Transcript The_Romans

The Romans
The 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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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