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Western Roman Empire By: Marta Jonson, Sarah Klostermeyer, Hayley Bell, Chandler Haefele Trade Brought in money Empire cost a lot Sea routes covered Mediterranean and black seas Lots of lands using roads built by Romans Ostia most important because nearest to Rome a. This way could travel it to Rome fast b. Was captured in 409 AD causing Rome to starve Only one currency so it was easier Imported: beef, corn, glassware, iron, lead, leather, marble , olive oil, perfumes, dyes, silk, silver, spices, timber, tin, and wine Traded with Spain, France, and Middle East and North Africa Wars in Western Roman Empire Punic War o Between 264-146 BC o With the Carthaginians o Started from economic competition o Romans siege them and burned their city to the ground and forced survivors into slavery Collapse o Germanic empire, Odoacer, took over emperor, Romulus Augustus o Diseases weakened the empire o 476 CE Civil Wars o Crisis of the 3rd century o 50 years o Started with assassination of emperor o Rise of Sassanid dynasty Technology War technology used sophisticated armor and steel weapons blades (daggers, axes, swords) pole arms (spears, pikes, javelins) Slings and bows provided long range support fire Aqueducts Built to supple water Provided city with over 1 million cubic meter of water every day Water from aqueducts went to tanks then fed through pipes to fountains, toilets Bridges Roman Bridges first large bridges to be built Built of stone, and had an arch as a basic structure Roman architecture greatly influenced by Etruscans( columns, arches) Dams Also built for water collection Built 72 of them just in Spain and some dams still in use Roads First built for military use Most advanced roads at the time Roads could still be used for more than 1,000 years after fall of empire Plumbing First to invent indoor plumbing Had public baths Religion Judaism and Early Christianity: Relations between Jews and imperial authorities became tense as the Romans extended their empire in the eastern Mediterranean. While some Jews fought with the Romans, others found new sects that looked for saviors to deliver them from subjection. One such sect was formed by the Essenes, which formed their community in Palestine. They observed a strict moral code and participated in rituals to reinforce a sense of community. The early Christians had little contact with the Essenes, but they shared many of the same concerns. The Christians formed their community around Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish teacher who was recognized as their savior. He taught devotion to God and love for fellow human beings, and attracted large amount of people because of his wisdom and miraculous powers. But an impending kingdom of God sounded like a threat to Roman rule, so Roman administrators crucified Jesus by fixing him to a cross in the early 30’s CE. After his execution, early followers made a body of writings and letters outlining Christian teachings know and it gained recognition as the New Testament and it became the holy book of Christianity. The Paul of Tarsus was the principle figure in the expansion of Christianity beyond Judaism. He taught a Christianity that attracted the urban masses in the same way as other religions of salvation that had spread in the Roman Empire. His doctrine told people to observe high moral standards and to place faith above of interests. He traveled in search of converts and made journeys to different regions. In early Christian communities, the communities selected their own supervisors, known as bishops who oversaw the priests. Different leaders taught the story of Jesus’ resurrection differently. Some communities forbade women to serve as priests. During the first 3 centuries of Christianity, the numbers grew very rapidly. It influenced Roman life and taught the spiritual equality of the sexes. By the 3rd century CE, it had become the most dynamic religious faith in the Mediterranean basin. Greek Philosophy/Salvation During the early days, Romans recognized many gods/ goddesses who they believed intervened in human affairs. (Jupiter, lord of heavens, Mars, god of war, Ceres, god of grain, and Janus, god who watched over houses) The Romans drew inspiration from the Greek tradition of philosophy. The most prominent thought in Hellenistic Greece was Stoicism. The Stoics sought to identify a set of universal moral standards. Marcus Tullius Cicero adopted stoic values and was a persuasive orator that wrote letters that emphasized the individual’s duty to live in accordance with nature. He helped establish Stoicism in Rome. When thinkers drew inspiration from the Greeks, they found comfort in religions of salvation. These religions of salvation flourished in Rome. The most popular religion of salvation was the cult dedicated to Mithras. Mithras was a god associated with military virtues such as strength and courage. Mithraic religion was popular among armed forces. Mithras cults didn’t admit women. The cult of Isis admitted women, though, and it may have been the most popular cult before Christianity. Were dedicated to the goddess Cybele, and the Egyptian god Isis. The Social Order: 1) Royals and Patricians Included the emperor and patrician classes Sat at top of pyramid The elite class of Rome Emperor and family lived in suitable style, stayed in best villas, ate finest food, dressed in the most magnificent clothes, and could spend their days enjoying their favorite pastimes. But still wasn’t an easy life, the palaces were constantly filled with political intrigue. Patrician is Latin for “patres” or father. These people provided the empire‘s political, religious, and military leadership. Most wealthy landowners from old families who were promoted by the emperor. Enjoyed few privileges, were excuse from some military duties expected of other citizens, patricians could become emperor. 2) Senates 2nd on the Pyramid Held much less power than the predecessors Still had the right to confer the title of emperor There were 3 different ranks within the senators. Roman citizens age 25 or older with military and administrative experience could become quaestors, then you could move up on the ladder to aedileship, praetorship, and finally consulship. Senators had very special privileges, for example, they could hold the highest official offices and judgeships in criminal and civil courts. 3) Equestrians Ranked immediately below senators Class of wealthy businessmen Important in human resource They headed the “Imperial Civil Service” that Augustus founded Tax collectors, bankers, miners, and exporters Could rise to the rank of senator 4) Plebians Rome’s working class Farmers, bankers, craftsmen, builders Little individual power Couldn’t write Lots in poverty Sometimes formed mobs to riot or rebel against upper classes Augustus created a system of state bribery known as “bread and circuses” where he gave them free grain and controlled food prices so they wouldn’t starve while they got free entertainment such as chariot races in amphitheatres. This kept them from rioting. 5) Slaves and Freemen Most were foreigners and it was not based on race. Lives were very harsh; they were the property of their owners. Often whipped, branded, or even killed. Worked in private households, mines, factories, farms. Also could work for government to make roads and work on buildings. Slaves looked so much like Roman citizens that once they considered a plan to make them wear special clothing, but it got rejected because they thought the slaves would realize how many of them were working in Rome and rebel. Slaves could be freed through manumission, which encourages them to b obedient and hard working. Once freed, slaves could work the same job as Plebians. Gender Structure Roman law vested immense authority in male heads of families. The oldest male ruled the household as “pater familias” meaning “father of the family” The father of the family had the authority to arrange marriages for his children, determine the work that they would perform, and punish them for offenses. The father also had the rights to sell them into slavery and execute them. When the children were newborns, the father had the right to decide whether to keep the baby and accept it into the family or leave it abandoned outside. The woman was usually much younger than the husband. Women usually supervised domestic affairs in Roman households, helped select marriage partners for their children, and sometimes played large roles in managing financial affairs. There were strict limits on the ability of women to receive inheritances, but some clever women found ways to take advantages of loopholes. Only received basic education, if any. Women weren’t allowed to be active in politics and couldn’t vote or stand for office. A few women ran their own businesses. Political Organization The Two Traditional Parties Populares o Extension of citizenship to provincials, for the cancellation of debt, and for the distribution of land Optimates o The opposing conservative force, defending the traditions of Rome and the existing order Rulers of the Republic Rome was a realm of quasi kings: magistrates and senators o Senate was made up of former magistrates and was much like the court of a monarch o Roman magistrates powers were absolute and the highest magistrates were called the consuls. o Considered to be kings, had the powers of them The power of the offices The power of the office was know as the provincia o It eventually became the name for the ‘kingdoms’ Rome ruled over in its empire In those territories, governors, held the same powers as consuls over their subjects Offices: Consul- Head of state Dictator- Ruler in crisis Pontifex Maximus- Religion Censor- Public Morality Praetor- Law Officer Aedile- Public Works Quaestor- Treasurer Roman Army One of the world’s longest-lasting and most successful military organizations in history Fought primarily with spears, or swords if they were wealthy enough Those who could afford horses fought as cavalry 4,200 men total The Republican Army Rome depended on citizen soldiers o They spent their time farming but responded to the government’s call in times of emergency. Rome was regularly at war o Longer service was rewarded by rank and pay Soon, there was a need of more soldiers, then it was no longer a civic duty, but a profession The Imperial Army Once Augustus was in power, he worked to remove the army from the political realm. He divided Rome’s foreign holdings into imperial and senatorial provinces, with the army based in the imperial provinces Time of service was set at 20 years for citizens and 25 years for foreign auxiliaries. Roman citizenship was thrown in as a retirement perk fir foreigners. By the 2nd century A.D. only about 1% of the army was actually Roman. Pax Romana An era of relative peace Extended from the rule of Augustus to the reign of Marcus Aurelius From 27 B.C. to A.D. 180 During this time Roman emperors generally focused on centralizing the power rather than the expansion of the boundaries of the empire. The Client System A client was a loyal supporter to a high-standing Roman family. The head of the higher family would be the ”patronus” or the patron The client supported the patron loyally in any venture, whether it’s military or political. The client system formed foundations of the Roman state. The client system surrounding a patron would look out for its individuals. Acted as a kind of police, made sure no harm came to their own, that nothing was stolen from them. If one was struck down by poverty, the other clients and most likely the patron would make sure that they got a loan.