Rise and Fall of Rome

Early Rome From Latin decent, Latin villages grew together to make Rome Legend has it that Romulus and Remus settled Rome (raised by wolves!). Said to be the sons of the war god Mars. Romans now have a divine origin Geography of the modern country Italy is perfect for civilizational growth Fertile land Large plains Isolated valleys Low lying mountains Protection from the North (Alps) Peninsula (water on three sides) Rome on Tiber River (fresh water)

Take Over Romans take over Italian Peninsula by defeating the Etruscans 509 B.C. is the beginning of the Roman Republic Republic – People choose SOME of the government officials The Romans adopted traditions from other cultures Copied Etruscan alphabet Greek gods Etruscan engineering (arches) Etruscan draining systems to create more farm lands

Structuring the Republic Rome starts a senate of 300 made of the PATRICIANS wealthy land owners Made the laws and controlled government Senators elected CONSULS, two of them, each year to run the business of government and command the army Consuls only served one term and had to approve each other’s decision (checks and balances) A DICTATOR is elected ruler who has complete control over government in a time of war (for 6 months) Cincinnatus was elected, won a war, then was back to his farm in 15 days

Republic and Lifestyle PLEBEIANS, the farmers, merchants and artisans, demand power They make up most of the population Plebeians then elected TRIBUNES to support their interest (just like representatives here) Tribunes can VETO or block laws Plebeians were later elected to the Consul 450 B.C., Plebeians fought to have laws written down (THIS WAS HUGE!) Plebeians could now appeal a judgment handed down on them

Society and Religion Women are typically powerless in old society, but the Romans allowed women to own property and, later on, run businesses Roman women had influence in their society Romans also had an education system, for the rich of course Romans followed Greek Mythology and had numerous gods and goddesses They built enormous temples to worship these gods and activities and feast on their calendars Neptune – Sea Mars – War Jupiter – Supreme God June - Marriage

The Republic By 270 B.C., the Romans controlled Italy Citizen-soldiers make up the vast Roman army LEGIONS were ranks of 5,000 men and they had many legions Adopted the citizen-soldiers from Greece Honored and believed in courage, loyalty and RESPECT Rome honored the conquered people Able to keep customs, money and government Soldiers sent out to control new lands Built many roads for easy travel and maintain control

The Mediterranean Rome spreads Carthage, in North Africa, was the first major target Carthage controlled all of Northern Africa, parts of Spain and the Western Mediterranean The Punic Wars: 264 B.C. – 146 B.C. First war, defeated Carthage: won Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia Second war, Hannibal leads an army through France and over the Alps (war elephants!) Loses a third of his men, but surprises the Romans Wins battles for 15 years! Finally loses, Carthage gives up NON-AFRICAN lands

Carthage Falls The Third War spelled the end of Carthage Senator Cato, “Carthage must be destroyed!” Survivors killed or sent into slavery Poured salt over the earth do nothing would grow IMPERIALISM, establishing control over foreign land and its peoples Romans fought on the eastern Mediterranean as well, defeating Hellenistic rulers Defeated Egypt, Macedonia, Greece, Asia Minor Mediterranean, “Mare Nostrum” --- “OUR SEA!”

Home and Reform Wealthy families owned huge farms called LATIFUNDIA Slaves hurt small farmers, forcing them to cities Many riches flowing into Rome Two brothers elected to the tribune sought reform, help for poor They were killed, and thousands of others Slowly the Roman republic was beginning to decline

Problems Romans were having many problems based on control and fairness Civil (within a country) wars began to break out Soldiers first loyalty was to their… commanders Commanders gave the soldiers more money and land Commanders now had armies to force their own ambitions Julius Caesar emerged out of the mayhem Was a commander and intelligent politician Alongside his was Pompey, another general

“Veni, vidi, vici” Caesar won the conquest of Gaul (modern day France and Belgium) in a series of battles Pompey grew scared and ordered the senate to disband Caesar’s army Caesar led a civil war against Pompey and won Caesar was now the absolute ruler of Rome Reform started Jobs to jobless Land to the poor More citizenship New calendar (which is still our calendar today)

Caesar and the Republic Fall People feared Caesar would make himself king The Senate plotted and stabbed him to death Civil War broke out Octavian gains control and is called AUGUSTUS, or the exalted one He will go on to name a successor and the 500 year old Republic was dead Augustus kept most things in place Ordered a CENSUS, population count, to see who should be paying tax We have a census today One BIG problem, who would rule next? Especially if a ruler died

Many Emperors Some emperors were horrible Some were good Caligula named his horse to consul Nero persecuted Christians, killed his mother and destroyed Rome Some were good Hadrian brought Roman Law (laws posted) to all provinces Marcus Aurelius studied philosophy and was a deep thinker, sympathized with the human spirit Pax Romana (Roman Peace) took place for 200 years Romans also used entertainment for a distraction Gladiator fights Chariot races Plays

Downfall Political violence becomes too common Foreign Invasion hard to resist Economy failing Decline in values

Politics and Economics Many emperors are being overthrown and killed 50 years, 26 emperors High taxes to support army and government Fertile land losing fertility Not allowed to leave land Emperor DICOLETIAN shares power with Maximian Split Rome in two Tried to stop INFLATION, rise in prices, by fixing prices of goods

Constantine and Invaders 312, Constantine gave toleration for Christians (HUGE) and established a new capital, CONSTANTINOPLE in Byzantium Reforms still couldn’t stop the eventual decline Invaders begin sacking Rome HUNS, nomadic people from Central Asia rode on horses to conquer lands and people Forced Germanics, Visgoths, Ostrogoths into Rome Attila the Hun raped and pillaged many people and some said it was the wrath of God for the sins of the world 476, Odoacer (Germanic) took the throne Downfall of Rome

Downfall Military Politics Economy Society Rome army lacked discipline Not enough men to fight, hired MERCENARIES Politics More oppressive and authoritarian Corrupt officials, civil war Economy Heavy taxes, abandoning lands Inflation and slave labor Society No patriotism, loyalty Bad leaders with own agendas Did Rome fall? Culture lost more than anything