Transcript Ancient Rome

ROME
BECOMES
AN
EMPIRE
• As people became more wealthy, they also
became less productive.
• Fighting began to break out over land so
reformers tried to split it up among the people.
• The wealthy in the senate opposed reform
and felt threatened, so they killed the
reformers.
• There was a civil war starting because multiple
generals wanted to take power.
• Julius Caesar was a reformer who
supported common people. He was not only
a skilled militarily, but also a good politician an
general.
• A man names Cicero, who was an enemy of
Caesar, was also the greatest speaker in
Roman history.
• Caesar defeated Cicero in a battle to rule
Rome.
• Senate appointed Caesar dictator for life and
not just the usual six months
• Some people thought that Caesar was
power hungry and others thought that he
was a reformer.
• Caesar was assassinated by a group of
his senators who thought that he was a
power hungry tyrant.
• Who can tell me what a tyrant is?
• Octavian, Caesar’s great-nephew (adopted
son), won the next battle to become the ruler
of Rome.
• He received the title, Augustus, which means
“exalted one” or person of great rank or
authority.
• He preferred to be called first citizen
• Augustus restored aspects of a republican
government, but held the final say over all of
the people in it.
• Augustus restored Rome
– Buildings
– Temples
– Theaters
– Monuments
– Enhanced with marble
• Rome became a magnificent imperial capitol
• The reign of Augustus is called Pax Romana or
Roman Peace
• To help unite the empire, roads, bridges,
and tunnels were built, and a navy patrol
was made to protect he Mediterranean
Sea
• Augustus set everything up so well, that
even after his death, the empire continues
to do well
The
daily
life of
romans
• The father was the head of the Roman
household
• Fathers power was limited
• Roman society disapproved of a father
punishing his family without good cause
• Women had much freedom
• Women were to take care of the family and
household, but also inherited land and ran the
family business when the men were away
• Women could not vote
• Children had some education
• Boys of wealthy families went to private schools
• Girls learned household skills and married
around the age of 14 ( boys married later)
• Social Classes
– UPPER CLASS: patricians and some wealthy
plebeians
– MIDDLE CLASS: prosperous business leaders
and officials
– LOWER CLASS: farmers
– LOWEST CLASS: slaves
• The Romans worshiped hundreds of
spirits, and believed that they were in
everything.
• Set up shrines in their homes to honor the
gods who protected their households
• Used many of the same gods as the
Greeks
• Rome was the center of the empire
• Mixture of ideas and customs
• However it was crowded, dirty and noisy
• Either very poor or very wealthy
• Inventions
– Sewers and plumbing
– Aqueducts ( carried fresh water)
• Bath houses were visited by all to bath and
socialize
• Chariot races held at the Circus Maximus
• Gladiators fought at the Colossseum