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The Roman World Chapter 13 Section 2 The Roman World The Big Idea The Romans unified parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia in one of the ancient world’s greatest civilizations. Main Ideas • The Roman Republic was governed by elected leaders. • The Roman Empire was a time of great achievements. • The spread of Christianity began during the empire. • Various factors helped bring about the decline of Rome. Main Idea 1: The Roman Republic was governed by elected leaders. Government • Rome was originally a monarchy. • In 509 BC the Romans overthrew their king and created a republic, a government in which people elect their leaders. • Rome’s leaders were advised by the Senate, a council of powerful Romans. • All Roman citizens were encouraged to vote and take part in the government. Expansion • Under the republic, Rome grew. By 100 BC the Romans ruled much of the Mediterranean world. • The Romans conquered and took over many lands. For example, they fought and defeated Carthage in North Africa. Main Idea 2: The Roman Empire was a time of great achievements. • The change from republic to empire began after the murder of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. • Caesar’s adopted son Octavian took over the Roman world. As ruler, he was renamed Augustus, which means “honored one.” • Augustus was respected for his many accomplishments: – Added territory to the empire – Built monuments and public buildings – Improved roads • Augustus’s rule was the beginning of the Pax Romana or Roman Peace, a period of peace and achievement that lasted for about 200 years. Achievements of the Pax Romana Building and Engineering • Great builders and engineers • Many Roman buildings are still standing today. • Romans also built durable roads, bridges, and aqueducts, or channels used to carry water over long distances. Language and Law • Many modern languages based on Latin, the Roman language • Wrote great plays, poems, and stories • Roman law influenced many legal systems around the world, including that of the United States. Main Idea 3: The spread of Christianity began during the empire. • Christianity is based on the life, actions, and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. • Christianity began in Judea in southwest Asia but quickly spread through the rest of the Roman world. • Early Christians traveled from city to city, teaching people about their beliefs. As a result, large communities of Christians formed in many Roman cities. Christianity in the Roman World • Some Roman leaders feared that Christians would rebel against the government. Persecution • To prevent rebellion, these leaders began to persecute, or punish, Christians. • Christians practiced their religion in secret to avoid persecution. • In the 300s the emperor Constantine became a Christian. Acceptance • Constantine ended persecution. • In the 380s all non-Christian religions were banned in Rome. Official Religion • Christianity became a powerful influence in the Roman world. Main Idea 4: Various factors helped bring about the decline of Rome. • By the late 300s, Roman society was weakening. – Crime rates rose. – Taxes and poverty increased. – The Roman education system broke down. – The government fell apart. – Many people no longer felt loyal to Rome. • Many factors contributed to the weakening. Factors in Rome’s Decline Government Problems Invasions • For years Rome was ruled by bad emperors who were more interested in their own happiness than in ruling well. • Barbarian invaders began to attack Roman territory in the 300s and 400s. • Ambitious military leaders tried to take over, but they were no better than the bad emperors. • Civil wars between rival leaders added to Rome’s problems. • The powerful invaders defeated Roman armies and took land away from the Romans. • In 476 an invading group destroyed Rome and overthrew the last emperor. Most historians consider this event the end of the Roman Empire in western Europe.