Rome: Republic to Empire

I. Roman Republic, 509-27 bceII. Classical Roman Empire, 27 bce-306 ceIII. Divided, Christianized Roman Empire, 306-476 ceIV. Western Christendom & Eastern Roman Empire

(Byzantine), 476 – 1453IDs: Augustus Caesar (r. 27 bce-30 ce), Pax Romana,

Constantine (r. 306-337), Byzantine Empire

Grand Empires:

Rome & Han China

LargerPeace & StabilityLong-LastingModels

Argument

Rome relied on military power and slavery. Faced with frequent challenges, Rome survived because it transformed several times – first, from a republic into an empire, then into a divided, Christianized empire, and finally into medieval “Christendom” in the west and the Byzantine Empire in the east.

I. Roman Republic, 509-27 bceA. Predecessor: Hellenistic Influence

B. Rome starts small & grows by conquest Expansion around Mediterranean

1. Military strength

Farmer-militiamen

legion

2. Roman Values

• Respect for authority & hierarchy (especially fathers)

• Duty to– family– state (Rome)– the gods

C. Crisis in Republic (100-27 BCE)

Wealthy elite buys up landPlantations & Slave laborUnemployed farmers

cityArmy commandersContinuous civil war

D. Dictatorship & Civil WarDictatorship: Julius

Caesar, d. 44 BCE

Civil War (44-27 BCE)

Octavian Augustus Caesar (takes over in 27 BCE)

II. Classical Roman Empire, 27 bce-306 ce

A. Imperator (emperor)

Augustus Caesar (reigns 27 bce-30 ce)

B. Pax Romana (Roman Peace)

1. Strong military

• Legions• Provinces• Military

governors

2. IdeologyEmperor as father

of people

Romans’ duty to rule for good of world

3. Continued ExpansionParthian

(Persian) Empire

Rhine & Danube

4. Administration

CitizenshipLocal urban elitespatrons

C. Empire as Urban Network

1. Rome

ForumBathsTheatres

Colosseum

Baths

Forum

Forum of Trajan

Pantheon

Pantheon

2. Provincial Cities

Trier (Rhine frontier)

3. Dependent on Trade

4. Roman Attractions

LawTechnologyHellenistic

culture

aqueduct

5. Bread & circuses

6. Slave empireLatifundiasvilla

D. Problems, 200-300 CE

1. Administrative weakness

2. Depopulation

3. End of Expansion; Beginning of Defense

III. Divided, Christianized Roman Empire, 306-476 ce

• Constantine (r. 306-337 CE)

A. Constantine divides empire into east & west

B. Constantine Converts to Christianity

Uses Christianity to unify & strengthen empire

C. Christianity becomes Official Roman Religion

D. Crisis 400-476 CE

1. Depopulation & Economic breakdown

2. Invasion/ migration of Germanic or Barbarian “Tribes”

Huns

The Barbarians did not make Rome fall.

Attracted to Roman wealth and lifestyle

Barbarians in Roman army

Not a “conquest”

Stilicho the “Barbarian” & his family

3. Network of Trade & Cities breaks down

IV. Western Christendom & Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine), 476 – 1453

A. Western Empire ends476 CE: Last western

Roman emperor deposed

Germanic kingdoms (Medieval Christendom)

From empire & trade local power

B. Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) continues until 1453

Emperor Justinian

C. Roman unity Christian Unity “Christendom”

Christian church takes over structure of Roman Empire

Argument

Rome relied on military power and slavery. Faced with frequent challenges, Rome survived because it transformed several times – first, from a republic into an empire, then into a divided, Christianized empire, and finally into medieval “Christendom” in the west and the Byzantine Empire in the east.