2. Patterns of Roman History Start as local monarchy around 800 BCE Aristocrats drive out monarchy in 509 BCE Acquire a strong military orientation Drive out Greeks, take over peninsula Spread even wider during three Punic Wars (264-146 BCE) Seize entire Med

3. Patterns of Roman History Generals wants even more power Julius Caesar in 45 BCE Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE forms Empire Pax Romana, from Augustus to Marcus Aurelius (180 CE) 250 year decline Overturned in 476 CE

4. Roman Political Institutions Reliance on aristocracy Periodic assemblies for all citizens Elected magistrates Senate, mostly aristocrats Consuls share executive power Empire as a different political form Local autonomy in many regions

5. Roman Political Institutions 405 BCE, first written code- Twelve Tables Gave non-Romans citizenship Vast public works Stadiums and baths “Bread and circuses”

6. Chief Political Legacies Localism and fervent political interests, including intense loyalty to the state Diversity of political institutions with preference for aristocratic rule Importance of law and the development of an unusually elaborate and uniform set of legal principles

7. Economy and Society in Rome Free farmers own land Tendency for large landlords to squeeze them out Decline in part due to too many farmers dependent on large landowners Couldn’t vote Not ideal for growing grain Rise of commercial agriculture Merchants have higher stance in Rome Slavery key ingredient

8. Decline and Fall in Rome Brutality and arbitrariness of emperors Tax collection declines Despondency over futility of life Series of weak emperors Plagues Upper class seek pleasure, not politics

9. Decline and Fall in Rome Diocletian (284-305 CE) tightens up administration Regulation of economy, tax collection Persecutes Christians Constantine (312-337 CE) sets up second capital in eastern half Makes western half worse