Chapter 6 Section 2 Notes

509 B.C. 264 B.C. 218 B.C. 44 B.C. A.D. 284 A.D. 476 Ancient Rome and Early Christianity, 500 B.C. – A.D CHAPTER Time Line 500 B.C.A.D. 500 HOME Rome becomes a republic. In the Second Punic War, Hannibal invades Italy. Diocletian, who will divide the Roman Empire, becomes emperor. The First Punic War with Carthage begins. Conspirators kill Julius Caesar. Western Roman Empire falls with the ouster of the last emperor, Romulus Augustulus.

I. Expansion Creates Problems in the Republic

A. The gap between rich and poor increased class tensions developed

B. Rich land owners lived on huge estates called latifundia

C. Many of these lands belonged to farmers and soldiers that were forced to sale their lands

D. Grain prices were down

E. Slaves were all over Rome

F. No Jobs

II. The Republic Collapses

A. Two plebeian brothers try to reason with the Rich

1. Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus

2. As Tribunes they try to make reforms

3. Tiberius is assassinated in 133 B.C. and Gaius in 121 B.C.

4. Civil War erupts

5. Power struggles within the army try to put down the rebellions

B. Julius Caesar takes control

1. The First Triumvirate

A. 60 B.C. Julius Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey

1. Caesar was away fighting wars in Gaul (France)

2. Caesar soon gained support of the entire army

B. In 49 B.C. Crassus and Pompey order him back to Rome without his armies, He refuses

C. In 46 B.C. he becomes dictator and soon afterwards dictator for life

2. Caesar has moderate reforms

a. Gave land to poor in Gaul

b. Created jobs with government projects

1. Aqueducts

2. Roads

3. Buildings Pantheon Colosseum Roman Theatre

3. Assassinated on March 15, 44 B.C. by his longtime friend MarcusBrutus in the senate chamber

C. Beginnings of the Empire

1. Second Triumvirate Caesar’s grandnephew Octavian and his friend Mark Antony take control of Rome along with Lepidus

AugustusMark Antony

2. Eventually Lepidus is removed and Octavian and Mark Antony go to war.

3. Cleopatra from Egypt convinces Antony to attack Octavian at the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C.

a. Octavian wins

4. Octavian crowns himself Augustus and keep the title imperator (supreme military commander) where the word emperor comes from

III. A Vast Powerful Empire

A. Years starting with Augustus rule from 27 B.C. to 180 A.D. become knownas the Pax Romana (Roman Peace)

B. Agriculture was the most important industry of the empire

C. Trade flourished

D. Silver coins called a demarius was the coin of the empire

E. Roads interlinked the empire and connected to the Silk Road

F. Many men from foreign lands entered the army

G. Augustus was Rome’s best ruler

1. Set up civil service or government jobs

2. He dies in 14 A.D.

H. Governmental Flaw

1. No legal succession to the throne

I. Bad Rulers

1. Caligula

2. Nero

J. Good Rulers

1. Five good Rulers

a. Nerva in 96

b. Trajan

c. Hadrian The Pantheon (

1. Wall in England

d. Antonius Pius

e. Marcus Aurelius

– 180 A.D.

2. Empire at height

IV. Life in Imperial Rome

A. Early values (Gravitas)

1. Discipline

2. Strength

3. Loyalty

B. Paterfamilias was the oldest male in family

C. Women almost had the same rights as men, except they could not vote

D. Boy children were more important because they could vote

E. Children became adults at 16

F. Girls were married between 12 and 15 to much older husbands

G. Slavery

1. Widespread and important to the economy

2. Conquered peoples became slaves

3. Considered property

4. Some became gladiators

H. Early gods and goddesses

1. Numia were divine spirits

2. Lares were guardian spirits of each family

3. When they met the Greeks they adopted the gods with different names

I. Entertainment

1. Government provided free game, races, and gladiator events for the masses

2. Coliseum held 50,000

3. Circus Maximus held 300,000