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47
Founding of Ancient Rome
Rome began as a small kingdom along the Tiber River in the Italian Peninsula.
Inhabitants believed they were founded by twin brothers, Romulus and Remus.
C.1.1 - The myth of Romulus and Remus illustrates Roman values that are
reflected in cultural practices such as gladiatorial combat and chariot races.
G.1.2 - The location of Rome on the Tiber River and the Italian Peninsula
provided an ideal location for conquering and controlling the Mediterranean
Sea.
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Rise of the Roman Republic
Roman society was divided into two groups. Citizens were either wealthy land
owners known as patricians or poor, lower class plebeians who were not able
to serve in the Roman government.
E.1.1 - The Roman social hierarchy, illustrated by the legal stratification of the
plebian and patrician classes, led to an increasingly unequal distribution of
wealth and economic choice.
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The Political Structure of the Roman Republic
Much of Roman culture was based on that of the Greeks, and much of the
cultural values of the United States are modeled on Greece and Rome. This is
known as the Western tradition. For example, the government of the United
States is based on the Roman Republic, which in turn was based on Athenian
direct democracy. Rome developed the world's first known republic.
C&G.1.1 - The political institution of the Roman Republic was modeled after the
Athenian democracy and continues to serve as a model for modern democratic
governments.
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The Twelve Tables
While plebeians were not allowed to serve in the Roman Senate, their rights
were protected by the Laws of Twelve Tables.
When the Roman Republic began, the patricians were the only ones who knew
all of Rome’s laws. The plebeians had to trust that the courts would treat them
fairly. In 494 BCE the plebeians revolted in protest, seceding from the city and
setting up camp outside its walls. To end the revolt the patricians let the
plebeians form the Assembly. The patricians also agreed to write the Republic’s
laws down on tablets and post them in the Forum for all to see.
Treason - the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill
the sovereign or overthrow the government.
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The Punic Wars
Rome developed into a powerful city-state and eventually a world power after
defeating the Phoenician city-state of Carthage in a series of wars.
H.2.1 - Conquest of other civilizations led to the expansion of the Roman
Empire from the Atlantic Ocean through the Middle East and as far north as the
island of Britain.
By 264 BCE, Rome had become the dominant power throughout the Italian
peninsula, while Carthage–a powerful city-state in northern Africa–had
established itself as the leading maritime power in the world.
The First Punic War broke out in 264 B.C. when Rome interfered in a dispute on
the Carthaginian-controlled island of Sicily; the war ended with Rome in control
of both Sicily and Corsica and marked the empire’s emergence as a naval as
well as a land power.
In the Second Punic War, the great Carthaginian general Hannibal invaded Italy
and scored great victories at Lake Trasimene and Cannae before his eventual
defeat at the hands of Rome’s Scipio Africanus in 202 B.C. left Rome in control
of the western Mediterranean and much of Spain.
In the Third Punic War, the Romans, led by Scipio the Younger, captured and
destroyed the city of Carthage in 146 B.C., turning Africa into yet another
province of the mighty Roman Empire.
Also in 146 B.C., Roman troops moved east to defeat King Philip V of Macedonia
in the Macedonian Wars, and by year’s end Rome reigned supreme over an
empire stretching from the Atlantic coast of Spain to the border between
Greece and Asia Minor (now Turkey).
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Julius Caesar and the Roman Empire
H.2.1 - Conquest of other civilizations led to the expansion of the Roman
Empire from the Atlantic Ocean through the Middle East and as far north as the
island of Britain.
Rome was a republic for 400 years. Military generals and politicians struggled
for control of Rome.
Julius Caesar was a patrician politician and military general. He conquered Gaul
(France) and governed it for nine years. The Senate ordered Caesar home.
Caesar marched his army on Rome and started a civil war.
Caesar drove his enemy, Pompey, out of Rome. Caesar chased Pompey to
Egypt. Pompey died in Egypt. Caesar allied himself with Cleopatra.
In 44 BCE Caesar declared himself dictator for life. A dictator rules with
absolute power. Caesar made a lot of changes the Senate didn’t like, so they
ordered his execution. Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Senate on
March 15, 44 BCE. The republic was dead. Caesar’s legacy includes the 365-day
calendar.
18
Augustus Caesar and the Pax Romana
Gaius Octavius was born in 63 BCE. He was the grandnephew of Julius Caesar
and Caesar’s adopted son. After Julius Caesar’s assassination, “Octavian” was
crowned imperator (Emperor) and eventually changed his name to Augustus
Caesar.
Under his leadership the Roman Empire expanded across the Mediterranean
and for more than 200 years it kept peace throughout the region. The Roman
Empire eventually controlled most of Europe, all of the Mediterranean,
northern Africa, Asia Minor and the Fertile Crescent. The 200 years following
Augustus Caesar’s rule is called the Pax Romana (Roman Peace). Most of the
political achievements of Rome happened during this time.
One contribution of the Pax Romana was the Latin language, which became the
basis for Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese.
When Marcus Aurelius became Emperor in 161 CE, the Pax Romana began to
end. With his death in 180 CE, the Pax Romana ended.
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Roman Culture
C.1.1 - The myth of Romulus and Remus illustrates Roman values
that are reflected in cultural practices such as gladiatorial combat
and chariot races.
One of the best known examples of Roman architecture and
technology is the Colosseum, completed in 80 CE. It was used as
an arena for gladiatorial combat and entertainment. It was
similar to a modern-day football stadium.
Chariot races and bloody gladiator fights took place in the
Colosseum and the Circus Maximus. A gladiator was a specially
trained slave who fought men and animals to the death.
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Christianity
C.1.2 - The size and structure of the Roman Empire eventually led to the
acceptance and global spread of the Christian religion.
The followers of Jesus, originally a small group of Jews believing him to be
the Messiah, eventually formed the new religion known as Christianity.
Christians believe that Jesus is literally the son of God, that he resurrected from
the dead, and that his followers will live eternally in heaven after they die.
The Christian Bible is made up of an Old Testament based on Jewish holy books
and a New Testament chronicling the life and teachings of Jesus.
At first, Christianity was seen as a part of the Jewish faith. Under the leadership
of Paul, however, Christianity became a world religion and (though at first
punishable by death) spread quickly through the Roman Empire.
Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, allowing freedom of
religion in the Roman Empire.
Today, Christianity is the most widely followed religion in the world.
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The Fall of the Roman Empire
H.2.1 - Explain how invasions, conquests, and migrations affected various
civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., Mongol invasion, The Crusades, the
Peopling of the Americas and Alexander the Great).
Eventually, corruption, poor leadership, and outside invasions from a variety of
European and Central Asian tribal groups collectively known as barbarians led
to the fall of the Roman Empire
After the fall of Rome, the eastern half of the Roman Empire lived on as
the Byzantine Empire.