Download Roman World Takes Shape

Rome
Geography
-Rome began as a small city-state in Italy but ended up
ruling the entire Mediterranean world.
- Its location
allowed for
good TRADE
I. The Roman Republic
A. Romans hated monarchy (rule by a king)
B. In 509 BCE- the Roman Republic is
established.
Republic- government leaders are
elected
C. Two main social classes:
1. Patricians
2. Plebeians
D. Powers are shared:
1. Senate- Patricians only
2. Consuls- Every year, Senators elected
two consuls to supervise the government
and command the armies.
3. Dictator- elected by the Senate for war
- six month time limit
E. Plebeians demand equality
1. Tribunes could veto laws
2. Laws of the Twelve Tables (450BCE)
allowed plebeians to appeal a judgment by
a patrician judge
- all citizens are
innocent until
proven guilty
- all citizens are
equal under the
law
- helped shape
Western legal
systems
II. The Punic
Wars
A.
B.
Rome vs. Carthage
over TRADE.
Three Punic Wars:
Rome wins all!
1. Rome won islands
2. Hannibal brought
elephants over the
Alps to surprise the
Romans. Rome still
wins!
3. Romans poured salt
on Carthage.
III. Roman Expansion
A. Roman Military
1. Legion- basic unit of the army = 5,000
men
2. The army was strong, well-disciplined,
and loyal.
3. Conquered people were required to:
 be loyal
 supply soldiers for the army
 pay taxes
4. Conquered people were allowed to:
keep their own culture and officials
IV. The Roman Empire
“Rome wasn’t built in a day!”
A. 270 BCE- Rome conquered the Italian Peninsula
B. 44BCE- Carthage, Greece, Spain, Gaul, parts of
Asia Minor
C. Changes in government:
In 48 BCE, Julius Caesar became dictator for
life
RESULT: ENDED THE REPUBLIC!
D. Julius Caesar assassinated in 44 BCE on the
Ides of March (March 15)
E. Augustus Octavian became dictator. Took title
of emperor.
RESULT: THE EMPIRE BEGAN
F. Augustus began the Pax Romana
(Roman Peace) which lasted 200 years.
V. Roman Economy
Expansion of the empire promoted trade
B. Mediterranean was a “liquid highway”
C. Army built roads
“All roads lead to Rome.”
D. Good were imported from all over the
empire.
A.
VI. Decline of Rome
A. Economic Problems
1. Cost of defending empire led to too
high taxes = over expansion
2. Inflation ($ is not worth as much)
and unemployment
B. Political Weakness
1. Government became corrupt and ineffective.
C. Military Decline
1. No citizen army.
2. Hired mercenaries- paid soldiers that were
less loyal than Roman citizens
D. Divided Empire
1. Emperor Diocletian divided the empire
East- capital was Constantinople
West- capital was Rome
Constantinople
Rome
DIOCLETIAN DIVIDE!
E. Foreign Invasions
1. Rome under constant attack by nomadic
tribes
- Attila the Hun
- Odoacer ousted the emperor (476 CE)
RESULT: THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE