The RomansThe Greatest Empire of It’s Time

Roman Beginnings (1100-500 B.C.E)

• Indo-European migrated into Italian peninsula taking control

• Gained technology through trade connections (Greece, and Asia)

• Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans shared the peninsula• Early settlements were scattered city-states• The city-state of Rome was founded ca. 753 B.C.E.• Rome fell under Etruscan leadership• 509 B.C.E. the Etruscan leadership was overthrown and

a Roman Republic was founded

The Republic 509-340 B.C.E.

• Twelve Tables established the basic structure and laws of government• Limited democracy and oligarchy• The Patrician class (upper class) controlled the government – belief

wealthy had more of a stake• The Plebian class were the common class who could vote but could

not hold office• Government structure:• Two Consuls – highest office – held “veto” power• Senate – debated and voted on laws• Dictator – held absolute power in times of emergency – temporary

office• 272 B.C.E. the Romans had control of the entire peninsula• Expansion was achieved through colonization, efficient road systems,

and extending citizenship to conquered Italian peoples• Defeated Greeks in southern Italy – Romans adopted many

characteristics of Greek culture

The Punic Wars

• First Punic War (264-146 B.C.E.) Romans fought North African state of Carthage over control of Sicily – Romans defeated Carthage assuming control of Sicily and charging Carthage with a large war reparation payment

• Second Punic War (218-201 B.C.E.) Carthaginian general Hannibal invaded Rome by crossing the Alps. Successfully conquering the Italian peninsula he was stalled outside Rome. A Roman invading force attacked Carthage forcing Hannibal to abandon Rome and return home to protect Carthage. Romans take Spain from Carthage and charge large war payment

• Third Punic War (149-146 B.C.E) Romans attacked and destroyed Carthage.

• As a result of the wars Rome dominated the Mediterranean; the spoils of war funded further campaigns; the Romans developed a navy in order to defeat Carthage; set the stage for further acquisition of territory; Eventual domination of Europe by the Romans set the characteristics for Europe’s culture

Further Roman Expansion

• 146 B.C.E. Defeated the Seleucids in Greece imposing Roman rule

• 89 B.C.E. Asia Minor, Syria, and Palestine were under Roman control

• 31.B.C.E Egypt became a Roman province following the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra

Internal Crisis 135-31 B.C.E.

• While fighting for Rome farmers were losing land to wealthy Patricians

• Influx of slaves from conquered areas left commoners unemployed• As a result of protest a professional army was established (replacing

citizen-soldiers) which resulted in powerful generals such as Marius who became a virtual dictator

• To satisfy the lower classes attempts were made to redistribute land and reform laws to protect the commoners

• Gracchi brothers – two tribunes attempted reforms resulting in both being assassinated

• Series of slave revolts rocked Rome – Spartacus led the most famous

• General Sulla ousted Marius becoming dictator until 79 B.C.E.

The Period of Civil War

• Pompey, Julius Caesar, and Crassus formed the First Triumvirate (61-49 B.C.E.)• All three general wanted to secure personal power through military

successes• Crassus ruled Syria and was killed in battle against the Parthians• Julius Caesar took his army to Gaul to fight the Gallic Campaigns• Pompey remained in Rome and poisoned the Senate against

Caesar• Senate order Caesar to return to Rome without army• Caesar retuned with army in tact• Civil War broke out between Caesar’s and Pompey’s forces –

Caesar was killed and Pompey fled to Egypt where he was killed by the Egyptians

Civil War Cont.

• Caesar demanded the title of dictator for life which prompted his assassination (44 B.C.E.) by Senate members

• Second civil war broke out between Senate members and supporters of Caesar (Marc Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus)

• With defeat of Senate forces Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus formed Second Triumvirate

• Lepidus died / War broke out between Octavian and Antony for power (Antony allied with Cleopatra of Egypt

• Octavian defeated Antony and returned to Rome and assumed the title of Emperor Augustus Caesar

Roman Empire

• Augustus developed an imperial system while maintaining illusion of a republic

• Professional standing army• Tax system• Strong political system• Period known as Pax Roman (Roman Peace) – period of prosperity• Post Augustus weak emperors ultimately led to a series of

assassinations and coups resulting in an often unstable political system

• The Good Emperors ruled form (96-180) and brought back peace and prosperity

• The post Good Emperor period was characterized by military coups and instability (180-284) – Soldier Emperors

• The empire suffered from repeated attacks by barbarian tribes may of which fleeing the Huns

Social and Economic Characteristics

• Wide gap between upper and lower classes• Lower classes increasingly unhappy – food give away

programs and Circuses to entertain masses• Agriculture dominated the economy (80 to 90% of people

engaged in agricultural activities)• Active traders importing food to feed large population• Each region of the empire specialized in agricultural or

manufactured products which were traded within the empire and internationally

Roman Accomplishments

• Engineering marvels• Medical innovations• Astronomy – geocentric theory• Roman culture borrowed from Greeks (literature, art, and

architecture)• Histories - Livy• Latin language of the Romans• Satire was a common form of literature• Architectural innovations – coliseum, the circus, public baths,

aqueducts• Religion influenced by the Greeks – polytheistic – emperors

considered divine• Within regions of the empire people followed Judaism and

Christianity

Development Christianity

• Roots were in Judaism• Jesus of Nazareth was proclaimed by his followers to be the Messiah

“anointed one” and the Son of God• Jesus saw his mission to bring salvation to the people• Jesus was ultimately executed for blasphemy and sedition• Followers (apostles and disciples) believed Jesus was resurrected

proving to them that he was the Messiah• The Apostles worked to convert first Jews and later Gentiles• Paul given credit for the growing numbers of converts to Christianity• Christianity was monotheistic• Miracles are accepted as well of God’s intervention in life• Morality is integral part of faith• Missionary • Salvation and eternal life

Growth of Christianity

• Founded in the eastern region of the Roman Empire Christianity spread through word of month

• Roman authorities had policy of tolerance toward other religions within the empire

• As monotheists Christians and Jews refused to recognize the divinity of the Roman Emperors

• Considered a threat to the power structure began to be persecuted• Initially small communities Christianity grew in numbers• Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and made it legal within the

empire• Later became state recognized religion• 325 Council Nicaea established foundations of organized religion – doctrine

and process (unified the religion)• Latin translation of the Bible was written – the Vulgate• 1054 Church split in the Great Schism over issue of use of Icons• West Roman Catholic Church led by the Pope; Eastern Orthodox led by the

Patriarch• Christianity was a missionary religion spreading within and outside empire

Decline of Rome

• Diocletian divided administration of empire into east and west• Split of empire led to disagreements between the emperors and

ultimately civil war• Depleted soils and poor crop production led to popular discontent• Unstable government as no clear line of emperor succession• Roman army no longer effective – many of the soldiers were

barbarian• Inflation• Empire border too large to control• Huns pushing Germanic tribes into the Roman border

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