The Legacy of the The Legacy of the Roman EmpireRoman Empire

Big Ideas…Big Ideas…

1. At its height in 117 1. At its height in 117 C.E., The Roman C.E., The Roman Empire spanned the Empire spanned the whole of the whole of the Mediterranean world, Mediterranean world, from northern Africa to from northern Africa to the Scottish border, the Scottish border, from Spain to Syria. from Spain to Syria. (see p. 7 and map on p. (see p. 7 and map on p. 9)9)

The Roman Empire began The Roman Empire began to decline for a variety of to decline for a variety of

reasons reasons a. Political instability—corrupt leaders a. Political instability—corrupt leaders

who did not care about the people, only who did not care about the people, only themselvesthemselves

b. Economic and Social problems—b. Economic and Social problems—Citizens had to pay for Rome’s huge Citizens had to pay for Rome’s huge armies and these taxes hurt the armies and these taxes hurt the economy. Many people did not have economy. Many people did not have jobs, and the wealthy people owned jobs, and the wealthy people owned slaves. Some leaders like Nero and slaves. Some leaders like Nero and Caligula wasted lots of money. A rise in Caligula wasted lots of money. A rise in crime made people unsafe. crime made people unsafe.

The Roman Empire began The Roman Empire began to decline for a variety of to decline for a variety of

reasonsreasonsc. Rome became too big to defend. c. Rome became too big to defend.

The leaders could not communicate The leaders could not communicate with each other quickly, and with each other quickly, and Germanic tribes from the north Germanic tribes from the north began invading. began invading.

3. In 330 C.E. the 3. In 330 C.E. the emperor Constantine emperor Constantine moved his capital 850 moved his capital 850 miles away to miles away to Byzantium (Turkey). Byzantium (Turkey). This split the empire in This split the empire in half, and Rome became half, and Rome became the capital of the the capital of the Western part of the Western part of the empire. empire.

3. More Germanic tribes 3. More Germanic tribes kept invading, and began kept invading, and began looting the city of Rome. looting the city of Rome. Finally in 476, the last Finally in 476, the last emperor was driven from emperor was driven from his throne. The western his throne. The western half began to dissolve half began to dissolve into different tribesinto different tribes

4. Roman art lived on, 4. Roman art lived on, through its murals, through its murals, mosaics and frescos. mosaics and frescos. The domes, arches and The domes, arches and vaults live on in our vaults live on in our architecture, and the architecture, and the aqueducts and roads aqueducts and roads live on in our live on in our engineering. engineering.

4. Many of our words 4. Many of our words today come from Latin, today come from Latin, Rome’s official language. Rome’s official language. Our calendar comes from Our calendar comes from the Romans, and many of the Romans, and many of our laws are based on our laws are based on Roman law.Roman law.

5. Rome was one of the first 5. Rome was one of the first empires to try democracy. empires to try democracy. They believed that people They believed that people had natural rights (life, had natural rights (life, liberty, happiness) and that liberty, happiness) and that these rights should be these rights should be protected by a government. protected by a government. Citizens were protected by Citizens were protected by these laws, and were these laws, and were supposed to show loyalty to supposed to show loyalty to their government in their government in exchange exchange