bellwork · imperialism –establishing control over foreign lands after the punic wars, greece and...
TRANSCRIPT
Bellwork
▪ Review packet pgs 51-53
▪ Reading quiz coming up
▪ You may use reading notes on the quiz
▪ I will take questions on the reading in a few minutes
The Geography of Rome
▪ Center of Italy and the Mediterranean
▪ Fertile Land
▪ Easy Travel
▪ Few Natural Resources
Early People of Italy – The Etruscans-
▪ Established independent city-states
▪ Farmers
▪ Strong Military
▪ Influenced Roman language, religion, and values
▪ The Kingdom of Rome was taken over by the Etruscans –corruption led to their overthrow
The Roman Republic
▪ Republic – government system in which representatives are elected by citizens
▪ 2 Groups of Romans–Plebeians – farmers, merchants, artisans–Patricians – wealthy landowners* Constant power struggle between groups*
The Government
▪ Senate – legislative body, 300 members (patricians)
▪ 2 Consuls –Supervise government and command
armies–1 year termsDictator – ruler with complete control (only
used during emergencies and for 6 months)
Rome Expands
▪ Initially for security
▪ Legion – Group of 5000 foot soldiers
▪ Leniency shown to the conquered– Recognize Roman authority, pay
taxes
– Keep local customs and government
– Citizenship
Plebeians vs. Patricians
▪ The plebeians resented their lack of power in the new republic – Why?
▪ In 494 B.C. many plebeians refused to fight in the Roman army unless the patricians yielded to their demands for change.
▪ Why would the Patricians make concessions to the plebeians?
▪ Tribunes – representatives of plebeians, have veto power
The Twelve Tables
▪ Roman Law Code
▪ Engraved on 12 tablets and put on public display – What is symbolic significance?
The Punic Wars and The Roman Empire
The Punic Wars
▪ Series of wars between Rome and Carthage (264 BC – 146 BC)
▪ Fought over control of the Mediterranean
2nd Punic War
▪ Carthaginian leader Hannibal moves his army through Spain and France, then invades Italy
▪ Hannibal’s army destroys the Roman countryside for 15 years
3rd Punic War(149-146 B.C.)
▪ Rome invades and destroys Carthage, now has complete control of the Mediterranean
Imperial Rome
▪ Imperialism – establishing control over foreign lands
▪ After the Punic Wars, Greece and surrounding areas became Roman provinces
▪ Continued struggle between Plebeians and Patricians weakened Rome and a series of civil wars broke out
Imperial Rome
▪ After the Punic Wars, Greece and surrounding areas became Roman provinces
▪ Continued struggle between Plebeians and Patricians weakened Rome and a series of civil wars broke out
▪ Generals gained political power
The End of the Roman Republic
First Triumvirate
▪ Caesar Pompey CrassusGreat General Great General Not a great general – very rich
First Triumvirate 60 BC – 53 BC
▪ 54 BC – Julia (Caesar’s Daughter and Pompey’s wife dies)
▪ Crassus – Killed – Details not pretty
▪ Caesar and Pompey = Civil War
▪ Pompey Killed (details also not pretty) -- Caesar Wins
▪ 44 BC – Caesar named dictator for life – then assassinated
Julius Caesar
▪ Successful General who waged a war against another general, Pompey
▪ Caesar is victorious, named dictator for 10 years, then for life
▪ Assassinated in 44 B.C. – 15 year civil war erupts
2nd Triumvirate
Octavian Mark Antony Lepidus
Caesar’s adopted son Caesar’s Chief Aid, Friend, Who Cares
and General
The Pax Romana
▪ Octavian=Augustus
▪ Reformed and stabilized the government
▪ Civil service, public works projects
▪ Pax Romana – 200 years of Roman peace
The Roman Emperors
▪ No set method of replacing the Emperor
▪ Why could this cause a problem???
▪ That brings us to the Julio-Claudians!
Tiberius
▪ Paranoid
▪ Many executions during his rule
Caligula
▪ 24 years old at time of rule
▪ Insane
▪ Ordered his troops to gather sea shells at the English Channel
▪ Thought he was a god
▪ Do not make bald jokes or speak of goats around Caligula
▪ Assassinated after 5 years of rule
Claudius
▪ Uncle of Caligula
▪ Found hiding behind a curtain after Caligula’s assassination
▪ Many physical difficulties
▪ Successful emperor
▪ Probably poisoned by his wife
Nero
▪ Mom probably killed Claudius when Nero was 17
▪ First few years of reign were good (he wasn’t actually ruling)
▪ Either insane or just really mean.
▪ Assassinated his mother, and later his wife
▪ Many executions
▪ Persecuted Christians
▪ Commits suicide after a revolt “What an artist dies with me!”
▪ Civil war after his death
The Five Good Emperors
▪ Series of emperors who wisely selected their successors
Nerva
▪ Old, with no sons, serves 2 years and dies naturally
Trajan
▪ Builder, conqueror, outlawed Christianity
Hadrian
▪ Gave up some conquered land, built a wall across Britain
Built around A.D 122
Built around A.D 122
Antoninus Pius
▪ Peaceful, boring period
Marcus Aurelius
▪ Philosopher, Successful war, plague
Marcus Aurelius
▪ Philosopher, Successful war, plague
▪ Son, Commodus becomes emperor
Commodus
▪ Son of Marcus Aurelius
▪ Often dressed like Hercules
▪ Sometimes fought as a gladiator
▪ Assassinated by a former wrestler while he was bathing
??????
▪ With all these problems, how does the Empire survive for another 300 years?
Roman Lifestyle and Achievements
Life in Rome
▪ Wealthy Romans–Political and Family Alliances–Interest in Politics and Power–Large Land Owners–Luxury
▪ Poor Romans–“Bread and Circuses”
The Roman Amphitheater
Other Amphitheaters
Roman Architecture
Roman Architecture
In a McDonalds in Rome
A New Religion and the Fall of the Roman Empire
Attempts at Reform
▪ Diocletian (284 A.D.)–Divides the Empire–Resigns due to ill health,
empire continues to decline
Attempts at Reform
▪ Constantine (312 A.D.)–Religious tolerance
Roman Christianity
▪ Why did it catch on?
– Teachings
– Roman Roads
– Religious toleration
▪ Persecution
– Why?
– Martyrs
▪ Persecution of Christians
▪ How could they actually attract people to the religion?
– Approval
▪ 313 - Constantine legalizes Christianity
▪ 380 – Theodosius makes Christianity the official religion
Attempts at Reform
▪ Constantine (312 A.D.)
–Religious tolerance–Establishes a new
Capital, Constantinople – Well defended, center of trade
Theodosius
▪ Officially divides Rome into two independent Empires
▪ Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire
Theodosius
▪ Officially divides Rome into two independent Empires
▪ Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire
Weakening Military
▪ No longer prestigious to be in Roman Military
▪ Quality of weapons, armor, training declines
▪ Frequent civil wars
Invasions
▪ Invasions by Germanic tribes could not be stopped by weakening legions
The Huns
▪ Warlike Nomads
▪ Drove Germanic tribes to Roman lands
▪ Attila the Hun begins invading W. Europe (434 A.D.)
▪ Last Roman Emperor is deposed in 476
How did it happen?
▪ Mercenaries – foreign soldiers fighting for Rome
▪ Social problems–Idea of Rome fades–Impact of Bread and Circuses
The End?
▪ Eastern Roman Empire survived until the 1400’s (Byzantine Empire)