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Rome conquered the Italian peninsula & came into contact with Carthage, a city-state on the northern coast of Africa.

246BC- 146BCRome fought wars against CarthageWe call these the Punic Wars1st Punic war Rome won and took over Sicily

Corsica, & Sardinia

Carthage sought revengeHannibal led his army across the Pyrenees,

through France, & over the Alps into Italy.For 15 years Hannibal moved through Italy

winning battles, but he never captured Rome.The Romans outflanked him by sending an

army to attack Carthage , & Hannibal retreated to defend his homeland where he was defeated.

After the 2nd Punic War many Romans still saw Carthage as a rival even after they gave up all their lands except those in Africa

In the 3rd Punic War Rome completely destroyed CarthageSurvivors were killed or sold into slaveryRomans salted their lands to prevent growth

• It has been said that while others fought for their own preservation; the Romans fought for supremacy & world domination.

• The Romans were committed to imperialism, or establishing control over foreign lands & peoples.

• Rome conquered Greece, parts of Asia Minor, & Macedonia. They then became lands under Roman rule called provinces.

• Egypt allied with Rome. • 133BC

– Roman power extended from Spain to Egypt.– Romans called the Mediterranean Mare Nostrum

which translates to mean “Our Sea”

With Rome gaining more land, they also gained control of many busy trade routes. This brought many riches to Rome.

Generals, officials, & traders gained fortunes from loot, taxes, & commerce.

The new wealthy Romans built mansions filled with luxuries imported from the east.

Latifundias or huge estates began popping up. The conquered slaves were brought to work on these

Widespread use of slaves hurt small farmersThey were unable to produce food as cheaply as the

latifundiaHuge quantities of grain pouring in from

conquered lands drove down prices.Many farmers fell into debt & had to sell their

landLandless farmers then flocked to Rome & other

cities looking for jobs.This developed a restless class of unemployed

people & created a gap between the rich & the poorThis also increased corruption because greed &

self interest replaced the virtues of hard work, & devotion to duty

Tiberius & Gaius GracchusBrothers who were the 1st to attempt reformTiberius was elected tribune in 133BC & sought

to distribute land to poor farmersGaius Gracchus elected 10 years later sought

more reformsUse of public funds to buy grain to feed the poor

These reforms angered the senate, & they were killed by the senates hired thugs

They were unable to resolve their problems, & civil wars began. Such as who should hold power

This turmoil sparked slave uprisings & revolts among Rome’s allies

Citizen soldiers became professional armies whose first loyalty was to their commanders.

Caesar was an ambitious military commanderHe dominated politics with Pompey, who was

another brilliant general59BC

Set out to make new conquests9 years of fighting later he completed his

conquest of Gaul (modern day France)Pompey became fearful of Caesar’s rising fame,

& ordered the senate to tell him to disband his army & return home

Caesar disobeyed this order, & crossed the Rubicon River into northern Italy.

He then headed towards Rome & crushed Pompey & his supporters.

After he conquered Pompey, he swept around the Mediterranean suppressing rebellions.

He said “Veni, vidi, vici” --- “I came, I saw, I conquered”

He returned to Rome & forced the senate to make him dictator.

48-44 BC Caesar’s ReformsPublic works program to employ the joblessGave public land to the poorGranted citizenship to more peopleInduction of a new calendar, the Julian Calendar

is basically the same one we use today

Caesar’s enemies feared he would make himself king of Rome.

March 44BC Caesar arrived in the senate, & his enemies stabbed him to death

This caused more civil wars.Mark Antony, Caesar’s chief general, along

with Octavian, Caesar’s grandnephew, joined forces to hunt down the murderers.

31BCOctavian defeated Antony and Queen Cleopatra

of Egypt after they quarreled for power

The senate gave Octavian the title of Augustus which means Exalted One. Augustus exercised absolute power & named his successor just like a king would do.

He ruled from 31BC- AD14. This was the beginning of the Roman EmpireAugustus laid the foundations for a stable

governmentHe had a civil-service to enforce laws.High-level jobs were open to men of talent

regardless of class.He ordered a census or population countSet up a postal service & issued new coins

Not all of Augustus’ successors were great rulers.Caligula & Nero were evil & possibly insane.

Caligula appointed his favorite horse as a consul.Nero persecuted Christians & had a fire set that

destroyed much of RomeAD 96- AD 180

Good emperors ruled the empireHadrian codified Roman law, which made it the same

for all provincesHe had a wall built across Britain to hold back

attackersMarcus Aurelius read philosophy on military

campaigns & was close to Plato’s ideal of a philosopher-king.

The Pax Romana was the 200 year span that began with Augustus & ended with Marcus Aurelius.

Pax Romana means “Roman Peace”During this time rulers brought peace, order,

unity, & prosperity to the empire that was roughly equal in size to the continental United States.

Legions maintained & protected the roads & fleets chased pirates from the seas

Trade flowed freely from Africa & AsiaThe Nile Valley supplied grain Ivory, gold, lions, & other wild animals used in

entertainment came in from AfricaFrom India came spices, cotton, & precious stonesFrom China & the Silk Road came silk

People of all backgrounds loved entertainmentThe Circus Maximus

Rome’s largest racecourse where chariots raced around an oval course.

Fans bet on the teams- Reds, Greens, Blues, & Whites Winners were hailed as heroes

Gladiator contests These were even more popular events Many were slaves trained to fight After their match, a gladiator could be awarded his freedom

for a good showing, or if they gave a bad showing and received the thumbs down be executed

These amusements were paid for by taxes collected, & used as a way to pacify the mobs of restless citizens.

They also gave grain to the poor. This is were people warned of Roman policy of “Bread & Circuses.” Few listened & later emperors after the Pax Romana faced problems that could not be fixed with “Bread & Circuses.”