The Roman Empire The Roman Empire

Brief History (625 BCE - 23 BCE)Brief History (625 BCE - 23 BCE)

Rome (as a city) founded circa 625BCE

The Roman Republic (510 BCE - 23 BCE) lasted for over 500 years Citizens elected Senators Senate chose a consul

(who ruled like a King) for 1 year.No Tyrants, deferred to

the Senate.

Rome (as a city) founded circa 625BCE

The Roman Republic (510 BCE - 23 BCE) lasted for over 500 years Citizens elected Senators Senate chose a consul

(who ruled like a King) for 1 year.No Tyrants, deferred to

the Senate.

Way of Life - The Roman Republic

• 4 Classes of people in Roman society.1. Slaves - lowest

class, no rights, owned by other people.

2. Plebeians - free people, but had little input.

Way of Life - The Roman Republic3. Equestrians (a.k.a.

'knights'). Their name means the 'riders', as they were given a horse to ride if they were called to fight for Rome; had to be rich.

4. Patricians - nobles, very wealthy, held all the power, members of the senate.

I make it rain!!!!!

Pax Romana (27 BCE - 180 CE)• The Roman Peace

– Considered to be the “height” of the Roman Empire.

– Ruled by Caesars or emperors.• Senate exists but its

power is limited.• Period of great

territorial expansion; architectural innovation in Rome; and wealth.

The Movie - Gladiator• Begins with the

death of Marcus Aurelius (180 CE) who had wanted the reign of the emperors to end and the Senate to rule Rome as it had been during the Roman Republic.

Themes:– “Absolute power corrupts

absolutely” (as with all tyrants and eventually with corrupt politicians)

– The Masses (plebeians) needed to be appeased - gladiator blood sport where they decided gladiator’s life or death often served as diversion/appeasement away from political discontent.

– All roads led to Rome and all roads in Rome led to the Coliseum.

• The 1st Punic War was fought partly on land in Sicily & Africa but was mostly a naval war. It began as a local conflict in Sicily. Romans added the corvus, an assault bridge, to Roman ships. The hinged bridge would swing onto enemy vessels with a sharp spike and stop them  

PUNIC WARSThis won the Romans

the war!

• Punic Wars three wars fought between Rome & Carthage 264 BC to 146 BC

• Control over the Mediterranean and Sicily was the dispute

• Carthage was a maritime empire, Rome was the rapidly ascending power, but lacked the naval power of Carthage

• Remembered for the Carthaginian Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps.

• Rome took countermeasures against Hannibal's home base in Africa by sea command & stopped the flow of supplies. Hannibal quickly turned back & rushed home but was defeated in battle.

We march to Rome!!

Second Punic War

3RD Punic War• (149–146 BC)

involved an extended siege of Carthage 

• three-year siege before he breached the walls, sacked the city, and systematically burned Carthage to the ground in 146 BC

Essential Question: Before the Movie

Essential Question: Before the Movie

Imagine our freeways and highways, when exiting, what do you generally see no matter what exit you take? What, in your opinion, does this say about our

society?

Imagine our freeways and highways, when exiting, what do you generally see no matter what exit you take? What, in your opinion, does this say about our

society?

Essential Question:After the Movie

Essential Question:After the Movie

You learned last week that terrorism is 100% ineffective - terrorists always end up strengthening the very “thing” they are targeting. Oppression, corruption, terror, and enslavement

were characteristic of the ancient great empires (Greek and Roman) and modern imperialist/colonial periods (1600s-1900s) of the European Monarchies/Democracies.

Describe how did Maximus’s character exemplified/symbolizes the outcome - that terror, enslavement, and oppression is 100% ineffective (over the long term).

You learned last week that terrorism is 100% ineffective - terrorists always end up strengthening the very “thing” they are targeting. Oppression, corruption, terror, and enslavement

were characteristic of the ancient great empires (Greek and Roman) and modern imperialist/colonial periods (1600s-1900s) of the European Monarchies/Democracies.

Describe how did Maximus’s character exemplified/symbolizes the outcome - that terror, enslavement, and oppression is 100% ineffective (over the long term).