1. What do you know about Ancient Rome?
Journal:
What do you know about Ancient Rome?

2. Geography of Rome Built on seven rolling hills
At curve on Tiber River = 15 miles inland
Surrounded by fertile farmland
In the middle of the Italian Peninsula
Geographic center of Mediterranean Sea

5. The Seven Hills – From Space

6. Origins of Rome: The Legend
Romulus and Remus: sons of the god Mars (Ares) & a princess (Silvia-a vestal virgin)
Abandoned on the Tiber R.
and saved by uncle and raised
by she-wolf
Twins built a city: Romulus
killed Remus, named city Rome

7. The Reality
Latins (the first Romans), Greeks, and Etruscans originally settled: BCE
Fertile Farmland
Commercially & culturally connected to Etruscans, Latins and Greeks

8. Early history 1400 BCE – earliest evidence of inhabitants in Rome
700s-600 BCE – Rome ruled by Kings
753 – “official” founding of Rome (myth-based)
625 BCE – drained marshes & built the Forum, a marketplace
600 BCE – Etruscans conquered Rome
Came from Northern Italy
Ruled for 100 years
Etruscan Rome
First city walls & sewer system
Latin Alphabet
Morphed Rome from a farm town into a City-State

9. Do Now Activity
Using the reading “A Father’s Choice” Let’s uncover the values that fostered the growth of Rome

10. A Roman Culture? Rome borrowed from others (cultural diffusion)
Latium: language and agriculture
Etruria: Alphabet, clothing, marriage
Greece:
Art, Literature, Architecture
Religion and mythology
Loved Greek culture, but hated Greek disunity

11. ETRUSCAN RULE
Began construction of temples and public centers
Capitoline Hill – religious center
Roman Forum becomes the heart of political life
Becomes public meeting place (like the Agora)
Tarquin the Proud – the last king
Ruthless tyrant
The Rape of Lucretia
509 BCE - Driven from the throne
Rome forms a Republic
Etruscans are assimilated

12. Greek-Rome Comparative Timeline
Greece
Rome
c. 755 BCE – Poleis begin to develop c BCE – Homer writes epic poems 490 BCE – 1st Persian War 404 BCE – Peloponnesian War ends 146 BCE – Forced to become Roman Province
753 BCE – Rome founded 509 BCE – Republic established 451 BCE – Twelve Tables written 200 BCE – 1st Roman history in Greek BCE – Rome fights three Punic Wars

13. The Roman Republic Senatus Populusque Romanus
“The Senate and the People of Rome”

14. Three Branches of Government
Executive = Consuls
Two men who governed the city
Civil & military leaders
Elected for one year only
Could not be elected again before 10 years had passed
Both had to agree before a decision could be made
Occasional election of a dictator (6 month term limit)
Possessed the right of imperium – to command troops & execute Senate’s assignments

15. Three Branches of Government
Legislative & Judicial = Senate
Citizens who were former consuls, plus other officers
Membership for life
members at various times in Roman history
Did not pass laws
Appointed commanders, assigned funds, set public policy
Provided conservative moral leadership
Senatus = “Council of Elders” or patres = “fathers”
Senate House – in the Forum, central in Roman life

16. Three Branches of Government
Legislative & Judicial = Three Assemblies
Assembly of the Centuries (Comitia Centuriata)
Elected the consuls
Wealthier members voted first (hierarchy)
Members of the army
Assembly of Tribes (Comitia Tributa)
Divided into 35 large voting blocs called Tribes
Tribe membership determined by residence
Approved or rejected laws
Financial issues, matters of war/peace & public works
Eventually became most active assemby
Assembly of Curiae (Comitia Curiata)
Wards of the city
Met only to validate decisions made elsewhere
Gradually lost importance

17. Roman Senate Building

18. The Two Classes Patricians Plebeians Nobles who owned large estates
Were the decedents from the founders of the city
Higher, dominant class in Political life
Plebeians
Ordinary Peasants and Craftsmen
Majority of Roman population
Resented Patrician power
Could vote but not hold important government positions.

19. Meeting of the Sides 494 BC – Plebeians threatened to secede
Granted the right to elect their own representatives
Tribunes
Spokesmen for the people
Could interfere with any action of government = “intercession”
Orig 2 , eventually rose to 10
494 BC – won right to intermarry with patricians
Allowed plebeians to become patricians themselves
Could then hold powerful positions
The Twelve Tables
Code of laws

20. Twelve Tables Important victory for Plebeians
Before, laws were unwritten
451 BCE – Laws carved in stone
All free citizens had a right to protection of the law

21. Republican Government

22. Roman Military Great Importance placed on Military
All those seeking public office must have spent10 years in the military
All citizens (meaning men who owned land) were to serve
Legions: military units
5,000 heavily armed men
(Infantry)
Group on horseback:
(Cavalry)
Century : 100 men

23. Punic Wars
As a Republic: Rome has expanded the empire through Trade and Conquest
RESULT: Rome and Carthage, Rome’s greatest enemy: WAR!
Punic Wars: Series of 3 wars from BCE
Significance of Wars: By 70 BCE, Rome controlled the Western and Eastern Mediterranean regions

24. The Punic Wars

25. Downfall of the Republic
The Republican Revolution
Causes:
Uneven economic distribution, expanding boundaries, and breakdown of military!

26. Economic Turmoil Uneven distribution of wealth
As empire grew so did the wealth of some
1000s of enslaved=1/3 of population!
Small farms cannot compete with estates
 Unemployment
Migrated to city

27. The Gracchi Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus Tried to help urban poor
and soldiers
“The savage beasts have their… dens… but the men who bear arms and expose their lives for the safety of their country, enjoy… nothing more than the air and the light… and wander from place to place with their wives and children” – Tiberius Gracchus
Both became enemies of the senate – Violently assassinated
RESULT: Civil war between rich and poor

28. Military Turmoil Republic grew unstable
Soldiers abroad became loyal to their new homes
Generals seized more power
Now possible for a military leader to TAKE OVER
One did…

29. Julius Caesar Came from Patrician family
Was a soldier, then governor of Spain
Based his power on the common people

30. Beginnings of Power 1st TRIUMVIRATE 60 BCE: elected consul,
= “Body of Three Men”
Crassus & Pompey
60 BCE: elected consul,
1 year term
To remain in power:
Becomes governor of Gaul (France & Belgium)
Gallic Wars BCE

31. Caesar vs The Senate Caesar gains popularity, his enemies jealous
Recruited Pompey against Caesar
49 BCE: Senate to orders Caesar back to Rome
Jan. 10, 49 BCE: Caesar defies senate and crosses Rubicon River
“The die is cast”
Pompey flees to Greece

32. Alone at the Top
Caesar’s troops crushed Pompey’s troops in Greece, Asia, Spain & Egypt
Pompey assassinated
Cleopatra & Ptolemy XIII
46 BCE: Caesar returns to Rome
Senate appoints him dictator
44 BCE: names self dictator for life

33. Caesar’s Reforms Absolute power
Granted citizenship to many in provinces
Expanded senate
Created jobs for the poor (construction)
Created colonies for the landless
Increases soldiers’ pay
Improved calendar- 12 month year
Pressed for “honest” government
Planned founding of public libraries
Gave free grain to the extremely poor

34. The Ides of March March 15, 44 BCE
Senators feared a loss of their influence
Felt their dignity & power had been undermined
Group of Senators led by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius plotted assassination
Caesar stabbed to death in Senate Chamber
“Et tu, Brute?”

35. The Second Triumvirate Lepidus, Mark Anthony, Octavian
Octavian  Augustus
The Second Triumvirate
Lepidus, Mark Anthony, Octavian

36. 2nd Triumvirate Alliance Ends
Lepidus forced to retire
Octavian and Antony become rivals
Split empire:
Octavian in the West
Antony (w/Cleopatra) in the East

37. Tension Leads to Another Civil War
Octavian accused Antony of plotting to rule all of Rome from Egypt with Cleopatra
Octavian and Antony fight: Battle of Actium 31 BCE
Octavian wins, Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide

38. Octavian becomes Augustus
=“The revered one”
1st emperor of Rome
Glorified Rome
Civil Workers manage government affairs
Tax collection and postal system
Minimizes unemployment (still a problem)
Senate still functioned
Rome’s most capable emperor
created a system of government that kept its stability long after his death

39. Rome Enters Pax Romana “Roman Peace” Peak of Roman power
27 BCE until 180 CE
Population grew
60-80 million in empire
1 million in Rome
Advanced road and aqueduct systems

40. Roman Emperors: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly…
THE FIRST:
Augustus Caesar – First Roman Emperor
Julius Caesar’s adopted Son
Changed name from Octavian to Augustus – means “The Majestic”
Started the Pax Romana – “Roman Peace” 27 BC to 180 AD
Under Pax Romana – the Empire was restructured
Trade Improved
End of the Pirates and Bandits
Roads and Sea Lanes cleared for commerce
Created Professional Civil Service
Created Program of Public Works – “Bread and Circuses”

41. The GOOD Trajan - Born in Spain
Conquered Dacia – Romania – source of gold/Roman wealth into 2nd Century
Building Campaign throughout the Empire
Trajan’s Column
Extended Rome to its greatest extent
Hadrian - Trajan’s cousin
Reformed the Civil Service
Suppressed Jewish Revolt
Continued Building Program of Trajan
Hadrian’s Wall – Northern Britain
Defended borders – Strengthened Frontiers

42. Marcus Aurelius - Last of the “Five Good Emperors”
Followed Stoicism – Good is determined by the state of the soul
Therefore a virtuous life was VERY important
Disastrous Campaign – Army brought back a plague weakening Rome and Europe
Biggest mistake – chose his son to be the Emperor instead of someone qualified

43. The BAD Nero - Made Emperor when 15 years old Murdered Wife and Mother
64 AD – FIRE IN ROME
Half the city destroyed
He blamed Christians
Persecutions break out – Martyr of St. Peter and St. Paul
Rebellion in Gaul
Committed suicide when rebellion reached Rome

44. Caligula - Insane
Murdered Senators for their property and wives
Considered making his horse a Consul
Demanded to be worshipped as Jupiter
Commodus - More interested in the gladiatorial games than in running the empire
Once killed an ostrich in the arena and held up its head to the Senators
“to show us that he had the same fate in store for us” – Dio Cassius
Strangled by his wrestling partner

45. The UGLY Vespasian - Crushed the Jewish Rebellion in Palestine
His son destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple
Destroyed remainder of rebellion at Masada – a hilltop fortress

46. Three Unifying Elements
Preserved the Empire
Figure of the Emperor
Civil Servants and City Councils
The Army
The Praetorian Guard
Founded by Augustus
Began interfering in politics in 41AD (Claudius)
Disruptive Influence

47. Christianity

48. Anno Domini (AD) = Common Era CE
Pompey conquered Jerusalem in 63 BCE
Jews felt threatened
Judea under Roman control
Jews refused to worship Roman gods
Believed in one God
Jews allowed local rule, but followed Roman Governor
4 to 6 BCE, a Jew named Jesus was born
Jesus later deemed Jewish savior (Messiah) by some
Pompey The Great Roman Judea 

49. Christianity began with Jesus: Jesus of Nazareth
Lived during reign of Emperor Augustus
Born in Bethlehem
Raised in Nazareth
His story told in New Testament of the Bible
AKA The Gospels
Written by a group of 12 men called the Apostles

50. Jesus’ Life Carpenter as a young man At 30 he began public ministry
Preached for 3 years
Reportedly performed miracles

51. Beliefs Monotheism Ten Commandments
JEWISH!
Monotheism
Ten Commandments
God has a personal relationship with everyone
“The Golden Rule”-Good treatment to thy neighbor
All who followed God’s wishes will be rewarded after death
His teachings appealed to the poor.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”

52. Death of Jesus Threat to Roman and Jewish leaders Pontius Pilate
Death by crucifixion
According to Gospels:
Body was placed in a tomb
3 days later it was gone
A living Jesus seen around
Finally ascended into heaven

53. A Religion is Born… Jesus’ followers convinced he was the messiah
Began to call him Jesus Christ
CHRIST comes from the Greek word Christos
“The Anointed One”
Saint Peter

54. Sacred Christian Holidays
Christmas
December 25
Celebrate birth of Christ
Good Friday – Jesus’ death
Easter – Jesus’ Resurrection
Usually April

55. Spread of Christianity
Pax Romana: time of peace allowed for easy travel, common languages allowed for it to be easily understood
PAUL: an apostle, huge influence on spread, taught that Jesus was son of God who died for our sins, and that Christianity welcomed all converts.
SIGNIFICANCE: Christianity not a local religion
PERSECUTION
Christians did not view emperors as gods
Roman Emperors persecuted Christians, blamed for Roman problems
AD 64- terrible fire in Rome, Emperor Nero blamed Christians, many Christians executed, Paul one of them

56. How did PERSECUTION of Christians lead to Christianity’s growth?
Question to discuss:
How did PERSECUTION of Christians lead to Christianity’s growth?

57. Acceptance of Christianity
Emperor Constantine
AD 312 – war threatened his rule
Had a dream: “In this sign you shall conquer”
What sign?...red cross
Won the battle
Accepts Christianity 313 AD
Edict of Milan – outlaws persecution
Converts himself 337 AD
Emperor Theodosius makes it official Roman religion

58. Early Church Structure
Hierarchical
Local:
Priest
Regional:
Bishop = priest w/ supervisory authority over several churches
Peter – 1st bishop of Rome (also 1st Pope, prob)
Head:
The Pope!

59. How did PERSECUTION of Christians lead to Christianity’s growth?
Entrance ticket!
How did PERSECUTION of Christians lead to Christianity’s growth?

60. Language and Latin

63. Where Do Our Words Come From?
HALF of English words come from languages other than English
Romance Languages
Languages that developed from Latin
Romans spoke “Vulgar Latin”
Regional dialects
These dialects became separate languages

64. What’s the word?? What does each word mean?
domination egotist equinox fatuous fortify function inhabit legion
linguistics lunatic manual medieval neutral normal oratorical paternity
plebeian ridiculous scientific senate sinuous territory vacant verbatim
What does each word mean?
What Latin word does each come from?
What is a synonym for each word?

65. Germanic Languages: Languages from Germanic Tribes
England developed language from Germanic invaders
Americans speak a Germanic Language, not a Romance Language

66. The Collapse of Rome

67. Root Causes of the Fall
Death of Commodus (192 CE) ended Pax Romana
Subsequent emperors completely incapable of ruling Rome

68. Rome’s Economy Fails Hostile groups disrupted trade
Reached limit of expansion
Taxes raised and excess coins minted
INFLATION
Agriculture suffers
Food shortages and disease
Hostile tribes outside boundaries and pirates on Mediterranean Sea disrupted trade
Reached limit of expansion, could not get new resources (gold and silver)
Desperate for revenue, taxes are raised and coins minted not worth their face value
INFLATION: drop of value of $ and increases in prices
Agriculture: harvest suffer due to overworked land and war
Food shortages and disease spread

69. Value of Roman Imperial Coinage
27 BCE
100 CE

70. Value of Roman Imperial Coinage
200 CE
300 CE

71. Military and Political Turmoil
Soldiers less disciplined and loyal
Mercenaries hired to fight
Citizen loyalty drops
Lack of motivated, worthy emperors
Soldiers less disciplined and loyal, fight for general not Rome
Mercenaries: foreign soldiers hired to fight, had less loyalty to empire
Citizen loyalty drops, indifference emerges
Lack of motivated, worthy emperors

72. Attempts at Reform Diocletian splits the Empire
284 CE – repressed freedoms with military
Presented himself as a god
Two Halves of an Empire
East: Greek speaking
West: Latin speaking
Diocletian splits the Empire
284 CE – Strong willed army empire, limited citizens’ personal freedoms, restored the empire, doubled army, fixed priced goods
Presented himself as a god – preserves emperor role and honor
Splits Empire
East: Greek speaking (Greece, Anatolia, Syria, Egypt)
West: Latin speaking (Italy, Gaul, Britain, Spain)

74. controlled west Retires 305 CE
DIOCLETIAN controlled the east, co-ruler (Maximan)
controlled west
Diocletian had overall control
Retires 305 CE
Civil war broke out 311 CE
4 rulers fought over Rome

75. Constantine Moved the Capital
312 CE: Controlled Western Half
313 CE: Edict of Milan
324 CE: Controlled Entire Empire
330 CE: Moved Capital of Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium
Center of power from west to east
Byzantium became a wonder
Byzantium renamed Constantinople
After death of Constantine: Empire split again
West crumbled and East survived

76. The Empire Crumbled

77. Germanic Invasions Huns moved west into Europe
Forced Germanic Tribes into Western Rome
Romans called invaders Barbarians
Tribes overran city of Rome
370 CE – Mongol nomads called HUNS moved into regions outside empire forcing Germanic People in
Romans call invaders BARBARIANS
410 CE – Tribes overran Rome itself and devastated the city

79. Attila the Hun Huns indirectly responsible for Germanic Invasion
Attila led Huns to become direct threat to Rome
100,000 Huns terrorized both halves of empire
Attacked 70 cities
When Attila died, Huns no longer threat

80. No More Roman Empire

81. Last Emperor Romulus Augustulus 14 years old
Removed by Germanic Tribes

82. Fate of Rome
After collapse of Western Roman Empire, tribes set up own independent states
Western Provinces:
Roman power Disappears
Tribes from Northern Frontiers of Empire
Had to flee Attila the Hun
Attila was forcing Barbarians into Roman Empire
Attila himself was a direct threat to Rome
Significance
After collapse of W. Roman Empire, tribes set up own independent states

83. The East Flourished Eastern Provinces
Became Byzantine Empire
Flourished for 1000 years
Emperors ruled from Constantinople
Endured until 1453 – Fell to Ottoman Turks