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FROM REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE . PAGES 132-136. Wars With Carthage. Rome conquered the Italian peninsula & came into contact with Carthage, a city-state on the northern coast of Africa. 246BC- 146BC Rome fought wars against Carthage We call these the Punic Wars
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FROM REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE PAGES 132-136
Wars With Carthage • Rome conquered the Italian peninsula & came into contact with Carthage, a city-state on the northern coast of Africa. • 246BC- 146BC • Rome fought wars against Carthage • We call these the Punic Wars • 1st Punic war Rome won and took over Sicily Corsica, & Sardinia
2nd Punic War • Carthage sought revenge • Hannibal led his army across the Pyrenees, through France, & over the Alps into Italy. • For 15 years Hannibal moved through Italy winning battles, but he never captured Rome. • The Romans outflanked him by sending an army to attack Carthage , & Hannibal retreated to defend his homeland where he was defeated.
3rd Punic War • After the 2nd Punic War many Romans still saw Carthage as a rival even after they gave up all their lands except those in Africa • In the 3rd Punic War Rome completely destroyed Carthage • Survivors were killed or sold into slavery • Romans salted their lands to prevent growth
Other Roman Conquests • It has been said that while others fought for their own preservation; the Romans fought for supremacy & world domination. • The Romans were committed to imperialism, or establishing control over foreign lands & peoples. • Rome conquered Greece, parts of Asia Minor, & Macedonia. They then became lands under Roman rule called provinces. • Egypt allied with Rome. • 133BC • Roman power extended from Spain to Egypt. • Romans called the Mediterranean Mare Nostrum which translates to mean “Our Sea”
New Found Wealth • With Rome gaining more land, they also gained control of many busy trade routes. This brought many riches to Rome. • Generals, officials, & traders gained fortunes from loot, taxes, & commerce. • The new wealthy Romans built mansions filled with luxuries imported from the east. • Latifundias or huge estates began popping up. The conquered slaves were brought to work on these
Farmers • Widespread use of slaves hurt small farmers • They were unable to produce food as cheaply as the latifundia • Huge quantities of grain pouring in from conquered lands drove down prices. • Many farmers fell into debt & had to sell their land • Landless farmers then flocked to Rome & other cities looking for jobs. • This developed a restless class of unemployed people & created a gap between the rich & the poor • This also increased corruption because greed & self interest replaced the virtues of hard work, & devotion to duty
Reform • Tiberius & Gaius Gracchus • Brothers who were the 1st to attempt reform • Tiberius was elected tribune in 133BC & sought to distribute land to poor farmers • Gaius Gracchus elected 10 years later sought more reforms • Use of public funds to buy grain to feed the poor • These reforms angered the senate, & they were killed by the senates hired thugs
The Republics Decline • They were unable to resolve their problems, & civil wars began. • Such as who should hold power • This turmoil sparked slave uprisings & revolts among Rome’s allies • Citizen soldiers became professional armies whose first loyalty was to their commanders.
The Rise of Julius Caesar • Caesar was an ambitious military commander • He dominated politics with Pompey, who was another brilliant general • 59BC • Set out to make new conquests • 9 years of fighting later he completed his conquest of Gaul (modern day France) • Pompey became fearful of Caesar’s rising fame, & ordered the senate to tell him to disband his army & return home • Caesar disobeyed this order, & crossed the Rubicon River into northern Italy. • He then headed towards Rome & crushed Pompey & his supporters.
Caesar’s Reforms • After he conquered Pompey, he swept around the Mediterranean suppressing rebellions. • He said “Veni, vidi, vici” --- “I came, I saw, I conquered” • He returned to Rome & forced the senate to make him dictator. • 48-44 BC Caesar’s Reforms • Public works program to employ the jobless • Gave public land to the poor • Granted citizenship to more people • Induction of a new calendar, the Julian Calendar is basically the same one we use today
Caesar’s Assassination • Caesar’s enemies feared he would make himself king of Rome. • March 44BC Caesar arrived in the senate, & his enemies stabbed him to death • This caused more civil wars. • Mark Antony, Caesar’s chief general, along with Octavian, Caesar’s grandnephew, joined forces to hunt down the murderers. • 31BC • Octavian defeated Antony and Queen Cleopatra of Egypt after they quarreled for power
Roman Empire & Roman Peace • The senate gave Octavian the title of Augustus which means Exalted One. Augustus exercised absolute power & named his successor just like a king would do. • He ruled from 31BC- AD14. • This was the beginning of the Roman Empire • Augustus laid the foundations for a stable government • He had a civil-service to enforce laws. • High-level jobs were open to men of talent regardless of class. • He ordered a census or population count • Set up a postal service & issued new coins
Bad Emperors & Good Emperors • Not all of Augustus’ successors were great rulers. • Caligula & Nero were evil & possibly insane. • Caligula appointed his favorite horse as a consul. • Nero persecuted Christians & had a fire set that destroyed much of Rome • AD 96- AD 180 • Good emperors ruled the empire • Hadrian codified Roman law, which made it the same for all provinces • He had a wall built across Britain to hold back attackers • Marcus Aurelius read philosophy on military campaigns & was close to Plato’s ideal of a philosopher-king.
The Pax Romana • The Pax Romana was the 200 year span that began with Augustus & ended with Marcus Aurelius. • Pax Romana means “Roman Peace” • During this time rulers brought peace, order, unity, & prosperity to the empire that was roughly equal in size to the continental United States. • Legions maintained & protected the roads & fleets chased pirates from the seas • Trade flowed freely from Africa & Asia • The Nile Valley supplied grain • Ivory, gold, lions, & other wild animals used in entertainment came in from Africa • From India came spices, cotton, & precious stones • From China & the Silk Road came silk
Bread & Circuses • People of all backgrounds loved entertainment • The Circus Maximus • Rome’s largest racecourse where chariots raced around an oval course. • Fans bet on the teams- Reds, Greens, Blues, & Whites • Winners were hailed as heroes • Gladiator contests • These were even more popular events • Many were slaves trained to fight • After their match, a gladiator could be awarded his freedom for a good showing, or if they gave a bad showing and received the thumbs down be executed • These amusements were paid for by taxes collected, & used as a way to pacify the mobs of restless citizens. • They also gave grain to the poor. This is were people warned of Roman policy of “Bread & Circuses.” Few listened & later emperors after the Pax Romana faced problems that could not be fixed with “Bread & Circuses.”
