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Rome Foundation to Ruin The beginning • First contact between Italy and Greece was around 900 B.C. for trade Government- Republic • Patricians (wealthy class of Rome) declare Rome a republic – a community in which people elect leaders • Most Romans were Plebeians (wealthy, nonaristocratic townspeople and landowners, merchants, shopkeepers, small farmers, and laborers) • Plebeians and Patricians could vote, pay taxes, serve in the military, but, Plebeians could not hold public office Government- Republic • Roman government was divided into the executive and legislative branches and controlled by the Patricians • Plebeians want more power in Republic – Plebeians eventually are allowed to serve in some public offices and are allowed to make some laws • Allowed to marry patricians • Failure to pay debts was no longer punishable by slavery – All of these things moved Rome closer to a democracy Expansion of Rome • Rome faced many rivals within Italy- they became allies or Rome conquered them • Connected with a chain of roads- later some become major trade routes Punic Wars • Rome vs. Carthage (other major power in Mediterranean) – 1st Punic War • Carthage threatens the Strait of Messina (between Sicily and Italy). Rome defeats Carthage on the Sea and makes Carthage pay for damages – 2nd Punic War • Hannibal (general of Carthaginian army in Spain) takes one of Rome's Spanish allies • Uses elephants and men – men afraid to cross the Alps (mountains in Northern Italy). They faced cold weather, snow, hunger, sickness, and attacks from mountain people. These kill ½ of his soldiers and most of the elephants. • Still, Hannibal is able to defeat the Romans, Romans eventually defeat Carthage making them give up lands in Spain, most of their war ships, and more money to pay for damages – 3rd Punic War • 50 years later • Carthage gains some more power, but is no threat to Rome • Romans burn down the city, sold the surviving population into slavery, and sowed salt in the soil so no crops would grow • Rome now has complete control over the western Mediterranean. From Republic to Empire • Wealth and expanding borders lead to many problems – Unhappy lower classes – Breakdown of military order – Unstable government • Rome fell into a civil war Julius Caesar • Julius Caesar – Military leader – Joined Crassus and Pompey to rule Rome as a triumvirate (group of 3 rulers) – Began increasing his power – Fights with Pompey and Crassus for power, people love him – 44 B.C. declared dictator for life Julius Caesar • • • • Absolute leader- total control Started many reforms Many senators fear/resent his power On March 15, 44 B.C. he is stabbed to death in the senate chamber Rome post Caesar • Civil war breaks out again- destroyed last pieces of the republic • Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus become rulers in the 2nd triumvirate – Octavian forces Lepidus to retire, Mark Antony and Octavian become rivals – Mark Antony met Cleopatra and left for Egypt • Later they are defeated and commit suicide Octavian • Julius Caesar’s grandnephew and adopted son • Restored some aspects of the republic but becomes the unchallenged ruler of Rome • Accepts title of Augustus, meaning “exalted one” • Becomes the 1st Emperor of Rome, also was the best emperor The Roman Empire • Peak of power from 27 B.C.- 180 • Time of peace and prosperity, known as the Pax Romana (Roman Peace) • Size: 3 million square miles, population of 60-80 million people • Very efficient government and able rulers The Roman Empire • Agriculture was the most important industry – 90% of people were engaged in this trade • Vast trade network around Mediterranean, as well as China and India • Rome had a network of roads connecting the Empire- all roads led to Rome Life in Rome • Valued discipline, strength, and loyalty • Most live in the countryside • Slavery was a significant part of life – May have been 1/3 of total population – Most were conquered people – Many treated cruelly and worked long hours – Strong men were forced to become gladiators- trained fighters Life in Rome • Religion – Polytheistic- based of Ancient Greeks – Main god was Jupiter and his wife Juno – Emperor was worshipped as part of the official religion • Rich lived extravagantly, huge class disparities • Bath houses- important centers for hygiene and social life Social Classes • Most Romans were unemployed • Given daily rations by government • Distraction by government- “bread and circuses” – Free games, races, mock battles, gladiator contests, and food – By 250 Rome celebrated 150 holidays a year Christianity • Became part of the later Roman Empire • Early Christians were killed or treated poorly • In 313, emperor Constantine announced the end to persecution of Christians – Christianity spreads throughout the Empire • Later, it becomes the main religion End of the Roman Empire • Problems within the Empire (reasons for the end) • Political instability • Economic decline • Invasions from outsiders Slowing the decline of the Empire (trying to stop the end) • Emperors- Diocletian, Constantine, Theodosius • Reforms • Splitting of the Empire Political Instability • Confusion and violence with each new emperor • Commodus inherits empire from his father Marcus Aureluis – Bad emperor- spends state money on own pleasures • From A.D. 192-A.D. 284 Legions installed 28 different emperors – Many they ended up killing off • Armies were busier fighting each other than worrying about invaders Invasions from the outside • Germanic tribes enter Rome for many reasons – Sought a warmer climate and better grazing land – Share of Rome’s wealth – Fleeing from the Huns (a fighting force from Asia) • Germanic warriors made a living by farming and raising cattle • They had little surplus for trade and were poor • There were many groups led by individual chiefs- only unifying factor was their language Invasions from the outside • Visigoths – One of the Germanic groups – Rebelled against Roman rule and defeated a large Roman army in the east – Aleric, a Visigoth chief, goes into Italy capturing and sacking Rome – After Aleric’s death, the Visigoths retreat • Huns – – – – – – Nomadic group from central Asia Chief was Attila- raided eastern empire Romans and Visigoths combine forces to defeat Huns Attila goes into Italy, plunders larger cities and terrifies people Famine and plague take their toll on the Huns Attila dies- Huns retreat • With Huns gone, other vandals continue to raid and sack Rome • Eventually, empire fades away by the late A.D. 400’s Economic Decline • Warfare disrupted production and trade • Profits declined sharply, forcing many out of business • Warfare destroyed farmland, causing food shortages that sent food prices soaring • Inflation- a rise in prices corresponding to a decrease in the value of money – To deal with lower incomes and rising prices, government makes more money – New coins were worth less money – To get same money, merchants raise prices – Causes inflation • Roman government kept increasing soldier pay • Landowners increased taxes, farming becomes less profitable, many farmers leave land = worsening the food shortages Emperors/Reforms/Split of Roman Empire • Struggle to halt complete decline of the empire • Manage to preserve the Eastern part for more than 1,000 years • In West, slow the invasions of Germanic tribes Emperors/Reforms/Split of Roman Empire • Diocletian (A.D. 284) – Raised the number of legions and traveled throughout the empire – Realized the empire was too large for one person to control- split empire into 2 different units- East and West – Tried to slow inflation- froze wages and set maximum prices for goods (called Edict of Prices)- this effort failed due to illegal trade • Tried to stop farmers from leaving their lands by requiring farmers who rented land to never leave their property and all workers had to remain at the same job throughout their lifetime Emperors/Reforms/Split of Roman Empire • Constantine (A.D. 312) – Made it legal for landowners to chain their workers to keep them on the farm – Declared most jobs hereditary- sons do fathers job – Moved the capital of eastern empire to Greek town of Byzantium later renamed Constantinople • Theodosius – West suffers more than East – Declares West and East two separate empires – East known as Byzantine Empire and West is Roman Empire