Transcript The Pax Romana - Salem City Schools

The Pax Romana
Ancient Rome Unit
http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=60907
Causes for Decline of the
Roman Republic
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After Roman Republic begins policy of
imperialism, which quickly leads to decline.
– What is imperialism?
 characterizing the rule or authority of a
sovereign state over its dependencies.
– What wars do you believe would have started this?

After the Punic Wars, the Republic is
consumed by civil war.
– Factors are described in the FALLS Mnemonic that
we just learned.
– Leads to chaos, corruption, and end of Republic.
Fall related to the new
pressures of new social
and economic conditions.
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Political leaders
often resorted to
violence to solve
problems instead of
compromise.
http://www.ancientworlds.net/aworlds_media/ibase_1/00/04/06/00040687_000.gif
A huge migration of
small farmers into cities
= no jobs
Lots of slaves from newly
conquered territories
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By the fall of the
Republic, between 1 &
3 million people living
in Rome were slaves.
(~35% of population!!)
Slave rebellions in
places like Sicily (led by
Spartacus) led to grain
shortages and chaos.
http://www.sbceo.k12.ca.us/~vms/carlt
on/Rome_Reading_1.html
Loss of value of Roman
money, inflation
Spark = Death of Julius
Caesar and the fighting over his
heir (44 B.C.)
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Julius Caesar took power as part
of the First Triumvirate (a group of
three leaders).
Caesar wrestled power away from
the other two leaders and in 49
B.C. became the dictator of Rome.
Many Senators, led by Brutus, felt
he was too powerful and
conspired to kill him.
On March 15, 44 B.C. (The “ides”
of March), Caesar is ambushed
and killed by members of the
Senate.
http://www.sbceo.k12.ca.us/~vms/carlton/Rome_Reading_1.html
Who is Julius Caesar?
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60 BC First Triumvirate
(have to remember this
term!) takes control –
group of three that rule.
Julius Caesar is one of the
three
After a few years, other
two die; one dies, one
murdered.
Caesar gains control,
named dictator for life.
People afraid he would gain
too much power
So what do they do?
Death to Caesar
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60 senators plot
to kill him
Stabbed to
death on the
Ides of March
in the Senate.
Does he have a
clear heir?
Video Clip
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While watching this video, identify the
following two people.
– Mark Anthony
– Octavian Augustus
The Pax Romana “Roman
Peace” (27 B.C.-180 A.D.)
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So to review:
2nd
Triumvirate!
– Caesar dies 44 B.C.
– Augustus is in Caesar’s will, Marc Anthony is
angry.
– They fight, then cooperate, with Marc Anthony
ruling in the East and Augustus in the West.
– Augustus gains total control in 31 BC after
defeating Anthony and Cleopatra– becomes 1st
Roman Emperor.
– 27 B.C. – Augustus begins a series of reforms to
usher in the Pax Romana.
The Period known as the
P.A.X. Romana is
remembered for three
reasons.
Peace for Two Centuries
(27 B.C. – 180 A.D.)
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Why?
– The Roman Empire was too strong and
united to be challenged.
– The Roman military was nearly invincible.
http://fiestasiesta.co.uk/history/img/RomanLegion.jpg
Augustus Caesar
established the Pax Romana
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Often said Emperor
Augustus, “Found
Rome a city of brick
and left it a city of
marble.”
Unified and enlarged
Roman Empire using
imperial authority and
strong military.
http://www.roman-britain.org/people/augustus.gif
Xpansion and Solidification
of Roman Empire
http://www.usu.edu/
markdamen/ClasDram
/images/12/25map07
paxromana.jpg
Reflection
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We just defined the characteristics of
the Pax Romana (PAX). What are
some things that Augustus probably
did to create the Pax Romana?