1. The Roman Empire
By Mrs. Hoff

2. Rome: From City-State to Empire
Started as a small, unimportant city-state in central Italy in the 8th century BCE
Overthrew their monarchy and established a republic around 509 BCE.

4. Rome: the City-State Rome was dominated by wealthy patricians
Ruled by two consuls, with advice from the Senate

5. Rome: The City-State Conflict developed with plebians (poorer classes)
Tribunes represented the plebians, could veto legislation in the Senate.

6. Rome: the City-State
Pride in republican values: rule of law, citizens’ rights, lack of pretension, morality “the way of the ancestors”.

7. Rome: Creation of Empire
Began in 490s BCE with wars to control the Italian Peninsula
Punic Wars with Carthage from 264 – 146 BCE
Gave Rome control over the western Mediterranean
Made Rome a naval power

9. Rome: Creation of Empire
Conquest of Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and present-day Spain, France, and Britain
Reached its greatest geographical extent in the early 2nd century CE

10. Rome: Creation of Empire
Gradual, unplanned pursuit of opportunities
Skill and brutality of the Roman army
Usually generous treatment of conquered peoples

11. Rome: Creation of Empire
Political crisis of the 1st century BCE
Rise of military leaders (Marius, Sulla, Pompey, Julius Caesar
Decline of republican values

12. Rome: Creation of Empire
Caesar Augustus (ruled 27 BCE – 14 CE) was first emperor
Promised maintenance of republican forms
Reality: emperor as sole authority

13. Rome: Creation of Empire
Establishment of pax Romana (Roman Peace)
Security
Relative prosperity

14. Roman Empire
Invested heavily in public works

15. Constantine’s Arch

16. Roman Coliseum

17. Roman Empire Religion Roman gods adopted from Greek gods
Persecution of Jews and Christians for non- participation in cults.
Christianity eventually became the dominant religion.

18. Roman Empire Relationship with societies they governed
Romans were always a minority in the empire
Gradual expansion of Roman citizenship; was granted to nearly all free people of empire in 212 CE.
Did not imply cultural assimilation
Some Roman culture was attractive to western Europeans.
Greek culture dominated the eastern empire