum, a Roman ally, in 219 BCE. Hannibal did
sack the city.
• Hannibal, a sworn enemy of Rome, received intelligence that
Roman armies were moving against him and, in a bold gamble,
marched his forces over the Alps and into northern Italy.
• From there he won every single engagement against the Romans.
He did conquer northern Italy and gathered former allies of Rome
to his side.
Hannibal’s route to Italy.
Battle of Zama 19 Oct 202 BCE
• It was at this battle that Hannibal was defeated by Scipio
Africanus ending the Second Punic Wars.
Julius Caesar 100 BCE
• Gaius Julius Caesar was born 12 July 100 BCE
(though some cite 102 as his birth year). His father,
also Gaius Julius Caesar, was a Praetor who governed
the province of Asia and his mother, Aurelia Cotta,
was of noble birth
Julius Caesar a brief overview
• When he was 16 his father died, and he became head of his family.
• He was engaged to plebian girl, but broke it off to marry a
patrician, Cornelia.
• Caesar was targeted by the Roman Ruler Sulla who wished to
purge all his political enemies, so Caesar fled Rome. He returned
to Rome after his Mother family intervene.
• However, he was stripped of his priesthood and in order to support
his family he joined the army.
Civil War and Dictators
• Leadership of Rome Changes!
• Why was he able to take power?
• a. poor plebeians had lost land during the
wars
• b. rich had become corrupt
• c. army generals began to take power
• How did he obtain power?
• 60BC- Joined Crassus and Pompey to form
the 1st triumvirate: Ruled for 7 years
Caesar continued
• He was an effective solider.
• Awarded the civic crown for
saving a life in battle.
• Returned to Rome to become a
orator (lawyer).
• Kidnapped by pirates near
Greece in 75 BCE and held for
ransom.
• It is said that when pirates
told him he would be
ransomed for twenty talents,
Caesar claimed he was worth
at least fifty.
• He conquered Gaul, fell in love
with Cleopatra and they had a
son, Ptolemy Caesar
(Caesarian).
Caesar Part 2
• In Rome, he was know as a
great reformer.
• Gave more land to the
poor.
• Became unpopular with the
Senate.
• Reformed the calendar,
created a police force.
• Rebuilt Carthage
Beware the Ides of
March 44 BC
• On March 15, 44 BCE,
Caesar was assassinated by
the senators in the portico
of the basilica of Pompey
the Great.
• Historians estimate that he
was any from 22 to 36
times.
Pax Romana
(Roman Peace)
• Was a period of relative peace
and stability across the Roman
Empire.
• It lasted for over 200 years,
beginning with the reign of
Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE).
• Augustus (Octavian) becomes
Emperor. He was Caesars
adopted son.
• The reign of Augustus from 27
BCE to 14 CE brought peace
and security to both politics
and trade.
The Empire
Expands
• The Roman Empire under Augustus
Warm Up: Please write in complete
sentences
• What were the three different political
structures that the Roman Republic combined?
• Who were the ‘mythical” people that founded
Rome?
• Who were the Patricians?
• Who were the Plebeians?
• What was the purpose of the Twelve Tables?
Rome and the rise of
Christianity
• The Rise of Christianity
By the 3rd Century
A.D, Christianity
had spread
through out the
Roman Empire.
Crash Course Christianity
• https://youtu.be/TG55ErfdaeY
• If you need a great study website, I highly recommend Khan
Academy. It has world history stuff plus math. I personally used
the math portion for my college classes.
The Fall of Rome
• Rome was not built
in a day, nor did it
fall in day.
• We will examine
what factors led to
the fall of Rome.
Fall of Roman Empire
•Period of Disorder created by the
violent deaths of 20 emperors (235284 A.D.)
•Series of invasions disrupts trade
The Empire in Crisis Map
• Labor shortage created by plague (epidemic
diseases)
• Enlarging the army (mercenaries) and civil
service depleted Roman funds
The Division of the Roman
Empire
Constantine: 312337
Constantinople: The 2nd Rome est. 330 CE
Barbarian Invasions: 4 CE- 5
CE
Attila the Hun
Other Possible Theories
• Christianity’s emphasis on the spiritual
kingdom weakened the military
• Traditional Roman Values declined as nonItalians gained prominence
• Lead Poisoning through water pipes and
cups caused mental decline.
• Plague wiped out 1/10th of the population
• Rome failed to advance technologically
because of slavery
• Rome was unable to put together a
workable political system for its vast empire
Byzantium:
The Eastern Roman Empire
Roman Legacies
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Republic Government
Roman Law
Latin Language
Roman Catholic Church
City Planning
Romanesque Architectural Style
Roman Engineering
Aqueducts
Sewage systems
Dams
Cement
Arch
A short Video about Rome!
• http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/ancientrome/videos/the-fall-of-rome