Download Social Studies 9R – Mr. Berman Aim #8: Is the Pax Romana really

Social Studies 9R – Mr. Berman
Aim #8: Is the Pax Romana really the golden age of Rome?
Historical Context: Following the assassination of Julius Caesar, power in Rome was again divided among three
influential men. These men were Octavian (Caesar’s grandnephew and handpicked heir), Marc Antony (Caesar’s
ally and assistant) and Lepidus (Caesar’s former cavalry commander). Together, they were known as The Second
Triumvirate, and ruled Rome from 44 B.C. to 31 B.C. Following the death of Lepidus, Octavian and Antony ended
up in a civil war to gain complete control of Rome. Antony was defeated and Octavian became the sole ruler of
Rome. Once he gained power, Octavian declared himself to be an Emperor and took the name of Augustus (“the
revered one”), a title that had only been used before this to refer to the gods. At this point, the Roman Republic
officially ends and we start referring to Rome as the Roman Empire. Augustus ruled from 31 B.C.-14 B.C., and
proved to be an excellent ruler: he gave food and jobs to the poor, kept a standing army of 150,000 men, extended
Rome’s territory and built more roads. Following a brief period of instability following Augustus’ death, Rome
entered a golden period called the “Pax Romana” or Roman peace (96 A.D. – 180 A.D.). Rome had five “good”
emperors in a row (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius) who maintained peace and
prosperity, promoted trade, extended the empire, built public works and used government money to help the poor.
This allowed Rome to maintain a population of 70 million people!
1. What was the Second Triumvirate? Why do you think these particular individuals were able to gain power
following Caesar’s assassination?
2. How did Octavian (Augustus) become the first Emperor of Rome? Why do you think he took the name
Augustus?
3. Why is the period from 96 A.D. – 180 A.D. considered the “Pax Romana” (golden age of Rome)?
Document 1: Map of Rome during the Pax Romana
4. What major territories and regions did Rome control during the Pax Romana?
Document 2: Roman Architecture
The Romans were some of the greatest builders in the ancient world. They learned how to use columns and arches in
their buildings from the Greeks and Etruscans. They improved on the arch by inventing the dome, a roof formed by
rounded arches.
The Dome of the Roman Pantheon (the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome), built in 125 A.D.
The Romans also made new building materials, such as concrete. They mixed lime and soil, which would harden when
it dried. Roman architects used this to build huge structures like the Colosseum. The reason many Roman works of
Roman architecture survive to this day is because concrete is so durable.
It is often said that "all roads lead to Rome," and in fact, they once did. The road system of the Ancient Romans was one
of the greatest engineering accomplishments of its time, with over 50,000 miles of paved road radiating from the
center of Rome. Although the Roman road system was originally built to facilitate the movement of troops throughout
the empire, it was inevitably used for other purposes by civilians
5. How was Roman architecture influenced by earlier civilizations? What were some new architectural or
building methods developed by the Romans?
6. How will a 50,000 mile network of roads contribute to the success of Roman civilization? Provide specific
examples.
7. What do you think was Rome’s most important contribution in the field of architecture? Why?
Document 3: Roman Aqueducts
Roman cities began to grow quickly to be the largest and most populated in the world. Water was very scarce. The
Romans had to find ways to bring water into the cities. Their solution was to take water from distant wells or
natural springs. They built stone structures called aqueducts to carry water. The aqueducts went through
mountains, across valleys or even across towns. The Romans made more than 200 aqueducts. Many can still be
seen today.
8. Where did the Ancient Romans get their water from?
9. What purpose did an aqueduct serve?
Document 4: Roman Entertainment
During the Pax Romana, poor Romans could visit the Colosseum or the Circus Maximus to receive free bread and
entertainment. The entertainment on display was some of the most violent the world has ever seen. This combination
of food and violent spectacle became known as “Bread and Circuses.” Countless men and women (many of them
slaves) and hundreds of thousands of animals were killed providing entertainment to the Roman masses. The Roman
historian Suetonius described “Bread and Circuses” in his biography “The Reign of Domitian:”
[The emperor] constantly gave grand costly entertainments, both in the [Colosseum] and in the Circus Maximus, where
in addition to the usual races between two-horse and four-horse chariots, he also exhibited two battles, one between
forces of infantry and the other by horsemen; and he even gave a naval battle in the [Colosseum]. Besides he gave
hunts of wild beasts, gladiatorial shows at night by the light of torches, and not only combats between men but
between women as well….
He made a present to the people of three hundred shows each on three occasions, and in the course of one of his shows
in celebration of the feast of the Seven Hills gave a plentiful banquet, distributing large baskets of food to the senate
and knights, and smaller one to the commons; and he himself was the first to begin to eat. On the following day he
scattered gifts of all sorts of things to be scrambled for.
10. What were “Bread and Circuses?” Provide some examples of the forms of entertainment Romans could
enjoy at the Colosseum or Circus Maximus.
11. Why do you think the Roman government provided “Bread and Circuses” to the people at no cost (think
about how Rome’s leaders could benefit from providing them).
12. Do you think we place the same emphasis on violent entertainment in the United States today that the
Romans did? Support your argument with specific examples.
Document 5: Economic problems during the Pax Romana
Even during the Pax Romana, there were serious problems. The gap between the rich and poor that had existed
since the time of the republic was still enormous, and many Romans lived in terrible poverty. The historian Herbert
Muller describes these problems in his book Uses of the Past:
First the economic factor …While the empire was expanding, its prosperity was fed by plundered wealth and by new
markets in the semibarbaric provinces. When the empire ceased to expand, however, economic progress
soon ceased…. The abundance of slaves led to growth of the latifundia, the great estates that … came to dominate
agriculture and ruin the free coloni (farmers) who drifted to the cities, to add to the unemployment there. The
abundance of slaves kept wages low.
13. According to Muller, what major economic problems did Rome face during the Pax Romana?
Evidence Based Claim (write one paragraph in response): Should the Pax Romana really be considered a
golden age in Roman history? Take a position, and support your response with THREE specific pieces of
evidence.