Chapter 6

Ancient Rome

THE ORIGIN OF ROMEDo you believe in Myths?

Section 1

Early Rome and the Republic

The Geography of Italy

• A Land of Geographic Differences– Italy: “boot shaped” peninsula– Alps mountains, Mediterranean Sea, mountains

rangers, islands, rivers

• Climate and Agriculture– cold to subtropical– poorly suited for agriculture– grapes & olives– location helped sea trade

The Early Romans

• Influences on Early Rome– Legend

• twin brothers Romulus & Remus founded Rome

– Earliest :Latin people (farmers and herders)

• Etruscans (central Italy)– Established many City-states – Alphabet, architecture, builders, and artists– Adopt many elements of the Greek culture

The Government of Republican Rome

• REPUBLIC – (property of the people)– a government in which much of the power is held by

elected representative; – voters chose people to represent them

• based on tradition, not a written constitution• Consuls

– two people elected each year, – proposed laws, – led army, – one had VETO power over the other

• to stop the passage of a law

• MAGISTRATES – government official– 1 year terms

• SENATE – council of representatives; made up of PATRICIANS – descendants of founding families of Rome,

upper class, ran government

• PLEBEIANS – commoners, controlled tribal assembly, made up the military

• TRIBUNES – (elected by the plebeian) – official who could attend meetings of the

assembly; forced patricians to publish written laws

Society in Republican Rome

• Oldest male head of family

• Ownership of slaves

• Women– Own property– Government decisions

Religion

• Similar to Greek Gods– Jupiter king of god– Juno wife of Jupiter (protector of marriage)– Minerva daughter (protector of wisdom) – Neptune (god of the sea)

Problems in the Late Republic

• gap between rich & poor widened

• enslaved captives began to outnumber free people

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Section 2

From Republic to Empire

The End of the Republic

• Major Changes for Rome

• 107 BC Marius named consul & re-elected many times, brought reform

• LEGIONS – chief fighting unit of Roman Army, 5,000 soldiers– rewarded soldiers with money & land

Julius Caesar and Rome

• TRIUMVERATE, group of 3 leaders • 60 BC Generals Pompey and Crassus

allied with Julius Caesar to form First Triumvirate;– Crassus killed in 53 BC

• Caesar’s goal: conquer Gaul (France), • Pompey tried to take his army • 49 BC Caesar returned to Rome, Pompey

fled to Greece

Caesar

• voted dictator for life

• Julian Calendar – July named after him

• March 15, 44bc – Brutus and Cassius, 2 senators,

• assassinated Caesar,

• now known as Ides of March

Augustus and Rome’s Golden Age

The Augustan (the first citizen)• Octavian (Caesar’s grandnephew) & Mark

Anthony joined forces to defeat Brutus & Cassius

• 31 BC Octavian defeated Mark Anthony & Queen Cleopatra of Egypt

• 27 BC given title by Senate: Augustus, meaning “revered”

• Pax Romana – period of peace in Roman world under Augustus

• made tax system more fair, set up census, supported building campaign

Culture in the Golden Age

• Rome under Augustus was its Golden Age– roads kept safe from thieves by army– pirates chased from sea trade routes– more trade between Rome, India, & China– architecture, town planning, temples & other

buildings were built

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Section 3

The Empire Declines

The Empire DeclinesEconomic, social and political conflicts

• Sharp division (rich & poor)

• Leisure Time– entertainment was free– comedies and dramas in theatres– chariot races at Circus Maximus– Coliseum – could hold 45,000 people, fighting

between wild animals & humans, or 2 gladiators (trained fighter, slaves, or condemned criminals)

Increasing Tensions/ period of decline

• Emperor had some Wealthy man Murdered and took their wealth

• INFLATION – steep rise in prices– Reduces people’s purchasing power

• Ruler became more brutal

• Power of army increased

Fifty Years of Trouble

• The Role of the Army– 20+ rulers in 50 years– ruled poorly– lead in making & breaking emperors – failed to protects its borders– Assassination of Rulers

Diocletian---key decisions

1. Divide the leadership 2 (co-leader)

1. Then into 4 --chief assistants (deputy)

2. Tetrarchy –Responsibilities shared by 4 individuals

2. Split empire into the eastern and western half each charge of their own half

3. Doubled the side of the army (1/2 million)

4. Revised tax structure/ fixed prices for goods

5. He retired (abdication- voluntary resignation)

Constantine the Great

• A capable ruler/ Brilliant military leader• Favored Christianity • Saw Vision of a cross over the battle field

– In this sign you will conquer • Edict of Milan: freedom to worship under his

control.• Became the first Christian emperor of the

Roman Empire

• United The Easter and Western co-empires

• Set up a new tax system

• Founding of Constantinople (capital)– Today Istanbul– Rome fall—476 A.D.

Reasons for the Fall of Rome

Political causes• Harsh government• Corrupt officials• Divided empires in

the east and west• Internal political

struggles

Economic causes• Heavy taxes• Dec line of population• Decline of empire’s

wealth

Reason continued

Military causes• Foreign

invasions

• Weak borders protection

Social causes• Self-interested

upper class

• Loss of traditional values

• Lack of patriotism

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Section 4

The development of Christianity

Jesus and the first Christians

• Romans worshiped many Gods

• People could worship their own God as long as they showed loyalty for Roman Gods (distant regions)

• Jews who lived in Judaea rebelled

Jesus/ Roman GovernorPontius Pilate

• Jesus– Son of God, worship of God, – 10 commandments, Crucifixion

• Pontius Pilate– Found Jesus guilty of criminal actions– Nailed to a cross left to die

Spread of the Word

• 12 Apostles to spread Jesus teaching

• Jesus = Jesus Christ= Christianity

• Renouncing Evil by Baptism.

Freedom to worship

• The Roman Bishop becomes the Pope

• The leader of the Roman Catholic Church

• Missionaries spread the word world wide

Recap of Rome

video 17 minutes

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