Download 1.2 Rome

The Romans
Ch 1.2
Etruscans ruled over Rome
- monarchy for each city-state
509 B.C. Romans drove out
Etruscans and established
REPUBLIC or “thing of the
people”
The Republic
Dictator
2 Consuls
Senate (300
officials)
•
Senators- life term in office
•
Senators elect 2 consuls yearly
•
Consuls ran the gov’t, armies
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Consuls had power, but could only
serve one term
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In time of war a dictator with total
control could hold office for 6 months
Limited terms/responsibility to senate = gov. check
https://s-media-cacheak0.pinimg.com/originals/76/6f/10/766f101a5f15a07f14bc79f2bb119514.jpg
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Roman law was inscribed on 12 tablets
that were displayed in the Forum.
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Over time the common people, or
plebeians, were able to gain rights and
power – could veto harmful laws.
Empire Building - West
• 3 Punic Wars with Carthage
gave Rome control of North
Africa & the West
– 2nd war – Hannibal crosses
Alps – destructive trail
– 3rd war – Rome destroyed
Carthage
• Expands land, trade, taxes
Empire Building - East
• Confronted Hellenistic rulers
• Macedonia, Greece, and
parts of Asia Minor
surrendered to Rome.
• By 133 BC, Rome had
gained control of most of the
area around the
Mediterranean.
• Empire brings huge amount
of wealth to Rome.
• Gradually begins to have
economic and social effects
https://groups.diigo.com/group/lizaoque/content/user/liza
oque?page_num=6
http://sharpsocialstudies.weebly.com/uploads/7/7/3/2/7732433/rome_empire_at_its_peak_map.png
Attempts at Reform
• Gracchus brothers try to bring reforms to
the Empire
– Land to the poor farmers, public money to buy
food for the needy, etc.
• Senate has them killed and Rome is thrown
into a series of civil wars
• By 51 BC Julius Caesar takes control
– Pushed through reforms that gave more people
citizenship, public works (employed people),
public land to the poor
First Emperors
• 44 B.C. was murdered by the
senate
• Power struggle followed,
Caesar’s nephew Octavian
Caesar wins the position of
ruler over the Roman empire.
• He is known as the first
Emperor Augustus or
“Exalted One.”
https://abidanshahdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/caesar-augustus.jpg
• Had total control, but kept some ideas of the republic
• Augustus created a foundation for stable government which included
Senate, Civil Services, High level jobs based on talent, and allowed
provinces to self govern
• His gov’t functioned well and led to a general peace which lasted about 200
years
• This time was know as Pax Romana or “Roman Peace” (peace, order,
unity, and prosperity)
Fall of Rome
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Ambitious generals seize power ending the Pax Romana
26 “emperors” in 50 years!
High taxes to support a large gov’t and army
Farmers need to move to the city to work
Numerous reforms were attempted.
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Diocletian splits the empire into
eastern and western empires.
Fixed prices of good to reduce inflation
Constantine
Tolerance towards Christians.
Built Constantinople (East)
Eastern Roman empire is known as
Byzantine Empire
Western Roman empire falls to invaders.
http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/interactive_learning/Barbarian/Map_Barbarian_Migrations.jpg
Roman Law
• By using reasoning, the Law of Nations
expanded Roman law to include citizens
and foreigners.
– Innocent until proven guilty, right to face your accuser,
defend yourself, guilt had to be established beyond a
reasonable doubt
• Justinian’s Code – collect, revise,
organize all laws of ancient Rome.
https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/constitution.jpg
Greco-Roman Civilization
• Greco-Roman civilization is based on
the blending of Greek, Hellenistic, and
Roman traditions
– Much of this civilization was preserved by
the Christian church, Byzantine Empire,
and the Muslim scholars.