Chapter 12 – The Roman Empire

Section NotesFrom Republic to EmpireA Vast EmpireRome’s Legacy

VideoAncient Rome and the

World Today

History Close-upA Chariot RaceThe Colosseum

ImagesJulius CaesarPompeii: A City PreservedThe Roman Arch

Quick FactsChapter 12 Visual Summary

MapsExpansion of Rome, 100 BC-AD 117Roman Trade Routes, AD 200

From Republic to Empire

The Big IdeaJulius Caesar and Augustus led Rome’s transition from a

republic to an empire.

Main Ideas

• Romans called for change in their government.

• Julius Caesar rose to power and became the sole ruler of Rome.

• Augustus became Rome’s first emperor after defeating Caesar’s killers and his own former allies.

6.7.4

Main Idea 1: The Romans called for change in their

government.

• Many people became unhappy and were unemployed when chaos emerged in Rome’s government.

• People rioted in the streets while people from around the republic flooded the city.

• An orator and philosopher named Cicero called for change but was unsuccessful.

• He wanted to limit the power of generals and restore checks and balances on government.

Caesar, a very powerful general, made an agreement with Pompey and Crassus to fight against the Senate.

Because Caesar was so popular, Pompey became jealous. This sparked a war between them that ended in Pompey’s death.

Main Idea 2:Julius Caesar rose to power and became the

sole ruler of Rome.

• Caesar was named dictator for ten years. He later demanded that he be named dictator for life.

• A group of senators led by Brutus killed Caesar because they feared him becoming king.

Marc Antony and Augustus avenged Caesar’s death by attacking his killers, eventually leading to their death.

Antony returned to Italy and married Cleopatra, which led to a civil war between him and Augustus.

Main Idea 3: Augustus became Rome’s first emperor after defeating Caesar’s killers and his own former

allies.

Antony and Cleopatra killed themselves, making Augustus (formerly called Octavian) the sole ruler. This marked the beginning of the Roman Empire.

A Vast Empire

The Big Idea

After Augustus became emperor, the Roman Empire grew politically and economically, and life improved for the

Roman people.

Main Ideas

• The Roman Empire expanded to control the entire Mediterranean world.

• Trade increased in Rome, both within the empire and with other people.

• The Pax Romana was a period of peace and prosperity in the cities and the country.

6.7.3

Main Idea 1: The Roman Empire expanded to control the

entire Mediterranean world

• Rome had many reasons for expansion.

– It wanted to control hostile neighbors.

– It wanted more resources.

– Some emperors liked fighting.

• By the time of the emperor Hadrian, Rome controlled most of the island of Britain.

• Fearing attacks by invaders, Hadrian built a huge wall marking the border between Roman and non-Roman territory.

Main Idea 2:Trade increased in Rome, both within the

empire and with other people.

• People in Rome needed raw materials that they couldn’t produce themselves.

• This led merchants to Rome’s provinces to trade.

• To pay for their goods, Romans used currency, or money, which included silver and gold coins.

• Nearly everyone accepted Roman coins. This helped trade grow.

Main Idea 3: The Pax Romana was a period of peace and

prosperity in the cities and the country.

• The first 200 years of the Roman Empire were a time of peace called the Pax Romana.

• During this time, trade increased and people became wealthy.

• This positively affected life in the cities and in the country.

Life in the City and in the Country

• Rome was the largest city in the empire, which led to difficult and crowded living conditions.

• Despite this, the city had many types of entertainment, such as plays, chariot races, fights, and bathhouses.

• More people lived in the country than in the city.

• In rural areas, people farmed and grew enough food for themselves.

• Some city dwellers also had a large farm, or villa, outside the city.

Rome’s Legacy

The Big Idea

Many features of Roman culture were copied by later civilizations and continue to influence our lives today.

Main Ideas• The Romans looked for ways to use science and

engineering to improve their lives.• Roman architecture and art were largely based on Greek

ideas.• Roman literature and language have influenced how

people write and speak.• Roman law serves as a model for modern law codes

around the world.

6.7.8

The Romans tried to find knowledge that could improve their lives. • Medicine• Calendars• Better farming

methods

• Their practical approach to engineering can be seen in their use of cement, layered roads, and arches.

• Arches support much heavier weight because of their rounded shape.

Main Idea 1: The Romans looked for ways to use science

and engineering to improve their lives.

• The Romans created aqueducts to carry water from the mountains to the cities.

• They combined arches to form a vault, a set of arches that supports the roof of a building.

Main Idea 2: Roman architecture and art were largely

based on Greek ideas.

Roman architecture was based largely on older Greek designs, such as columns and the use of marble.

• They moved beyond the Greeks with their use of vaults, used in the Colosseum, and domes.

• They could build much larger structures than the Greeks because of these vaults.

Art

• The artists of the Roman Empire were known for their mosaics and paintings, done mostly on wet plaster and called frescoes.

• They were also skilled at creating portraits, or pictures of people.

• Roman sculptors were also talented, but they mostly copied statues from older Greek works.

• These copies helped provide information about Greek masterpieces, however.

Main Idea 3: Roman literature and language have

influenced how people write and speak.

• Rome was home to many of the greatest authors of the ancient world, such as Virgil and Ovid.

• Romans also excelled at satire (a style of writing that pokes fun at people or society), speeches, and drama.

• Writers used Latin, the language of Rome.

• Latin developed into many different languages, called the Romance languages.

• Latin words are still common in scientific and legal terms, and in mottoes.

Main Idea 4:Roman law serves as a model for modern law

codes around the world.

• Roman law was enforced throughout Europe and still existed after the empire fell apart.

• Roman law inspired a system called civil law, which is a legal system based on written codes of law.

• Most European countries today have civil-law traditions.

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