Download Creation of Roman Empire Geography Central location contributed

Creation of Roman Empire
Geography Central location contributed to the spread of the empire. Italy was a
crossroads of the Mediterranean. Tiber River and hills of either side of centralized
Rome formed natural barriers to the city. Mild Mediterranean climate gave them a
long growing season.
Republic of Farmers Romulus and Remus raised by she-wolf legend. Agriculture
was the basis of wealth in Rome. First of seven Roman kings was Romulus, the last
of which was Tarquinius Superbus. In 507, the senate disposed of Superbus and
established the republic. The Roman Republic had assemblies that all men could
attend but the votes of wealthier men counted more than poor men. Central power
was in the Roman Senate, an advisory council. Senators nominated their sons to fill
their positions after they died. The basic unit of Roman society was the family.
Oldest living male (paterfamilias) was in authority of the entire family. Individuals
and families were tied together with patron/client relationship, sort of like a
master/apprentice relationship. Roman women never ceased to be a child in the
eyes of the law. The Romans were concerned with maintaining pax deorum (peace
of the gods) a covenant between the gods and the Roman state.
Expansion in Italy
Some people says Rome’s expansion was because of their
greed, aggressiveness, and fondness of war. Others say the structure of the Roman
state because two consuls had only one year in office to be great. Romans said they
were only defending themselves. Rome’s conquest of Italy was sparked by friction
between the Apennines. A key to Roman success was their willingness to grant
political, legal, and economic privileges of Roman citizenship to those conquered.
The reservoir of manpower available to the army had a major role too. Governors
were sent to distant Roman regions to defend the province from external and
internal forces, oversee tax collection, and decide legal cases. Because each man only
had a year, there was little time to get accommodated to the job and create local
contacts. This system proved to be inadequate because of dishonesty of man and
lack of experience most of them had.
Failure of the Republic
Two factors driving profound changes: Italian peasant
farmers were away from home on military service for long periods, and most of the
wealth generated by conquest and control of new provinces was in the upper
classes who wanted to buy land. This allowed for small peasant owned farms to be
acquired by rich men and turned into large ranches (latifundia). Because farmers
were called to the military, the kind of men whose opinions were left were all rich
politicians. Sulla, Pompeii, Mark Antony, Ocatvian, Julius commanded armies were
loyal to the generals. Octavaian, first among equals, eliminated rivals and
refashioned the Roman system of government by altered the realities of power but
maintains the republic. The Roman Principate was the time following the Roman
Republic. Augustus was a honorific title given to him by other officials. Emperors
were never hereditary. Augustus allied with equites, rich Italian merchants and
landowners.
Urban Empire
80% of 50MIL engaged in agriculture in the countryside. The
empire was administered through urban. Antioch, Alexandria, and Carthage has
several thousand people. Rome had about 1MIL. Largest cities put a huge strain on
technological advances. Upper classes lived in townhouses on one of the Seven Hills
of Rome. The house was centered on a rectangular courtyard, large dining room,
interior dining room, and private bath. Most aristocrats had several countryside
homes for retreat. Poor people lived in dumpy, crowded slums. The smaller towns
were a replica of Rome in physical layout, and political structure. Each town was
autonomous by paying taxes to Rome; in return, Rome left them alone and protected
them. The municipal aristocracy provided forum, plaza, gardens, government
buildings, theatres, baths, etc for its thousand people. Rural populations had to fend
for themselves, and had little contact with Rome except for the tax collector. Land
was concentrated into fewer hands; except for during civil wars in which it was
reversed. Slaves were replaced by tenant slaves who were turned over a portion of
their gatherings to their owners. Wealth was concentrated in the cities but was
based in the agricultural stuff in the countryside. Manufacture and trade was
established during pax Romana. Fine manufactured products were exported
throughout the empire. Luxury items like silk from China and spices from
India/Arabia were being imported. Surplus revenues were transferred to Rome to
support the emperor and the government and the provinces to pay the soldier. This
was made possible by the taxes and networks of trade routes. Romanization: the
spread of the Latin language, and the Roman way of life. This was confined to the
western because the east had Greek culture. Rome didn’t force people to be
Romanized but those who did, had benefits. Men who completed a 26-year terms of
service in the native army and then were granted Roman citizenship. Caracalla in
212 CE granted citizenship to “all.” This unified the region and decentralized the
power.
The Rise of Christianity
Judea was put under Roman rule in 6 CE.
Technology & Transformation
Massive architectural projects were not only for
public use but also for political statements. After Augustus’ death Roman armies
switched from offensive to defensive strategies. Parthia was their only technological
competitor. Third Century Crisis: political, military, and economic problems nearly
destroyed the Roman empires. Most visible was the frequent change of rulers; 20+
men claimed to be ruling during this period. Most were overthrown or killed by
troops. Regions that felt Rome was not protecting them “elected” a man that had big
promises. The cost of paying troops, drained the empire treasury. Municipal
aristocracies had to personally make up for what their citizens didn’t pay in taxed.
But they were unable to do this because of ineffective trade. Shift of population from
cities to rural areas. Shrinking of cities, we see the roots of the European economy
and politics. Diocletian was from east, rose through the army and was given power
in 284 CE. He implemented solutions like issuing an edict that set prices for goods,
made people teach their sons their profession to ensure an adequate supply of
workers and services. This government was completely new and had unforeseen
consequences like the black market, un-patriotism. He resigned in 305, and many
people battled for the thrown. Constantine was able to unite the entire empire by
his sole rule. In 312 he won a key battle over the Tiber River. Before this battle he
saw a cross on the sun. He converted to Christianity. Christianity became a political
advantage. Bosporus turned into Constantinople. Urban centers in the eastern half
had better withstood those in the western half. More educated, Christian people
were living in the east. Conversion of Constantine and the transfer of the imperial
capital away from Rome, marked the end of Roman history.