Rome: From Republic to Empire

Formation and Government of the Roman Republic ( BCE) King overthrown in 509 BCE Establishment of a republic Government in which elected or chosen officials pass laws Two consuls: chief magistrates Senate 300 men, served for life Initially comprised only of patricians Passed laws, managed finances, directed the military Tribunes: 5-10 elected officials who represented the plebeians

Roman Society Patricians: upper-class families Plebeians: lower-class families Up to 90% of population involved in agricultural work Roman citizenship Free Roman males Toga: sign of a Roman citizen Could hold public office, vote, marry, protected under the law Citizenship extended to all Italians (88 BCE) and all free people in empire (212 CE) Used as a tool to assimilate people into Rome

Growth of Rome’s Power Expansion through conquest Victory over Carthage in the Punic Wars ( BCE)

Roman Military Republic: army was mostly conscripted, Italian Empire: army was mostly volunteer, professional Majority of soldiers came from outside provinces Disciplined, well-trained and well-organized Higher social status and pay than average citizens

Roman Civil Wars (49-31 BCE) Julius Caesar ( BCE) Consul and general Seized power from the Senate Began political and social reforms to strengthen Rome Proclaimed dictator for life by the Senate Murdered by a faction of senators Civil war erupted between the Senate and Caesar’s supporters Senate was defeated, civil war erupted between Caesar’s supporters Octavian (Caesar’s grand-nephew and adopted heir) defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra

Development of the Roman Empire (27 BCE-476 CE) Emperor: Octavian (Caesar Augustus) Granted overarching power by the Senate Religious cult developed to worship the emperor Used title of princeps (first citizen) and imperator Used army and aristocratic elites to maintain order Senate remained but with no real power Pax Romana (27 BCE-180 CE)

Roman Slavery Most were prisoners of war Performed labor in every occupation aside from the military 40% of Italian population were slaves Could buy or be granted freedom Freedmen could become citizens Spartacus Led a slave rebellion in Italy from BCE 70,000 slaves joined his army Slaves were eventually defeated, captured slaves were crucified

Roman Women Women could become citizens Could not vote or hold office Owned and inherited property, ran businesses, obtained divorces Husbands had no legal power over their wives Childbearing was encouraged by the state Received special honors for having three children

Roman Empire

Roads and Aqueducts Over 450,000 miles of roads (50,000 miles paved) Carried fresh water to cities

Roman Roads

Colosseum

Classical Orders

Germanic Migrations Germanic tribes repeatedly entered the empire Fleeing Huns in Central Asia Romans fought them, then hired them as armies Established their own kingdoms within the empire Adopted Christianity and Roman law Roman generals fought more with each other than with the Germanic tribes

Decline and Fall of the Western Roman Empire Provincial leaders asserted more control Weak emperors after 184 CE Roman aristocracy focused more on pleasure than political and intellectual pursuits Sassanian Empire repeatedly defeated Roman armies Smallpox plague Decreased tax revenue, lowered troop recruitment Empire was split between four co-emperors by Diocletian in 295 CE, two co-emperors by Theodosius in 395 CE Last Western Roman emperor dethroned in 476 CE