Roman Empire P

70 BC  Wars to increase power of politicians and generals  Riots to restore the power of the tribunes  People flooded to the city

Cicero  Philosopher and orator  Called on the upper class to work together to make Rome better  Limit power of generals  More support to the Senate  Restore checks and balances

Julius Caesar  General  58BC-50BC- conquered Gaul  Alliance with Pompey and Crassus- the three ruled Rome  Lasted 10 years- Caesar too popular  50BC- allies in Senate order Caesar to give up command of armies  Caesar refuse and march army back to Rome which was against the law  Crossed the Rubicon River- term now means point of no return  48BC- defeat Pompey in Greece. Pompey killed by order of Egyptian king.  45BC- return home  Made himself dictator for life  People resent the way he gained power  Reduced the power of the Senate  March 15, 44BC- group of Senators attacked him at the Senate and stabbed him to death- Ides of March

After Assassination  Two leaders emerge  Marc Antony- claim E. Empire  Octavian- claim W. Empire  Both want to punish murderers –Battle near Philipi in 42BC –Track down killers and defeat –Murderers commit suicide –Octavian returns to Italy

Marc Antony  40BC- married Octavia- Octavian’s sister  32BC- divorced her to marry Cleopatra- Queen of Egypt  Octavian saw as an insult  Civil war

Octavian  31BC- sent fleet to attack Antony –Battle of Actium- Antony defeated but escaped- went back to Egypt –Both Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide rather than be taken by Octavian –Becomes sole ruler- 1 st emperor of Rome –Near limitless power –Took title of “princeps” means 1 st citizen –27BC- Senate gave title of “Augustus” means revered one which began the empire

Empire  Controlled the Mediterranean World  Expanded empire  100AD- conquer Gaul, Britain, Asia Minor, C. Europe, Mesopotamia, and N. African coast  Promoted trade and received raw materials from conquered areas  Used Roman currency throughtout empire

Pax Romana  200 year time of peace and prosperity in empire  Stable government, well run army  Lasted until 180’s AD  Population grew  Improved lives of citizens

Octavian’s rule  More people became citizens  Laws treated people fairly  Innocent until proven guilty, can’t be forced to speak against yourself  Census- made sure people paid taxes  Built roads throughout empire  Built new buildings to make Rome beautiful  Pantheon, Colosseum, Circus Maximus

Accomplishments  Science and Engineering –Produced calendar –Made cement by mixing lime, volcanic rock and ash –Built roads in layers –Built with arches- support more weight –Built aqueducts to carry water from mountains into city –Galen- doctor- study heart, veins, and arteries

Accomplishments (cont.)  Architecture and Art –Copy Greek designs- ex. Collumns –Built vaults- set of arches that support a roof- allowed for larger structures- ex. Colosseum –Built domes on top of buildings –Fresco- painting on plaster

Accomplishments (cont.)  Literature and language –Virgil- wrote Aeneid –Ovid – wrote poems about Roman mythology –Latin- language of Romans  Developed into many different languages called Romance languages- Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian  Our languages uses many Latin words- ex. Et cetera, circus, veto

Accomplishments (cont.)  Law –Civil law- spread to areas controlled by Rome and passed to colonies around the world.