1. THE ROMAN REPUBLIC and
THE ROMAN
EMPIRE

2. Essential Question:
What were the lasting characteristics of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire?

3. In addition to Greece, another significant classical civilization was ancient Rome

4. Impact of Geography on Rome Identify one GEOGRAPHIC FEATURE and propose how it might impact the culture of Rome

5. Rome was located on the Italian peninsula along the Mediterranean Sea
The Geography of Rome
Rome was located on the Italian peninsula along the Mediterranean Sea
The Romans were influenced by the Greeks and a neighboring tribe called the Etruscans

6. The Culture of Ancient Rome
Roman religion was polytheistic and based on the Greek gods (usually only the names changed)

7. The Culture of Ancient Rome
Roman writing was called Latin; it was based on Greek writing

8. The Culture of Ancient Rome
Roman architecture borrowed heavily from Greek styles

9. The Culture of Ancient Rome
Like Greek agoras, Roman cities had a forum for markets and public gatherings

10. Roman society was divided into three major groups
Ancient Roman Society
Roman society was divided into three major groups
At the top were the nobles (called patricians); they controlled most of the land and held key military and government positions

11. Ancient Roman Society Patricians made up 5% of all Roman citizens
Roman society was divided into three major groups
Patricians made up 5% of all Roman citizens

12. The Life of the Patricians

13. Ancient Roman Society
Most Roman people were commoners (called plebeians); they were farmers, shopkeepers, or peasants

14. Ancient Roman Society
Plebeians paid the majority of taxes collected in the Roman Republic; they made up 95% of Roman citizens

15. The Life of the Plebeians

16. Ancient Roman Society
At the bottom of society were slaves and residents of the Roman Republic who were not Roman

17. Quick Class Discussion: Based upon this image, what was Roman government like?

18. The Government of Ancient Rome
When Rome was first founded, it was ruled by kings; but in 509 BCE, the Romans created a republic

19. The Government of Ancient Rome
A republic is a form of government in which citizens have the power to elect their leaders

20. The most important feature of the republic was the Senate, whose 300 members were elected by citizens to make laws and taxes

21. The Government of Ancient Rome
In 451 BCE, government officials wrote down Rome’s laws onto the Twelve Tables, which were hung in the forum for all citizens to see
The Twelve Tables were based on the idea that all citizens of Rome had a right to the protection of the law

22. The Government of Ancient Rome
The Twelve Tables made clear how the law would be applied to Roman citizens

24. The United States also has a republican government, very similar to the one of Ancient Rome

25. The Roman Military
Rome was protected by an advanced army of professional soldiers (not part-time soldiers who were farmers or merchants by trade)
The Roman Army In addition to their government, the Romans placed great
value on their military. All citizens who owned land were required to serve in the
army. Seekers of certain public offices had to perform ten years of military service.
Roman soldiers were organized into large military units called legions. The
Roman legion was made up of some 5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers (infantry).
A group of soldiers on horseback (cavalry) supported each legion. Legions were
divided into smaller groups of 80 men, each of which was called a century. The
military organization and fighting skill of the Roman army were key factors in
Rome’s rise to greatness.

26. The Roman soldiers were divided into groups of 5000 men called legions
The Roman Military
Rome had the largest army in the Mediterranean at the time; it was also highly organized
The Roman soldiers were divided into groups of 5000 men called legions
The Roman Army In addition to their government, the Romans placed great
value on their military. All citizens who owned land were required to serve in the
army. Seekers of certain public offices had to perform ten years of military service.
Roman soldiers were organized into large military units called legions. The
Roman legion was made up of some 5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers (infantry).
A group of soldiers on horseback (cavalry) supported each legion. Legions were
divided into smaller groups of 80 men, each of which was called a century. The
military organization and fighting skill of the Roman army were key factors in
Rome’s rise to greatness.

27. Each legion was divided into smaller groups of 80 men (called centuries) commanded by elite soldiers called centurions

28. The highly organized command structure ensured that legions could be rapidly deployed against the enemy

29. Advances in military technology (such as catapults) enabled the professional Roman soldiers to not only defend the Romans’ territory, but to expand it

31. THE PUNIC WARS
The Romans went to war with a neighboring kingdom, Carthage (based in northern Africa)

33. THE PUNIC WARS
The Carthaginians engaged the Romans in three long wars over the course of about a hundred years

34. THE PUNIC WARS
Led by the great general Hannibal, the Carthaginians nearly defeated the Romans in the second war; they invaded the Italian peninsula and almost captured Rome

35. THE PUNIC WARS
The Romans held the Carthaginians off, then completely destroyed Carthage in their third war

36. THE PUNIC WARS
With Carthage’s defeat, the Romans were then the most dominant power in the Mediterranean, carving out an enormous empire

37. Controlling this massive territory, though, would present new problems for the Romans
ROMAN TERRITORY

38. PROBLEMS IN THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
Rome’s expanding territory brought wealth, but also brought issues:
The new lands brought more slaves, which created a job shortage for Roman citizens
Generals who controlled the army became more powerful than Senators

39. PROBLEMS IN THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
Rome’s expanding territory brought wealth, but also brought issues:
People flocked to the big cities from farms, which created food supply shortages
Struggles for power led to a series of civil wars between Romans

40. JULIUS CAESAR
From the turmoil within the Roman Republic, a new political leader emerged: a general named Julius Caesar

41. Julius Caesar partnered with two other Roman politicians to take control of Rome (they formed a triumvirate)
Julius was extremely popular with the Roman people, due to his great military victories

42. Julius Caesar gathered more power to himself, while looking to solve the Roman Republic’s problems by initiating reforms
Caesar named himself dictator-for-life in 46 BCE, which weakened the Senators’ power a great deal

43. Fearing that he was becoming too powerful, members of the Roman Senate conspired to assassinate Caesar

44. Caesar was cornered and stabbed to death in the Roman Senate building, which began the end of the Roman Republic

45. The assassination led to another civil war led by Caesar’s adopted son Octavian and his best general, Marc Antony

46. FROM ROMAN REPUBLIC TO ROMAN EMPIRE
Julius Caesar’s death changed Rome; the people no longer trusted the Senate to rule the Roman Republic

47. FROM ROMAN REPUBLIC TO ROMAN EMPIRE
Octavian exacted revenge on the Senators who assassinated Julius
Octavian soon became undisputed ruler of Rome, renaming himself Augustus Caesar
“Augustus” means “exalted one”; Julius Caesar’s last name became the title for “emperor”

48. FROM ROMAN REPUBLIC TO ROMAN EMPIRE
Augustus did away with the Senators’ power, eventually ending the representative government of Rome and becoming emperor
The Senate still met, but the emperor had all of the real power

50. THE PAX ROMANA Pax Romana
Augustus’ 41 year reign marked the beginning of a 207-year era of peace, wealth, and expansion called “Pax Romana” (the “Roman Peace”) from 27 BCE to 180 CE
The Empire was over 3 million square miles in size and contained about 80 million people
Pax Romana

51. Roman aqueducts brought water to cities
Pax Romana became the “golden age” of Rome as emperors like Augustus built well-paved roads and a modern infrastructure; they had a merit-based bureaucracy to rule the empire
During the Pax Romana, emperors continued to expand
Roman aqueducts brought water to cities

52. Roman architects used new styles like concrete domes to beautify cities

53. Emperors built arenas and used chariot races, gladiator events, and theater to entertain the Roman people
The Roman Coliseum

56. ROMAN EMPERORS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY
Rome would have a wide range of different emperors over the years

57. ROMAN EMPERORS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY
Several emperors were excellent leaders (like Trajan and Marcus Aurelius)

58. ROMAN EMPERORS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY
Some were not so good; Nero was ruthless and uncaring of the Roman people’s well-being; the legend is that Nero played his fiddle while part of Rome burned (then blamed Christians for the fire)

59. ROMAN EMPERORS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY
Commodus was a weak and inept leader, leading a life of laziness and debauchery

60. ROMAN EMPERORS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY
Domitian was paranoid and devised many tortures and executions for his enemies

61. ROMAN EMPERORS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY
Caligula was a psychopath; he raped whomever he wanted, killed for greed and pleasure, and thought he should have been treated as a god

62. Despite having some bad emperors mixed in with the great ones, the Roman Empire grew in size, power, and glory

63. But all things come to an end, and the Roman Empire, for all its greatness, would eventually decline and fall

64. CONCLUSIONS Rome expanded from a city, to a republic, to an empire
The era of the Roman Republic introduced representative democracy
The era of the Roman Empire led to the Pax Romana and the “golden age” of Roman innovation and culture