Download 3. Rise and fall of roman empire

The Rise and Fall of the
Roman Empire
Growth of Roman Empire
Roman Empire at its height
The Beginning of the Empire
• The Roman Empire began in 31BC with the
rule of Octavian. (Caesar Augustus)
– The Grand nephew of Julius Caesar
Augustus
Augustus (31BC-14AD)
45 years in power
• During the period of the Roman Empire, Rome
flourished. It expanded to cover most of Europe, the
Middle East, and the Northern Part of Africa.
• The areas were divided into provinces and were
controlled by a shared power of Augustus and the
Senate.
• Augustus was seen to be one of the greatest
emperors of the Roman Empire.
• called princep (first citizen)
Key Reforms of Augustus
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Praetorian Guard for his protection (4500 men)
shared control with Senate
created buffer territories and Kingdoms
continued granting citizenship to provinces
created a Census
uniform tax system (equal among provinces)
established civil service
positions based on talent & merit not class
encouraged family and religious duties
tax on childless couples
built temples and roads
Emperors following Augustus
• treated with hostility by Romans
• None of the next few emperors kept the good
ties with the Senate and the people of Rome
that Augustus had.
• None had been as good to Rome, and
conquered people, as Augustus.
– Tiberius (14-37) Cheap
– Caligula (37-41) Insane (assassinated)
• Gave his horse the position of consul.
• killed by the Praetorian guard in 41 CE.
– Nero (54-68) Vain, Cruel, Revengeful
Nero
Emperor Nero
• He ruled from 54AD - 68 AD.
– He was very cruel and revengeful.
– He ordered the assassination of anyone who seemed
to be an opponent to him.
• Killed his own mother.
• A disastrous fire swept through Rome in 64 AD
which was believed to have been set by Nero
himself.
• After his death the Senate and the army knew
they had to play more of an active role in
selecting an emperor.
Five Good Emperors
• After Nero, Senate & Army played a role
in selecting emperor (many inter army
battles)
• 96 -180 Century of Peace
• Each emperor trained a successor
(Caesar)
• (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius, Marcus
Aurelius)
• Trajan was a Spaniard (1st Non-Italian)
– Rome's Boundaries reached greatest
extent
Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”)
Under the 5 Good Emperors
• the Roman Empire expanded in territory,
trade and wealth.
• civilization flourished
• hundreds of cities built
• paved roads
• Latin common language of empire. (This led
to it forming the basis later languages)
• the Emperors would communicate closely
with the Senate before taking any action.
– (Means they didn't abuse their authority.
People felt they still had say.)
The Decline of the Roman
Empire
• Began in the 2nd century when enemies from the
north began to invade Roman territory.
– Why would it be easy to attack this large empire?
– the empire was so large and the borders were so long, it
was nearly impossible to protect the borders.
• By 285 AD Rome was going through serious
internal problems, revolts in conquered territories,
present day France, Britain.
• The emperor was unable to squash these revolts.
• As a result the Empire was divided into two
sections.
Result of splitting the Empire
• two rulers would issue all laws together.
• very negative effect on Rome.
• It was no longer the capital of the empire
or the centre of power.
• Roman Senate lost all of its power.
• The rule of these two parts of the Roman
Empire broke down when 7 different
people fought for power.
• Constantine defeated all rivals in a civil
war (tears a country apart) and became
the sole emperor of Roman Empire.
• He made the Greek town Byzantium the
new capital and renamed it
Constantinople.
• Romulus Augustus was the last emperor
of the Roman Empire.
• Over the last few years Barbarians kept
attacking and invading Roman territories.
• Rome fell in 476AD
After the Roman Empire
• The leader of the united German tribes,
assumes the title of king of Rome.
• After 476 CE, there are no Roman
Emperors occupying the West at all.