Roman Empire

1. Roman Empire

2. Warm-up for Thursday, April 24 province Colosseum aqueduct arch A unit of an empire (synonyms: state, territory) A large amphitheater built in Rome around AD 70; site of contests and combat A structure that carries water over long distances A curved structure used as a support over an open space, as in a doorway

3. Warm-up for Friday, April 25 Write the COMPLETE sentences in your notebook. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate vocabulary word. Romans used the ______ to create large open spaces inside buildings. Each _______, or area of the empire, had a Roman governor supported by an army. The _________ held 50,000 spectators to watch contests and combat between people, and between people and animals. Roman _______ tunneled through mountains and spanned valleys to carry water over long distances.

4. Ruling an Empire Who was Augustus? His name was Octavian. Augustus was a title that the senate gave him. He was the first emperor. He won that power in the civil war. He was Julius Caesar’s adopted son. After he won power, he was careful to respect the senate. He didn’t want to end up like Julius Caesar. But people were so grateful for Rome’s new peace and prosperity that they gave him all the power he wanted.

5. Ruling an Empire What happened to the people and places Rome conquered? The Romans divided their empire into provinces. Each province had a governor supported by an army. Often, they built a new city to be the province’s capital. Unlike the Greeks, the Romans did not take all their conquered people as slaves. Most people stayed free. The Romans did not force their way of life on the conquered people. They allowed them to follow their own religions and let local rulers run the daily affairs of government.

6. Ruling an Empire What happened to the people and places Rome conquered? From the provinces, the Romans wanted peace and raw materials. They also wanted conquered people to buy Roman goods and pay taxes. Some conquered people adopted Roman ways, learned to speak Latin, and worshiped Roman gods, but not all.

7. Ruling an Empire Who were some of Rome’s famous emperors. After Augustus, there were some good ones, some bad ones, and some mediocre ones. Two bad emperors were Caligula and Nero. After their reigns, the Romans tried to forget them by erasing them from official records. In AD 96, Rome entered the age of the five good emperors. Two of the good emperors were Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius.

8. Ruling an Empire Who was Hadrian? One of the good emperors was Hadrian. He issued a code of laws so that all laws were the same throughout the empire. He reorganized the army so that soldiers could defend their home province. He traveled throughout the empire and had many buildings and structures built, including a great wall at the end of the empire in the British Isles. He encouraged learning.

9. Ruling an Empire Who was Marcus Aurelius? Marcus Aurelius was the last of the good emperors. Unlike the other good emperors, he had a son. The other emperors chose the best young man they could find to be the next emperor. Marcus Aurelius’s son was named Commodus. Commodus was a terrible leader who ruled with brutality. His reign ended the age of peace and prosperity under the five good emperors. The empire started to fall apart.

10. Same to you, Commodus!

11. Warm-up for Monday, April 28 census villa circus gladiator An official count of people living in a place A country estate An arena in ancient Rome or the show held there A person who fought to the death as entertainment for the Roman public

12. Roman Daily Life Why did they do a census? Registering in the census was the only way to claim citizenship. Being a citizen was a matter of pride. Roman men declared their families, slaves, and wealth to the government at census time (every 5 years). If a man did not register, he could lose his property, and could even be sold into slavery. Women, girls, slaves, and freed slaves (former slaves) were not citizens. Their status came from their relationship to citizens (wife, daughter, mother, owned by… etc.)

13. Roman Daily Life What was life like for the rich? There were very few rich people and many poor people (free and slave). Wealthy Romans were famous for overdoing things. Some ate four heavy meals a day. They had elegant houses in the city, and many also had country estates called villas.

14. Roman Daily Life What was life like for the poor? Most people lived in poorly built, rundown housing. Many lived in tall apartment houses with no running water, toilets, or kitchens. All food and drink had to be carried upstairs; all rubbish and human waste had to be carried downstairs… …or thrown out the window. Most houses were made of wood, and fires were frequent and often fatal. The worst fire, in AD 64, destroyed most of the city.

15. Roman Daily Life What does “bread and circuses” mean? • The poor Romans needed wheat to survive. When wheat harvests were bad, the poor often rioted. • To prevent these riots, the emperors supplied free grain (bread) and provided spectacular shows. • Held in the Colosseum or in arenas called circuses • Often violent • Animals fighting animals • Animals fighting humans • Humans fighting humans… to the death! • Clowns • Public execution of criminals

16. Just another day at the Colosseum

17. Exit Ticket Why do you think Roman men were required to register their families, slaves, and wealth at census time? Why did the Roman government feed and entertain its people?