Ancient Rome

AP European History

Objectives

• Explain how geography influenced the development of Rome

• Discuss the evolution of Roman government• Describe the growth of the Roman Empire• Compare/Contrast the effectiveness of Roman leaders• Discuss the conditions under the Pax Romana• Describe the achievements of Rome• Discuss the rise and spread of Christianity• Explain the decline and fall of Rome

Geography of Rome

• Italy is the familiar “boot” peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea

• Mountains border Italy on the North (Alps)• The Apennines run the length of the peninsula• The city of Rome is located on a fertile plain,

its seven hills provide an advantageous lookout, and the Tiber River provides a transportation route

Physical Geography of Italy

The Early Roman Republic

• Patricians (wealthy landowners) controlled government through the Senate

• Plebeians (common people) could not hold public office

• Two consuls elected each year – directed government and commanded the army

• A dictator was appointed in times of crisis– Held absolute power– Ruled for six months

The Roman Army

• As Rome expanded it required all landowning citizens to serve

• Plebeian numbers in the army increased• Strict training and discipline resulted in an

effective military• Divided into legions of 6,000 soldiers• Legions were divided into smaller, more

mobile units

The Roman Legion

Changes in Government

• Plebeians demanded increased representation• Assembly of` Centuries– made up of Roman army– chose a censor who registered the population

• Assembly of Tribes– Made up of plebeians– Elected ten tribunes to represent them

• 451 BCE – drafted a law code – The Twelve Tables of Law

• Over time the rights of plebeians increased

Roman Expansion (509 BCE – 44 BCE)

• Controlled Italian peninsula by 264 BCE• Punic Wars (264 BCE – 146 BCE)– First Punic War - gained Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica– Second Punic War - defeat of Hannibal– Third Punic War – destruction of Carthage

• Conquered parts of Spain, southern Gaul, Macedonia, and Greece

• Conquests resulted in vast amounts of tribute• Resulted in creation of latifundia (large estates) and

many unemployed

Early Roman Expansion

Decline of the Republic

• Vast poor population violence and rebellion• Senate relied upon legions to suppress

violence• Popular generals built loyal armies• 88 BCE Sulla victorious in civil war military

generals would rule Rome for next 40 years

Rise of Julius Caesar

• Popularity in Rome from military successes in Spain

• 60 BCE – Generals Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus formed alliance – First Triumvirate

• Triumvirate soon deteriorated• 49 BCE - Senate ordered Caesar to disband his

army• His army entered Rome and conquered army of

Pompey

Rule of Caesar

• Returned to Rome in 44 BCE and appointed dictator for life

• Introduced a series of reforms– Distributed land to poor– Gave citizenship to people in provinces– Reduced unemployment– Increased pay for soldiers

• Reduced power of Senate• Assassinated in Senate on March 15, 44 BCE

Age of Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE)

• First Roman Emperor• Rome entered the Pax Romana (27 BCE – 180

CE)• Golden age of peace and prosperity• Reorganized army – had soldiers settle in

provinces• Used civil service system• Established a census for tax purposes

Successors to Augustus

• Nero – Rome burned in 64 CE• Trajan – empire peaked in size• Hadrian – new laws protecting women,

children & slaves, defensive wall across Britain• Marcus Aurelius – fought Germanic invaders

on the border

Hadrian’s Wall

The Pax Romana

• Rome became an international city• Emperors engaged in vast building projects• Roman navy protected water trade routes• Roman army protected land trade routes• Growing gap between rich and poor• Use of slaves undermined small farmers and small

businesses• Expansion created economic problems –

devalued coins and inflation

Greco-Roman Achievements

• Art & Architecture– mosaics– columns, arches & domes– concrete

• Technology & Science– bridges and roads– aqueducts– Pliny the Elder – 37 volume Natural History– Galen – medical encyclopedia

Roman Mosaic

Greco-Roman Achievements

• Literature– Cicero – logical argument– Horace – poetry– Virgil – History of Rome– Tacitus – the Annals

• Law– Common standard of justice– Twelve Tables of Law– Foundation of European law codes

Rise of Christianity

• Roman occupation of Israel led to increased belief in a messiah – savior from God

• Gospels give an account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth• Jesus attracted large crowds – stressed love of God and

compassion for others• Taught using parables – short stories with simple moral

lessons• Arrested by Jewish leaders and taken before Pilate – Roman

official• Seen as a threat to Roman authority he received a death

sentence from Pilate

Spread of Christianity

• Twelve apostles chosen to carry on Jesus’ teachings• Apostle Peter traveled to Rome to convert Jews to

Christianity• Apostle Paul established Christian communities

throughout the Roman Empire• Paul’s letters to various churches helped shape early

Christian doctrine• Persecution of Christian martyrs by Roman

authorities resulted in growth of converts

Church Organization

• Bishops administered larger territories called sees

• Priests conducted worship services• In time the bishop of Rome became the

dominant leader of the church – Pope• Organization created a strong and efficient

church system with its own code of law

Decline of the Roman Empire

• Lack of a system of succession led to many civil wars– Decline in law and order– Disruption of trade– Invaders attacked the empire

• Emperor Diocletian divided the Roman Empire in half

• Emperor Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium – closer to the commercial center of the empire

Fall of the Roman Empire

• Germanic tribes invaded Roman territory– Growing Germanic tribes sought new lands– Invasion of Huns into Germanic regions

• 451 CE - combined Germanic & Roman force stopped Huns at Battle of Troyes in Gaul

• 476 CE – Germanic chief, Odoacer captured Rome fall of western half of Roman Empire

Causes of the Decline• Political

– Loss of responsibility among Roman citizens toward government– Corrupt leaders lack of capable leaders– Division of the empire difficult to govern

• Economic– Loss of tribute from newly conquered lands– Civil wars & Germanic invasions disrupted trade & taxation– Devaluing of Roman money– Heavy taxes and high unemployment

• Social– Loyalty decayed– Lack of discipline and patriotism among army recruits– Epidemics and sense of hopelessness