2. Unit 8, Part 3: The Roman EMPIRE Unit 8, Part 3: The Roman EMPIRE

3. CALL FOR CHANGE - Cicero Rome in the 70s BC was a dangerous place. Politicians and generals went to war to increase their power. Political order broke down in Rome Unemployed Romans rioted in the streets because they were starving. People from around the republic flooded into the city looking for work and food, adding to the chaos. Cicero – Gifted philosopher and orator, or public speaker, who called on Romans to make Rome a better place. He wanted to limit the power of generals, give more support to the Senate, and restore the checks and balances on government. Many Romans didn’t agree with him; some didn’t care.

4. JULIUS CAESAR Greatest general in Roman history Admired for bravery and skill in battle His soldiers respected him because he treated them well. Conquered nearly all of Gaul (modern France, Germany and northern Italy) and part of Britain. Also excellent speaker, making him a powerful political figure. Before he went to Gaul, Caesar and 2 of the most powerful men in Rome, Pompey and Crassus, agreed to work together to fight against the Senate. After the war, Caesar was so powerful, his friends were jealous and afraid of him, especially Pompey.

5. CAESAR vs. POMPEY In 50 BC Pompey’s allies in the Senate ordered Caesar to give up command of his armies and return to Rome. Knowing that Pompey was trying to take power away from him and would arrest him if he gave up his command, Caesar refused, and he led his army into Italy. This was against Roman law and considered a sign of war. Afraid that Caesar would attack him, Pompey and his allies fled Italy. They didn’t think they had enough troops to defeat Cesar. Caesar and his army chased Pompey’s forces around the Mediterranean for a year. Eventually they drove Pompey into Egypt, where he was killed. In Egypt Caesar met Cleopatra, whom he made queen, and she became his ally.

6. CAESAR ASSASSINATED When Caesar finally returned to Rome, he forced the Senate to name him dictator for 10 years. Later this term was extended and he was made dictator for life. Although he wanted to improve Roman society, some people resented the way he had gained power. They feared that he would try to make himself king. Some Senators were especially angry. On March 15 th (Ides of March) in 44 BC, a group of Senators attacked Caesar in the Senate house and stabbed him to death. Amon the attackers was a young Senator named Brutus, who had been a friend and ally of Caesar’s (may have even been his son, but didn’t know it). Caesar was shocked by Brutus’s betrayal and stopped fighting against his attackers when he recognized him.

7. CAESAR AVENGED Rome was shocked by Caesar’s murder, and many people were furious about it. Many of the common people who loved him began to riot. Caesar’s murderers were forced to flee for their lives. The Senate had to act quickly to restore order. Two leaders emerged to take control of Roman politics and punish Caesar’s murderers: Marc Antony – one of Caesar’s former assistants Octavian – Caesar’s adopted son, later called Augustus At Caesar’s funder, Antony delivered a famous speech that turned even more Romans against the murderers. Shortly afterward, he and Octavian set out with an army to try to try to avenge Caesar’s death. They caught up with the killers in northern Greece and defeated them. After the battle the leaders of the plot to kill Caesar, including Brutus, killed themselves. Julius Caesar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgPymD-NBQU HH Julius Caesar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4nzbC5vYLY

8. ANTONY and CLEOPATRA Octavian returned to Italy. Antony went east to fight Rome’s enemies. In Turkey, Antony met Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, and the two fell in love. Antony divorced his wife, Octavian’s sister, to be with Cleopatra, which insulted Octavian. Civil war broke out in Rome. Octavian sent a fleet to attack Antony. Antony sailed out to meet it, and the 2 forces met west of Greece in the Battle of Actium. Antony’s fleet was defeated, but he and Cleopatra escaped back to Egypt. There they committed suicide so they wouldn’t be taken prisoner.

9. 1 st ROMAN EMPEROR Octavian became the sole ruler of Rome. Over the next few years he gained power. In 27 BC he announced that he was giving up all his power to the Senate, but actually kept much power. He took the title princeps, or “first citizen.” The Senate game him a new name – Augustus, which means “revered one,” and he became the first Roman emperor This marked the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.

10. AUGUSTUS Changed the nature of Roman government forever. Made many improvements to the city: –Created a fire department and police force –Built new aqueducts and repaired old ones to increase the city’s water supply (talk more about these later) –Improved and expanded the road network –Built a new form that held statues, monuments, and a great temple to the god Mars. –In writing about his life, Augustus wrote, “I found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble.” Biography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaCbHw-ZbZQ

11. OTHER EMPERORS Over the next 500 years, Rome had between 147 and 192 emperors (depending on who’s counting). Some were considered good: such as Marcus Aurelius (the philosopher), Trajan, and Hadrian. Many others have gone done in the history books as being particularly terrible and vile leaders for a variety of reasons: Nero, Caligula, Commodus. (You’ll learn more about some of these emperors later.) HH Come Dine with Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KExirPUaoSYHH Come Dine with Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KExirPUaoSY HH Emperors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSC2W8- VaFMHH Emperors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSC2W8- VaFM HH Flame https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sEjKAYPJtU

12. THE EMPIRE EXPANDS When Rome became an empire, it already controlled most of the Mediterranean world. Within about 150 years the emperors pushed boundaries further, creating a massive empire. Why expand? Control hostile neighbors to prevent them from attacking Economic reasons – gold, farmland, or other resources Some emperors simply wanted victories and to conquer

13. ROMAN BRITAIN Hadrian’s Wall – built in northern Britain by emperor Hadrian to mark the border between the Roman and non-Roman territory Hadrian's Wall - Engineering Empire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeosZImCrMYHadrian's Wall - Engineering Empire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeosZImCrMY Show History of Britain video clip Roman Bath in the city of Bath Roman Baths https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC1K_ulow7U Remains of Roman villas found throughout the country

14. TRADE INCREASES As the empire grew, merchants began traveling all over the empire trading goods and bringing raw materials to Rome that the city couldn’t produce itself, but that were found in the provinces, or areas outside of Italy that the Romans controlled. They also traded with people beyond the empire’s borders. Metal, cloth, food Exotic goods – spices from Asia, animals from Africa, silk from China (particularly popular in Rome and very expensive) In return, Romans sent goods such as jewelry, glass, and clothing to the provinces. To pay for their trade goods, Romans used currency, or money, in the form of gold and silver coins. Since nearly everyone accepted Roman coins, this allowed them to trade with people even if they had no items their trade partners wanted. This was a huge step forward and helped trade grow even more.