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ROME
Unit 7
Geography
• Middle of Europe and juts
out into the middle of the
Mediterranean.
• Protection but not
isolation from mountains
(Alps). Sea provides
protection and
transportation.
• Peninsula has rich soil
and a mild climate. Can
support a large
population.
The Founding of Rome
• Legend of Romulus and Remus who were raised by a
wolf and a Sheppard builds Rome.
• People who built Rome were Latin Kings in 1000 B.C.E.
• Located on Tiber River which grants access to North,
South, and the sea.
Forming A Government
• The Etruscans: From Northern Italy they defeat the Latin Kings
that ruled.
• They were very skilled in pottery, engineering, and building,
being believed to first use the arch in architecture.
• 900BCE: Settled colonies on southern Italian peninsula and
Sicily for trade with Greece. (later influencing Rome).
• 509 BCE: Etruscans overthrown, Republic formed
• Patricians and plebeians wrote a constitution
• Leaders and commoners at the Forum
Roman Society
• Patricians- noble families control every aspect of life in
Early Rome.
• Plebeians- common people. Later refused to fight until
demands were met.They formed the plebian council to
gain more power.
• Tribunes elected to protect plebeians and later given the
power to veto, or ban, laws that seemed unfair.
• Plebeians force the Patricians to write down laws- Laws
of the 12 tables (page 165)
Rights & Responsibilties
• The 12 tables (laws) gave certain rights to
its citizens.
• Citizens have certain responsibilities:
– Military service
– Pay taxes
– Vote
Roman Forum
The Republic
• Senate: 300 members
who advised elected
officials, finances, and
foreign relations.
• Various Assemblies: all
voted on and and elected
officials.
• Magistrates: put laws into
practice and governed in
the name of the senate.
• Consuls: two magistrates
elected to one year
terms. Chief executives
and commanders of the
army.
• Page 166
Rome Expands
• Roman population grows
and they needed more
land and resources.
• They conquer the rest of
Italy.
• Went to the Aid of Sicily
when they got into conflict
with Carthage-Punic
Wars (3)
• During this time they fight
others and Greece,
Persia, and Macedonia
become provinces of
Rome.
• Rome wins and becomes
new Mediterranean
power.
Republic to Empire
Social Unrest/ Military in
Politics
Social War/ Civil War
• Senate refuses
Roman allies
• Vast new land
citizenship
stretched the Roman
• Italian Rebels fight.
political system to its
• Lucius Cornelius
limit.
Sulla general from
• Tension between
revolt becomes
various classes.
consul.
• Gracchi Brothers
• Civil war between him
and another, uses
(Tiberius and Gaius)
army to put it down.
worked towards better
treatment of soldiers.
Solutions
• Senate tried to
intentionally kill the
Gracchi Brothers in
Forum.
• Violence and private
armies first used as
political tools.
• Italian Rebels
defeated but granted
citizenship.
• Carried out reforms to
protect the senate but
does the opposite.
1st Triumvirate
• Three men took over the Roman Republic
as the 1st Triumvirate or rule of 3 men.
(Caesar, Pompey, Crassus).
• Crassus died.
• Caesar vs. Pompey in Civil war
• Caesar wins becomes dictator.
Julius Caesar
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Positive
Conquered Gaul and
Egypt
Stopped rebellions
Gave citizenship
Resettled landless by
giving land
Built roads
Reduced debt
Gave slaves
Said no to a crown 3
times
•
•
•
•
•
Negative
Took too much power
Glory for himself
Ambitious
Showed no signs of
giving up.
Refused crown
because he was king
without the title.
Senators feared him and murdered
him on March 15th
2nd Triumvirate
• Caesar’s adopted son and
heir Octavian, a loyal
officer named Marc
Anthony, and high priest
Lepidus take power.
• Lepidus is pushed aside,
empire split in half.
• Civil War break out,
Octavian defeats Anthony
and Cleopatra.
• Octavian now sole rule and
calls himself ‘first citizen”
• Senate gives him title of
Augustus (revered one).
• The Empire Begins!
Roman Military
• All Roman men ages of 17 and 46 with a
minimum amount of property were required to
serve in the army during times of war.
• Organized into units called legions
• Centurions were the backbone of the legions
who were commissioned officers who
commanded a century of 100 men.
Pax Romana
• A period of time from 27 B.C.E. till 180
C.E. called the Roman Peace.
• It has traits such as:
– Stable government (provinces ruled by
governors having everything modeled after
Rome).
– Strong legal system (Laws unified all under
Roman Control).
– Widespread trade (agriculture still #1, tenant
farming and manufacturing. Also trade
allowed through location and extensive road
network).
– peace
Roman Culture:
Life for the rich
• Wealth was not distributed or divided
equally.
• Rich influenced politics
• Both a city and a country home
• Spent most time in politics.
• Public officials not paid only wealthy could
afford to do it.
Roman Culture:
Life for the poor
• People lived in crowded, dangerous and
unclean areas.
• Fire posed constant threats.
• To prevent rebellions free food and public
entertainment became a major feature.
• Two things mattered bread and circuses.
Entertainment
• Romans of all classes
enjoyed these things.
• Circus Maximus: A
racetrack that could
hold 250,000
spectators
• Theater: Comedies &
satires were a
favorite; also mimes,
jugglers, dancers,
acrobats & clowns
• Gladiator battles in
the Colosseum:
usually ended in the
death of one or both
participants
• Public baths: for
bathing, hygiene, and
a gym/spa type
atmosphere
Family
• Families were patriarchal
• Emphasized virtues of simplicity, religious
devotion, and obedience.
• Adoption was common for many families
especially if they needed a son.
• Women could inherit and own property
although could do little without male
intervention.
• Lower class women had more freedom
especially working outside of the home.
Education & Religion
• Education was highly
valued and important
especially literacy,
Latin, Greek, law,
math, and public
speaking.
• Believed in many
gods (polytheism)
• Gods and goddesses
were barrowed from
other religions
• Worshipped
household gods
• Emperor was
considered a god.
Architecture
• Romans were very practical-applied
scientific knowledge to the planning of
cities, building water & sewer systems, &
improving farming methods.
• They built roads, bridges, amphitheaters,
public buildings, & aqueducts.
• The Roman urban plan: a grid of roads,
temples, baths, theaters & a central
forum.
Language & Literature
• Several Romance languages developed
from Latin the language of Rome.
• French, Italian, Spanish, Romanian, or
Portuguese. Even some English.
Judaism
• After Rome conquered Judea a new
Roman king was appointed.
• They did not make the Jews convert to
polytheism though-they only had to pay
tribute.
• Some Jews resisted Roman rule entirely.
• Others chose to wait on the coming
Messiah who would restore the world to
peace.
Christianity
• Jesus’ taught people to seek forgiveness
of their sins
• Almost all of what we know about Jesus
comes from the Gospels
• He was very popular among the people
• Authorities worried that he would cause an
uprising-so he was arrested & sentenced
to death
Spread of Christianity
• Jesus chose 12 disciples who later
became the Apostles
• They took Christianity throughout the
Roman world
• The Apostle Paul was most important to
the spread of Christianity
• Christianity was popular because of its
message of love & eternal life after death.
Constantine
• An emperor who converted after having a
vision before a battle
• He was told to fight in the name of the
cross
• He did this & after winning he made
freedom of religion law so Christians
would no longer be persecuted
The Roman Empire’s issues
• Taxes rose and the value of money
declined when coins were made with
copper and lead to compensate.
• Invasion threats at all fronts.
• Militaries grow large and resource
demands caused economic crisis.
• Crime increases due to economic crisis.
• Weak leaders, facing off in a series of civil
wars.
• No new expansion to bring in new
revenue.
Rome’s Solutions
• Diocletian (dy-uh-klee-shuhn) new
emperor takes absolute rule and splits the
empire in two (east & west)
• A Co-Emperor rules the west with
assistants names Caesars to help rule.
• Harsh regulations and rigid class structure
to bring order.
• He increased the army and gave it all his
attention.
• Economy now state directed.
Constantine
• After Diocletian the next co-emperors fell
into civil war.
• Constantine wins but takes the east part of
the Empire, moving the capital to
Constantinople.
• He also legalizes Christianity.
Issues not solved
• These leaders only put off the issues but
they remained and grew with increased
pressure from surrounding tribes.
• The Huns from the east (Asia) pushed
Germanic tribes into the Empire.
• Osrogoths, Visigoths, and the Vandals
attack Rome at various points.
• The Pope convinced Attila to leave Italy.
• The Western part of the Empire is in
shambles and falls.
Byzantine Empire
• The eastern half of the empire remains for
several centuries.
• New growing influences especially Greek
changes the culture and make it less
Roman.
• As a result most historians refer to it as no
longer Roman but the Byzantine Empire.