World History

Chapter FiveSection Two

Conquest

• Carthage – city-state in North Africa settled by Phoenician traders

• Ruled over area in north Africa and the western Mediterranean

• Rome expanded and met Carthage which led to fighting between the two

Punic Wars

• Three Punic wars between Rome and Carthage• First Punic War – Rome defeated Carthage and

won control of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica.• Second Punic War – Carthage attack led by

Hannibal – led troops from North Africa, across the straight of Gibraltar, over the Pyrenees and the Alps, to Rome

• One-third of Hannibal’s army was lost in trek

Hannibal• Surprised Romans and for fifteen years he waged

war on the Romans all across Italy• Could never capture Rome as army was too small

to do so• To get rid of Hannibal, Rome attacked Carthage • Hannibal had to return to defend homeland and

he was defeated there by Scipio Africanus – Roman general

• Carthage was defeated and gave up all land outside of Africa

Punic Wars

• Third Punic War – • “Carthage must be destroyed” – Cato• Carthage was destroyed by Rome and salt

poured on the ground to make sure nothing could grow there

• City was burned and walls destroyed – all survivors were sold into slavery – 50,000

• City was later rebuilt by Rome as a city of their own

Imperialism

• Imperialism – establishing control over foreign lands and people

• Expanded east – fought the Greeks/Macedonians for control of Alexander the Greats old empire

• Greece, Macedonia, Asia Minor fell to Rome• Egypt allied with Rome

Rome at Home

• Trade increased• New wealthy merchants emerged• More money in Rome• Wealthy families bought large amounts of

land – latifundia• Forced captured to people to be slaves on the

latifundia

Slave Labor

• Farmers could not compete with the slave labor• Imported grains from foreign lands• Both of these caused farmers to go into debt• Farmers went to Rome to find jobs• Large unemployed population – unrest• New money led to increased corruption – greed

and self-interest replaced the qualities that Rome was founded on – hard work, simplicity, devotion to duty

Reform• Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus – brothers and

patricians, attempted to reform the Republic• Tiberius created a tribune to that was supposed

to give land to farmers• Gaius – created another reform in which food

was given to the poor• Reforms angered the Senate – thought it was

taking their power away• Brothers and followers were killed by the

senators who hired criminals to kill them

Republic Declines

• Could not solve problems – civil wars broke out• Cause: Senate wanted to keep power and

reformers wanted to weaken the senate and pass reforms to help people

• Elsewhere Rome’s allies and controlled lands were also revolting

• Army was now under control of general in charge and was more loyal to leader than to Rome

Julius Caesar

• Military commander – conquered Gaul after nine years of fighting

• Pompey – another Roman general was afraid of Caesar’s power and convinced the Senate to order him to disband his army return to Rome

• Caesar refused and snuck into Rome after crossing the Rubicon river and began a civil war

• Caesar defeated Pompey and his men

Caesar

• He then took it upon himself to put down all rebellions in the Mediterranean area

• “Veni, Vidi, Vici” – I came, I saw, I conquered• Returned to Rome after victories and forced

the Senate to make him the dictator of Rome• He kept the senate around but was in

absolute control

Caesar’s Reforms

• Public works programs to help the unemployed

• Reorganized the government of provinces• Gave citizenship to more people• New calendar based on the Egyptians

Caesar Killed

• People worried Caesar would declare himself king of Rome

• Plot by Senators to kill him – lured him by telling him there was a petition for him to read

• Casca tried to stab him in the throat, Caesar stopped him

• He was stabbed to death by Brutus on the Ides of March – (March 15) 44 B.C.

Fight for Power

• After Caesar’s death Mark Antony – Caesar’s chief general and Octavian, Caesar’s grandnephew, fought for power

• Octavian defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra• Given the title Augustus by the Senate after

victory• Did not call himself king – as they hated the

term but he acted like one and declared his successor

Augustus

• Built stable empire• High-level jobs open to all intelligent men• Used civil servants to enforce laws• Ordered a census – population count – for

accurate tax records• Postal service and new coins• Gave jobless work – building roads, temples, farm• One problem – who would rule when emperor

died?

Bad Emperors

• Often fought over who would be ruler, named• Caligula and Nero – thought to be evil and

crazy• Caligula – made his favorite horse his consul• Nero – persecuted Christians – blamed for

setting fire that destroyed a lot of Rome

Good Emperors

• Hadrian – codified Roman law – making it the same for everyone

• Built wall in Britain to protect Romans from attacks from the north – Hadrian’s Wall

• Marcus Aurelius – close to being Plato’s “Philosopher King”

• Pax Romana – Roman Peace – began with Augustus and ended with Marcus Aurelius

Pax Romana• Peace, order, unity, prosperity in Roman empire • Lasted for 200 years• Maintained roads• Navy chased pirates• Egyptians supplied grain• Ivory, gold, lions and other animals – Africa• Spices, cotton, precious stones – India• Silk Road from China brought in other items• Spread of ideas and culture because of trade

Entertainment

• Circus Maximus – racecourse – chariots ran on an oval course

• Fans of the races bet on them• Gladiator contests were the most popular• Most gladiators were slaves trained to fight• A good fighter could win freedom• Thumbs up – save him, Thumbs down – kill him• Good economic times hid the social problems• “bread and circus” economics – bad for Rome

Gladiator Fight Scene