Download Unit 5: Ancient Rome 700 BC to 500 AD

Unit 5:
Ancient Rome 700 B.C. to 500 A.D.
Standard(s) WHI.6a-6k
The student will demonstrate knowledge of ancient Rome from about 700 B.C. (B.C.E.) to 500 A.D. (C.E.) in terms of its impact on Western
civilization by
a) assessing the influence of geography on Roman economic, social, and political development;
b) describing Roman mythology and religion;
c) explaining the social structure and role of slavery, significance of citizenship, and the development of democratic features in the government of
d) sequencing events leading to Roman military domination of the Mediterranean basin and Western Europe and the spread of Roman culture in these
areas;
e) assessing the impact of military conquests on the army, economy, and social structure of Rome;
f) assessing the roles of Julius and Augustus Caesar in the collapse of the Republic and the rise of imperial monarchs;
g) explaining the economic, social, and political impact of the Pax Romana;
h) describing the origin, beliefs, traditions, customs, and spread of Christianity;
i) explaining the development and significance of the Church in the late Roman Empire;
j) listing contributions in art and architecture, technology and science, medicine, literature and history, language, religious institutions, and law;
k) citing the reasons for the decline and fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Locations and places
Rome: Centrally located in the Mediterranean Basin and distant
from eastern Mediterranean powers
Italian Peninsula
Alps: Protection
Mediterranean Sea: Protection, sea-borne commerce
Roman mythology
Based on the Greek polytheistic religion
Explanations of natural phenomena, human qualities, and life
events
Roman gods and goddesses
Jupiter, Juno, Apollo, Diana, Minerva, and Venus
Symbols and images in literature, art, and architecture
Social structure in the Roman Republic
Patricians: Powerful nobility (few in number)
Plebeians: Majority of population
Slaves: Not based on race
Citizenship
Patrician and plebeian men
Selected foreigners
Rights and responsibilities of citizenship (e.g., taxes, military
service)
Features of democracy
Representative democracy
Assemblies
The Senate
Consuls
Laws of Rome codified as Twelve Tables
Punic Wars: Rome vs. Carthage (264–146 B.C. [B.C.E.])
Rome and Carthage were in competition for trade.
Hannibal invaded the Italian Peninsula.
Three wars resulted in Roman victory, the destruction of Carthage,
and expanded trade and wealth for Rome.
Evolution of the Roman Empire and spread of Roman culture
Mediterranean basin (Africa, Asia, Europe, including the
Hellenistic world of the Eastern Mediterranean)
Western Europe (Gaul, British Isles)
Causes for the decline of the Roman Republic
Spread of slavery in the agricultural system
Migration of small farmers into cities and unemployment
Civil war over the power of Julius Caesar
Devaluation of Roman currency; inflation
The origin and evolution of Imperial Rome
First triumvirate
Julius Caesar: Seizure of power, assassination
Augustus Caesar: Civil war, defeat of Marc Anthony, Rome’s first
emperor
Empire: Unified and enlarged, using imperial authority and the
military
Failure to provide for peaceful succession of Emperors
The Pax Romana
Two centuries of peace and prosperity under imperial rule
Expansion and solidification of the Roman Empire, particularly in
the Near East
Economic impact of the Pax Romana
Established uniform system of money, which helped to expand
trade
Guaranteed safe travel and trade on Roman roads
Promoted prosperity and stability
Social impact of the Pax Romana
Returned stability to social classes
Increased emphasis on the family
Political impact of the Pax Romana
Created a civil service
Developed a uniform rule of law
Origins of Christianity
Had its roots in Judaism
Was led by Jesus of Nazareth, who was proclaimed the Messiah
Conflicted with polytheistic beliefs of Roman Empire
Beliefs, traditions, and customs of Christianity
Monotheism
Jesus as both Son and incarnation of God
Life after death
New Testament, containing accounts of the life and teachings of
Jesus, as well as writings of early Christians
Christian doctrines established by early church councils
Spread of Christianity
Popularity of the message
Early martyrs inspired others
Carried by the Apostles, including Paul, throughout the Roman
Empire
Analyze why the story of Romulus and Remus was a perfect myth to describe the founding
of Rome.
In the box below defend the position that Rome was the
perfect location to dominate trade in the Mediterranean.
republic-or a government which elects representatives to
run things
patricians-founders of Rome, certain families, only ones
allowed to hold public office at first
plebeians-all other citizens, made up of all levels of wealth,
but not from the right families
Forum-center of the city and government
Fill in the chart below.
Why would the Plebeians strike
against the Patricians?
What are some important items that our own legal system adopted from the 12 Tables?
Twelve Tables-Law code
of Rome written on
bronze tablets and
placed in the Forum
Dictator-one supreme leader makes all decisions, Romans appointed one in times of crisis
Consul-two elected representatives that had veto power over one another
Veto-the power to refuse a law
checks and balances-the process of using one branch of government to keep another branch from becoming too
powerful
censors-registered citizens according to wealth and supervised public morality
Using the chart to the right, explain how the Roman government used
checks and balances to keep one branch from dominating others.
Create a theory as to why the Romans adapted so many gods from other cultures.
Explain why the Punic Wars were so important to Rome becoming the
dominant force in the Mediterranean region.
Carthage-major seaport city in Northern
Africa, major rival to Romans
Punic Wars-series of wars between Rome
and Carthage
Hannibal-Carthaginian general that leads second war against Rome
Scipio-Roman general that defeats Hannibal at Zama
Fill in the chart to the right.
Analyze how Julius Caesar’s life changed
Rome’s governments.
Julius Caesar-rising senator who would go on to become dictator of Rome
Pompey-initial ally of Caesar, became enemy lost civil war with Caesar for control of Rome
Marc Antony-top ally and general of Caesar and later ruler with Octavian
Cleopatra-Egyptian queen, lost civil war to Augustus, lover of both Caesar and Antony
Augustus (Octavian)-Caesar adopted son (grandnephew) greatest and first Emperor of Rome.
Pax Romana-200 year period of peace brought on by Roman dominance
Impact of Pax Romana
Create a theory as to why Pax Romana was so successful in
the Roman Empire.
Julian Emperors-a series of inept emperors that hurt
Roman government
Five Good Emperors-a series of good rulers that helped continue Pax Romana
Hadrian’s Wall-wall built by emperor represents northern border of Empire
Describe the characteristics of the Julian Emperors and the Good Emperors.
gladiators-trained fighters, usually slaves, that fought to
death for entertainment
aqueducts-covered channels to carry water to Roman
cities
Ptolemy-developed formula for ellipse, and everything
revolved around Earth
Latin-Language of the Roman Empire
Virgil-poet wrote Aeneid
Evaluate why you think the entertainment of the Romans was
so violent and how does it compare to our entertainment?
Evaluate the Roman accomplishments in engineering and pick which you
think is most important.
Why was Christianity able to survive in the Roman Empire and what made it different
from Judaism?
Factors that led to Downfall of Roman Empire
1. Size: Empire too big
2. Economy: Inflation and cost of military
3. Military: Discipline lost-army not all Romans
4. Moral: People lose faith in Rome and family
5. Political: Civil conflict and weak leaders
inflation-when prices rise and the value of money decreases
martyrs-someone who dies for a cause
Jesus-religious leader that is considered the Messiah by Christians
Constantine-moved capital from Rome to Constantinople, adopted Christianity
Council of Nicea-Council of religious leaders gathered by Constantine to create the rules of Christianity
Attila-Hun that threatened Roman Empire
In the box below pick the two biggest ways the Romans influenced us in your opinion then defend your choices.