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TheRomanEmpire
- 1. The Roman empiRe Presented by: Stephen Stanlton and Adam Stanlton
- 2. RomanEmpire
- 3. Struggle for control ■ Alexander died in 323B.C. ■ Romedominated most of the Italianpeninsula ■ Expansion southward brought Rome into collision with Carthage, the greatest power in the western Mediterranean ■ SecondCarthaginian war (218-201 B.C.):Rome’s southern Italian alliesdefected to Hannibal ■ Third war with Carthage in 201 B.C.:Romeemerged not merely victorious but aworldpower
- 4. Rome’s transformation into world- power ■ Roman transformation of Greektradition through contact with Greek cities in southern Italy, Sicilyand mainland Greece ■ Greekculture beganto permeate Roman ■ Themilitary victories brought in huge numbersof enslavedwar captives ■ Wealthy businessman exerted control overthe government ■ Growing gulf between the wealthy andthe poor
- 5. How wasthe Republic replacedby imperial rule? ■ General prosperity masked the potentialconflicts ■ Civil war ■ Bythe end of the first century B.C.,Romewasthe capital of anempire that stretched from theStraits of Gibraltar to the frontiers ofPalestine ■ It gavepeaceandorderly government to the Mediterranean area for the next twocenturies
- 7. Rome’s legacy ■ Theideal of the world –state, an ideal that was takenover by the medievalChurch ■ TheChurch claimed aspiritualauthority asgreat asthe secular authority it replaced ■ Howdidthey achieve success? ■ Talent for practical affairs (aqueducts) ■ Not notable political theorists,but they organized astable federation ■ Conservative to the core:gravitas ■ Thegreat bodyof Romanlaw isoneof their greatest contributionto Westerncivilization
- 8. Aquaduct
- 9. Compare Romanand Greek civilizations ■ Rome: manliness,industry, discipline ■ Greece: adaptability, versatility, grace ■ Greek history begins with an epicpoem ■ TheRomansconquered half of the world beforethey began to write ■ Latin literature began with atranslation ofthe Odyssey ■ Latin writers borrowed from Greek originalsopenly and proudly (Virgil)
- 10. Odyssey
- 11. Romanemperors ■ Thecivil conflict ended in the establishment ofapowerful executive ■ TheSenateretained an impressive share of the power inthe Republic, but the new development led to autocracy ■ Augustus,after the murder of his uncle JuliusCaesarin 44 BC.,controlled the western half of the empire by 31B.C. ■ Battle with Mark Anthony, ruler of the eastern half ofthe empire ■ Augustus’svictory united the empire under oneauthority and ushered in an ageof peace andreconstruction
- 12. Romanemperors ■ Thesuccessorsof Augustusruled the ancient world forthe next 200 years with only occasionaldisturbances ■ Nero who abused his immense power wasoverthrown ■ A.D.96-180 “Five goodemperors”: ■ Longest period of peacethat hasever been enjoyed by the inhabitants of anarea that included Britain, France,southern Europe,the Middle East,North Africa ■ Yet the literature of the second century reflects a spiritual emptiness described in Petronius’s Satyricon: the new rich can think only in terms of money and material possessions
- 13. Religion ■ New religions were imported from the East that made their appeal to citizensof the world: to allnations and classes ■ Worship of the Egyptian goddessIsis ■ Hebrew prophet Jesus,crucified in Jerusalem, risen from the dead ■ Christianity, persecuted and working underground, finally triumphed and became the official religion of the Roman world ■ TheChurchin Rome,byconvertingthe new inhabitants, madepossiblethe preservation of muchof that Latinand Greekliterature that wasto serveasa basisfor the Middle AgesandtheRenaissance
- 14. TheRoman Republic Romebegan asa city-state that was heavily influenced by Greekculture
- 15. TheRoman Republic By509 B.C., Romewasruled by elected Senators who served in the RomanRepublic
- 16. TheRoman Republic During the Republic, Romeexpanded by defeating Carthage in the Punic Wars & later undergenerals like JuliusCaesar
- 17. TheRoman Republic But, the Republic weakened due to corruption, civil wars, & the assassinationof Julius Caesarin 44 B.C.
- 18. TheRoman Empire After Caesar’sdeath, Romebecame an empire ruled by the EmperorAugustus
- 19. TheRoman Empire Pax Romana UnderAugustus, Romeentered anera of peace& prosperity known as the PaxRomana
- 20. TheRoman Republic Pax Romana Eraof decline After 207 yearsof prosperity during the PaxRomana, the Empire began to decline &was conquered in 476A.D.
- 21. TheDecline of the RomanEmpire ■The fall of the RomanEmpirehappened in 3 major stages: –An era of decline due tointernal problems within Rome
- 22. TheRomansexperienced political problems Theempire wastoo large for one emperor tocontrol Emperors after the PaxRomana were weak Citizens experienced alossof confidence, patriotism, & loyalty to the Romangov’t
- 23. TheRomansexperienced economic problems Outside groups disrupted trade Poor harvests led to foodshortages Romehad atrade imbalance (they bought more than theyproduced) Thegov’t raised taxes & printed new coins which led toinflation Theeconomic decline left many Romanspoor
- 24. TheRomansexperienced military problems Germanic tribes outside Romewere gaining strength TheRomanmilitary was growing weak: generals were challenging the authority of theemperors Tosavemoney, Romans hired foreign soldiers but these“mercenaries” were not loyal toRome
- 26. TheDecline of the RomanEmpire ■The fall of the RomanEmpirehappened in 3 major stages: –An era of decline due tointernal problems within Rome –Abrief period of revival due to reforms by Emperors Diocletian & Constantine
- 27. Attempts to Reform theEmpire ■In 284 A.D. Emperor Diocletian came to power & made a series of reforms that temporarily halted Rome’sdecline –To fix the military, hedoubled the sizeof the Romanarmy –To fix the economy, hefixed prices for goods –To fix the lack of loyalty, he presented himself as agodlike emperor
- 28. Diocletian’s most important reform was realizing Rome was too large & dividing the empire into the Western Eastern RomanEmpires Theempire wasd between Greek-sp & Latin-speakingh ivTidheedEastwas far wealthier than etahkeinWgest because it had most of altvheesgreat cities & tradecenters But, the empire wasalso divided by wealth
- 29. Attempts to Reform theEmpire ■After Diocletian, the emperor Constantine cameto power & continued to reform Rome –To help unify Rome,he ended persecutions & converted to Christianity –He moved the official capital from Rometo a new city in the East, called Constantinople
- 30. Constantinople was a major trade center & was easy to defend; They city was built in the Roman style but had astrong Greek& Christianinfluence
- 31. TheDecline of the RomanEmpire ■The fall of the RomanEmpirehappened in 3 major stages: –An era of decline due tointernal problems within Rome –Abrief period of revival due to reforms by Emperors Diocletian & Constantine –Continued decline, invasion byGermanic “barbarians”, &the conquest of Rome
- 32. ThA eft Cer oE lm lap per so ers oD fio tc hle etia Rn o& mCo an nsta En mtin pe, ir e the Western RomanEmpire continued to decline Disease,corruption, & declining economyexposed the West toattack from outside invasions
- 33. By370 A.DT.,h“ebaCrboarlliaanp”sgerooupfstohuetsiRdeoman Rome,led by the Huns,Ebmegapnirtoeattack Theweak Romanarmy in the West could do little to stop theinvasions; By476, Germanic barbarians conquered Western Rome
- 34. TheFall of Rome
- 35. ThedecAlifnteeorftthheeFall of Rome Western RomanEmpire led to the MiddleAges
- 37. TAheftEeasrttbheceamFaeltlhoefByRzaonmtineeEmpire & flourished foranother thousand years TheByzantine Empire kept alive the cultural achievementsof ancient Greece& Rome
- 38. Thecivilizations of the ClassicalEraproduced important achievements that are stillused today ThTheeCcolamsbsiincaatlioEnroafGreek& Romanachievements are known asGreco-Roman culture
- 39. Main Idea Governmental and social problems led to the end of the Roman Republic and the creation of anew form of government. ReadingFocus • What problems did leaders face in the late Roman Republic? • How did Romebecome anempire? • What helped tie the Romanempire together during the Pax Romana? FromRepublicto Empire
- 40. Bythe mid-100s BC,Romehad no rival anywhere in the Mediterranean world. However, the responsibilities of running their vast holdings stretched the Roman political system to itslimits. • Revolution beganin political, social institutions • Tensionsgrew between classesof Roman society • Gracchibrothers tried to resolvetension SocialUnrest Soldier-Farmers • Tribune Tiberius Gracchus noted mistreatment of soldier-farmers • Many reduced to poverty • Tiberius, brother Gaius tried to helpsoldiers PublicLand • Gracchi tried to redistribute publicland to farmers • Hadpublic support, but Senatefeared Gracchi trying to reduce its power • Senateurged mobsto kill brothers Problemsin the Late Republic
- 41. TheMilitary in Politics ■ 107 BC,socialunrest reachednewlevel ■ GeneralGaiusMarius elected consul – Eliminated property restrictions – Accepted anyone who wanted to joinarmy ■ Armies,private forcesdevoted to general – Poor hoped to shareplunder at end ofwar – Ruthless generals realized loyalty of troops could be usedaspolitical tool
- 42. CivilWar • Social War revealed talent of General Lucius Cornelius Sulla • Sulla became consul, 88 BC; after consulship ended, Marius tried to prevent Sulla from taking military command • Sullamarched on Rome,won civil war, became dictator • Carried out program of reforms to protect power ofSenate TheSocial War • Rome’s Italian allies had been trying to obtain Romancitizenship • Senatewanted to maintainmonopoly on power, refused • 90 BC,Social War brokeout • Italian rebels were defeated, but Senateagreed to give themcitizenship SocialandCivil Wars
- 43. Sullapaved the way for major changesin Rome’s government. Theend ofthe Republic resulted from the ambitions of afewindividuals. • JuliusCaesar,Gnaeus Pompey, Licinius Crassushelped bring endto Republic • Caesar,Pompey successful military commanders • Crassusone of wealthiest peoplein Rome • 60 BC,the three took overRoman state, ruled asFirstTriumvirate TheFirstTriumvirate EndofTriumvirate • Crassusdied; Pompey, Caesarfought civil war • Caesardefeated Pompey, took full control of Rome,became dictatorfor life, 44BC • Caesarbrought many changesto Rome,popular reforms • Senatefeared he would destroy RomanRepublic, murdered him, Ides of March RomeBecomesan Empire
- 44. TheSecondTriumvirate • Caesar’smurder did not savetheRepublic • 43 BC,SecondTriumvirate took power—Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian; loyal officer Marc Antony; high priestLepidus • Lepidus pushed aside;Antony, Octavian agreed to govern half the empireeach, Octavian in west, Antony inEast CivilWar • Civil war between Octavian,Antony brokeout • Octavian defeated Antony and his ally, Egypt’s QueenCleopatra • Cleopatra, Antony committed suicide; Octavian alone controlledRome • Republic effectively dead; new period in Romanhistorybeginning
- 45. Octavian Takes Power • Octavian faced task of restoringorder in empire • Hadno intention of establishing dictatorship when he tookpower Principate • Octavian careful to avoid title of king or emperor • Called himself princeps, “first citizen” • Government called Principate New Political Order • Octavian decided it impossible to return Rometo republican formof government • Created new political order,known today asthe empire New Title • 27 BC,SenategaveOctavian title Augustus,“the revered one” • Title areligious honor; able towear laurel and oak leaf crown FromOctavianto Augustus
- 46. New Imperial Government • Augustus head of state more than 40 years, made smooth transition to new imperial government with power divided between him and Senate • Most financial, administrative matters under Augustus’scontrol ForeignAffairs • Started program to bring peace to west, particularly to Gaul, Spain • Beganseries of conquests that pushed border eastward toDanube River • Also took special care of Romeitself Legacy • Created police force, fire brigades; stockpiled food,water • Beganbuilding program; presided over moral, religiousreforms • Great period of cultural creativity; great writers like Horace, Ovid, Virgil TheAugustanAge
- 47. • Augustus died AD14, empire ruled by Caesar’srelatives for 54years • Julio-Claudian Emperors’ abilities variedwidely • Tiberius agood soldier, competent administrator • Caligula, brutal, mentally unstable; appointed favorite horse asconsul • AD68, last of Julio-Claudians, Nero committed suicide • Following Nero’s death, civilwars raged in Rome • Four military leaders claimed throne in turn • Last, Vespasianreestablished order, as did reigns of twosons • Stability returned underFlavians Flavians TheGoodEmperors • AD96, new line of emperors established—Good Emperors • Fiverulers governed Romefor almost acentury • From provinces different thanRome, continued opening Romanimperial society Julio-Claudiansand Flavians
- 48. TheGood Emperors Empiregrewtremendouslyunder Good Emperors ■ Reachedlimits of expansionunder Trajan ■ Addedwhat are now Romania,Armenia, Mesopotamia, and the SinaiPeninsula ■ SuccessorHadrianthoughtempire toolarge – – – Withdrew from almost all easternadditions Built defensive fortifications to guardagainst invasions Built wall 73 miles long in northernBritain
- 50. Empire brought uniformity to the cities of the Mediterranean world, which were governed in imitation ofRome. Theperiod from the beginning of August’s reign in 27 BCuntil the death of the last of the Good Emperors in AD180 is often called the PaxRomana—the RomanPeace.This era was characterized by stable government, astrong legal system, widespread trade, and peace. • Romangovernment strongest unifying force in empire • Maintained order, enforcedlaws, defended frontiers • Aristocracy participated, but emperors made all important decisions Government ThePaxRomana Provinces • Empire divided into provinces ruledby governors appointed from Rome • Provincial government fair, efficient • Government in Romekept closecheck on governors • Any citizen could appealunfair treatment directly toemperor
- 51. Laws • Romanlaw unified the empire • Lawsspecified what could, could not be done; penalties for breakinglaw • Samelaws applied to everyone in empire, wherever theylived Agriculture • Agriculture remained primary occupation throughout PaxRomana • Most farms, independent with little, no surplus to sell • Tenant farmers began to replace slaves on largefarms Manufacturing • Manufacturing increased throughout empire • Italy, Gaul, Spain—artisans made cheap pottery, textiles • Fine glassware made in eastern cities likeAlexandria LegalSystem
- 52. Trade • Italy imported grain, meat, raw materials fromprovinces • Merchants brought silks, linens, glassware, jewelry, furniture fromAsia • Rome,Alexandria became commercial centers Transportation • Commercial activity possible becauseof empire’s location around Mediterranean and extensive road network • Ultimately about 50,000 miles of roads bound empiretogether Military andMerchant Routes • Most roads built, maintained formilitary purposes • Cheaper to transport grain by ship from one end of Mediterranean to other than to send it overland; most goods wentby sea Opportunities for Trade
- 53. Closure Activity ■What were the importantcultural contributions of the ClassicalEra? –Match the achievement withthe appropriate classicalcivilization