Download Ancient Rome Notes

Ancient Rome Notes
Roman Expansion

Under the leadership of ambitious generals, Rome’s highly trained soldiers took over most of
the land surrounding the Mediterranean.

The ancient Romans called the Mediterranean mare nostrum, meaning “our sea”.
Punic Wars

Punic is the Latin word for Phoenician

The Phoenician traders had established territory in Corisca, Sicily and Sardinia.

They also began to work their way into Iberia – modern day Spain

In the first war the Romans defeated the Carthaginians (Carthage)

Hannibal seeks revenge on the Romans

Travels through the Pyrenees (through France) and then over the Alps, to get to the Italian
peninsula and surprise the Romans from the North

Sicily and other Carthaginian states were to the south.

He traveled with 50,000 men and 60 elephants

1/3 of his men were lost in the Alps

They fought for nearly 15 years, devastating much of Rome, but unable to take over it.

The Romans went to Carthage and attacked, forcing Hannibal to give up and return to his home
to defend it.

The Romans are angry for the terror placed on them by Hannibal

They want to seek revenge on their enemies

They completely destroy Carthage and take any person still living after the attacks and
sell them into slavery.

After this the Romans gained control of much of the Mediterranean.

They sought world domination through the policy of imperialism – the establishment of control
over foreign lands and people
The End of the Roman Republic

A successful Roman general and famous speaker, Julius Caesar, was a governor of the territory
of Gaul and managed to take control of many nearby territories.

A triumvirate of great minds come together to take power - Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus.

Crassus dies and Caesar and Pompey are now vying for control

Before Caesar can return to kill him, Pompey is murdered

Caesar takes control and becomes both Consul and Dictator

He feared the senate, but paid many off to maintain relationships with them

Caesar fought for control and won, becoming the dictator of the Roman world, ending the
Roman Republic.
The Pax Romana

The Roman empire expands rapidly

Augustus makes sure that the borders are always secured so that the people of the Italian
peninsula are protected

Augustus is responsible for many of the great public works that Ancient Rome is known for

Puts a civil service in place to employ Romans

After many of the slaves had been taken employment was hard to come by in Rome.

Had jobless build roads and temples

During this time trade increased with olive oil, wine, pottery, marble, and grain being shipped all
across the Mediterranean.

Lighthouses were constructed to guide ships into port.

This was also a time of great Roman literature.

The age that is covered from Augustus to Marcus Aurelius is called the Pax Romana, or age of
peace
How did they pass time?

Festivals were common place in Ancient Rome

Chariot Races

Gladiator Battles

Reenactments of great war victories
Underlying Problems

Although they fed the poor and had public entertainment, many felt that this was hiding the real
problems that existed in society