Chapter 6

Ancient Rome

Section 1

Early Rome and the Republic

The Geography of Italy

• A Land of Geographic Differences– Italy: “boot shaped” peninsula– Alps mountains, Mediterranean Sea, mountains

rangers, islands, rivers

• Climate and Agriculture– cold to subtropical– poorly suited for agriculture– grapes & olives– location helped sea trade

The Early Romans

• Influences on Early Rome– Legend

• twin brothers Romulus & Remus founded Rome

– Earliest :Latin people (farmers and herders)

• Etruscans (central Italy)– Established many City-states – Alphabet, architecture, builders, and artists– Adopt many elements of the Greek culture

The Government of Republican Rome

• REPUBLIC – (property of the people)– a government in which much of the power is held by

elected representative; – voters chose people to represent them

• based on tradition, not a written constitution• Consuls

– two people elected as each year, – proposed laws, – led army, – one had VETO power over the other

• to stop the passage of a law

• MAGISTRATES – government official– 1 year terms

• SENATE – council of representatives; made up of PATRICIANS – descendants of founding families of Rome,

upper class, ran government

• PLEBEIANS – commoners, controlled tribal assembly, made up the military

• TRIBUNES – (elected by the plebeian) – official who could attend meetings of the

assembly; forced patricians to publish written laws

Society in Republican Rome

• Oldest male head of family

• Ownership of slaves

• Women– Own property– Government decisions

Religion

• Similar to Greek Gods– Jupiter king of god– Juno wife of Jupiter (protector of marriage)– Minerva daughter (protector of wisdom)

Problems in the Late Republic

• gap between rich & poor widened

• enslaved captives began to outnumber free people

Section 2

From Republic to Empire

The End of the Republic

• Major Changes for Rome

• 107 BC Marius named consul & re-elected many times, brought reform

• LEGIONS – chief fighting unit of Roman Army, 5,000 soldiers– rewarded soldiers with money & land

Julius Caesar and Rome

• TRIUMVERATE, group of 3 leaders • 60 BC Generals Pompey and Crassus

allied with Julius Caesar to form First Triumvirate;– Crassus killed in 53 BC

• Caesar’s goal: conquer Gaul (France), • Pompey tried to take his army • 49 BC Caesar returned to Rome, Pompey

fled to Greece

Caesar

• voted dictator for life

• Julian Calendar – July named after him

• March 15, 44bc – Brutus and Cassius, 2 senators,

• assassinated Caesar,

• now known as Ides of March

Augustus and Rome’s Golden Age

The Augustan (the first citizen)• Octavian (Caesar’s grandnephew) & Mark

Anthony joined forces to defeat Brutus & Cassius

• 31 BC Octavian defeated Mark Anthony & Queen Cleopatra of Egypt

• 27 BC given title by Senate: Augustus, meaning “revered”

• Pax Romana – period of peace in Roman world under Augustus

• made tax system more fair, set up census, supported building campaign

Culture in the Golden Age

• Rome under Augustus was its Golden Age– roads kept safe from thieves by army– pirates chased from sea trade routes– more trade between Rome, India, & China– architecture, town planning, temples & other

buildings

Section 3

The Empire Declines

The Empire Declines

economic, social and political conflicts

• Sharp division (rich & poor)

• Leisure Time– entertainment was free– comedies and dramas in theatres– chariot races at Circus Maximus– Coliseum – could hold 45,000 people, fighting

between wild animals & humans, or 2 gladiators (trained fighter, slaves, or condemned criminals)

Increasing Tensions

• Murdered some Rich- took their wealth

• INFLATION – steep rise in prices– Reduces people’s purchasing power

• Ruler became more brutal

• Power of army increased

Fifty Years of Trouble

• The Role of the Army– 20+ rulers in 50 years– ruled poorly– lead in making & breaking emperors – failed to protects its boarders– Assassination of Rulers

Diocletiankey decisions

1. Divide the leadership 2 (co-leader)

1. Then into 4 --chief assistants (deputy)

2. Tetrarchy –Responsibilities shared by 4 individuals

2. Split empire into the eastern and western half

3. Doubled the side of the army (1/2 million)

4. He retired (abdication- voluntary resignation)

Constantine the Great

• A capable ruler

• Favored Christianity

• Vision: of a cross: In this sign you will conquer

• Edict of Milan: freedom to worship under his control.

• United The Easter and Western co-empires

• Founding of the Constantinople– Today Istanbul

Living on Borrowed Time

• Eastern empire was the stronger of the two, west fell apart

• “The Fall of Rome”

• Write the information on the back of your notes

• Reasons for the Fall of Rome page 143

Reason for the fall of Rome

Political Causes •Harsh government•Corrupt officials•Divided empires in the East+ West•Internal political struggles

Economic Cause Heavy taxesDecline of populationDecline of empire’s wealth

Military Cause Foreign invasionsWeak border protection

Social causeSelf-interested upper classLoss of traditional valuesLack of patriotism

Section 4

The development of Christianity

Jesus and the first Christians

• Romans worshiped many Gods

• People could worship their own God as long as they showed loyalty for Roman Gods (distant regions)

• Jews who lived in Judaea rebelled

Jesus/ Roman GovernorPontius Pilate

• Jesus– Son of God, worship on God, 10

commandments, Crucifixion

• Pontius Pilate– Found Jesus guilty of criminal actions– Nailed to a cross left to die

Spread of the Word

• 12 Apostles to spread Jesus teaching

• Jesus = Jesus Christ= Christianity

• Renouncing Evil by Baptism.

Freedom to worship

• The Roman Bishop becomes the Pope

• The leader of the Roman Catholic Church

• Missionaries spread the word world wide