Transcript Roman Empire COWHx

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Reform by the Gracchi Bros
o Supported poor & farm-soldiers
o Both murdered by patrician
riots
o VIOLENCE REPLACES LAW IN
ROME
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Gaius Marius
o General & Consul (7x!)
o Army of volunteers who fought for loot, conquered land
• More loyal to Marius than to Rome!
o Exiled, returned, & died
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Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix
o Retired from consul to command military
o Marius opposed him, Sulla marches on Rome!
o Elected dictator, gives up power to Senate
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Crassus
o RICH consul
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Pompey
o Consul & general
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Julius Caesar
o Nephew of Marius
o Great public speaker, good general, broke
o Conquered Gaul for 10 years
o HERO of the masses
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Pompey orders him home w/out army—JC “Crosses the
Rubicon”
Fights Pompey, chases him to Egypy
Affair w/ Cleopatra & son
Dictator for Life! (44 BCE)
March 15, 44 BCE: assassination
o Cassius & Brutus=masterminds
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Octavian (JC’s nephew)
Marc Antony (General)
Lepidus (JC’s #2)
Take command & hunt down conspirators
Lepidus retires
Antony controls East, Octavian the West
o War w/ Antony & Cleopatra (death by suicide)
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Octavian “First Citizen” 27 BCE—
”Augustus” (revered one)
Given power over Rome, Senate
Expanded Rome’s borders, then
STOPPED
“Pax Romana” (Peace in Rome)
lasted 200 years
Died 14 CE
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Emperor in charge
o Appointed officials who supported him
o Made all monetary, policy decisions
o Senate did Emperor’s bidding
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Trade united empire
o Road construction linked provinces (60,000+ mi!)
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Grain, wine, oils, cloth, pottery, glass, ivory imported
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Became a career for many
Stationed at regular intervals on frontiers
o Towns/cities sprung up around Roman forts
o Vets given land in conquered territory
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Many uprisings—put down with force
Hadrian’s Wall
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Emperor 37-41 CE
Nicknamed “Little Boots” by soldiers
Built new aqueducts, initially popular in
Rome
Executed most of his family
Executed anyone he saw as treasonous
Thought he was a god
Games: Threw in the crowd!
Incest, prostitution w/ sisters
Killed by his guards (first assassinated
emperor)
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Emperor 56-68 CE
Murdered his mother (ship,
ceiling)
Murdered his wife (affair w/
slaves)
Executed hundreds
“fiddled while Rome burned”
o Persecuted Christians
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Big into theater & games
o Popular w/ lower class
o Public performances
o “Won” Olympics
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“What an artist dies in me!”
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Emperor 81-96 CE
Killed brother for the throne
Defeated by Dacians, celebrated it as a
victory
Mistresses included niece
“Reign of Terror” on senators, officials
Developed new tortures
Assassinated by palace officials
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Emperor 180-192 CE “Beginning of
the decline”
Son of Marcus Aurelius
Devalued Roman currency
Only interested in sports & leisure
Sold public offices/titles
Thought he was Hercules &
reincarnation of Romulus (renamed
Rome)
Fought frequently in arena as
gladiator (charged Rome)
Killed hundreds of animals, citizens,
& slaves
Assassinated in the bath
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Emperor 218-222 CE
Devalued currency
Transgender- 5 wives, many male lovers
o Tried to become female
o Brothel in the palace, prostitute in the city
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Made a new religion/Sun God
o Married Vestal Virgin, made himself high priest
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Actions angered Praetorian Guard
o Murdered w/ mother by Guard at 18
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Competition for throne after Marcus Aurelius (180)
Inflation
o Silver shortage—emperors decrease silver in coins
o Merchants raised prices
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Attacks on borders increase
o 250-260: Athens & Antioch sacked
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Diocletian splits empire East and West (284)
o Caesars rule in East and West
o Defense & security were primary concerns,
freedoms second
o 300s= Civil War between competing Caesars
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Constantine becomes sole Caesar in 324
o Supports Christianity
o Founds Constantinople
• Western Empire (Rome) weakens while Eastern
Empire grows powerful
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Goths, Vandals, Franks, Lombards, Huns, & more attack in
late 300s
Goths overpower Roman armies
o Alaric sacks Rome in 410
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Vandals seize N. Africa in 429, sack Rome in 455
Attila the Hun defeated in 451 by Romans in Gaul
Rome dependent on mercenaries…not loyal Romans
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476: last emperor overthrown…Rome is DONE
People leave cities to find food/shelter/safety
Schools, libraries destroyed