The Roman Empire CHAPTER 6 SECTION 2

Under the Roman Empire government, society, economy, and culture are transformed. With increasing wealth and growing territory came more problems and increased instability within the government.

The Republic Collapses Economic Turmoil  The gap between the rich and the poor increases as Rome grows.  Rich landowners force enslaved people to work on their estates.  Small farmers, who are likely former soldiers, sell their land to the wealthy.  Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus propose reforms that limit the size of estates and give land to the poor.  This leaves senators feeling threatened.  Met violent deaths Military Upheaval  Following the brothers death a civil war occurs.  Instability continues with the breakdown of the military.  Generals begin seizing power and recruiting soldiers.  They were promised land  They no longer held their allegiance to the republic but now their commander.

Julius Caesar Takes Control  Julius Caesar, a strong military leader and strategist, joins forces to form the first Triumvirate  Crassus, a wealthy Roman  Pompey, a popular general  With their help he is elected Consul and after serving his year he appoints himself governor of Gaul.  He was successful in gaining his men’s loyalty because he had experience in the hardships of war.

Julius Caesar Continued Pompey  Pompey became a political rival of Caesar, he feared his ambitions.  He ordered the Senate to disband Caesar’s legions and make him turn home.  Caesar took his army across the Rubicon River toward Rome.  Pompey fled, and Caesar’s army defeated Pompey’s army in Greece, Asia, Spain and Egypt. Caesar’s Reforms  Upon returning home Caesar was appointed dictator for life. Where he governed Rome as an absolute power.  He granted Roman citizenship to many people from the provinces.  He expanded the senate and created jobs.  He started colonies where people without land could own property and he increased pay for soldiers. The Death of Caesar  Fear of losing their influence nobles and senators expressed their concerns of Caesar being a tyrant.  Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius stabbed him to death in the senate chambers.  Civil war broke out and the republic was destroyed.  Supporters of Caesar; Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus emerge as the second Triumvirate.

The Second Triumvirate  In 43 B.C. Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus took control of Rome for the next ten years.  Violence and jealousy led to the end of their alliance.  Octavian forced Lepidus to Retire  Mark Antony met Cleopatra of Egypt and moved to Egypt with her.  Octavian feared he would try to rule Rome from Egypt so he defeated their combined armies at the naval battle of Actium in 31 B.C.  Mark Antony and Cleopatra of Egypt committed suicide.  Octavian took on the name of Augustus “exalted one” and became the ruler of Rome.

A Vast and Powerful Empire Pax Romana  Meaning Roman Peace  Period of time from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180  Consider to be Rome’s peak of power  More than 3 million square miles  60 to 80 million people A Sound Government  Augustus was a successful ruler  Efficient government  Glorified Rome  Set up civil service  Civil Service paid workers to manage day to day life  Manage grain supply  Tax collection  Postal system

Agriculture and Trade  Most important industry with 90% of the people involved in it  Additional food and luxury items were obtained through trade.  Trade was made easier through the use of a silver coin, denarius.  Rome had a vast trading network which was made secure by the Roman navy.  Though originally made for the Roman army, roads linked Persia and southern Russia.

The Roman World  Roman values  Strength more than beauty  Power more than grace  Usefulness more than elegance  Diverse society full of  Merchants  Soldiers  Slaves  Foreigners  Philosophers  Slaves were an important part of the Roman economy.  Usually conquered people  About 1/3 of the population  Men, Women, and children  They were at the liberty of their owners. They could be punished, rewarded, set free, or put to death.  Strong, healthy men were often forced to become gladiators, professional fighters, who fought to the death in public contest.

Gods and Goddesses  Numina, powerful spirits or divine forces that the Romans worshiped.  Honored them through rituals, in the hopes of avoiding misfortune.  Lares, guardian spirits of each family.  In Rome, government and religion were linked.  Deities were honored in private shrines at home and in public worship ceremonies.  Important Roman gods and goddesses  Jupiter, father of the gods  Juno, Jupiter’s wife, watched over women  Minerva, goddess of wisdom and arts and crafts

Society and Culture  The difference between the classes of people in Rome grew over time.  Rich lived extravagantly and held banquets with rare and costly food.  Poor lacked necessities of life and lived on daily rations of grain and were mostly unemployed and lived in tenements.  The government distracted the population by offering free entertainment.  The Colosseum, a huge arena, was filled with rich and poor who gathered to watch spectacles of bravery, cruelty, honor, and violence.  Animals shows, where foreign creatures fought to the death  Gladiator shows, where strong men often fought to the death  During Pax Romana a new religion emerges…