Ancient Rome

1. Ancient Rome

2. Early Romans • Latins, Greeks, Estruscans • Latins settled • Greeks organized • Estruscans left culture (writing, architecture)

3. Republic • “public affairs” • A form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders. • Free males • Copy the chart on page 157

4. Power Struggle • Patricians – wealthy landowners who held most of the power. • Plebeians – majority of population (farmers, artisans, workers), had right to vote but could not hold government positions • Tribunes – representatives chosen by plebeians, they protected the rights of plebeians

5. Government • Consuls – two; one directed the military and one directed the government (executive) • Senate – made laws and helped organize the government (legislative) • Senate at first only for wealthy, later allowed plebeians and established more of a true republic • Dictator appointed in times of crisis

6. Military • All citizens who owned land required to serve • Anyone seeking public office required to serve • Well organized (legions) • Military organization and fighting skill helped lead to Rome’s greatness

7. Expansion • Defeated all Greeks and Etruscans • Created alliances with conquered people • Allowed others to become Roman citizens • Tolerance helped Rome expand

8. Punic Wars • Rome’s location gave it access to all lands around Mediterranean • Led to competition • Carthage – wealthy port in North Africa • Punic Wars – wars between Rome and Carthage • Hannibal – leader of Carthage; surprise attack through Alps; highly successful • Rome defeats Hannibal with allies, gains control of western Mediterranean

9. COLLAPSE OF THE Republic • Gap between rich and poor grew too wide • Small farmers/soldiers became poor • Civil war • Military leaders cause problems

10. Julius caesar • Military leader • Joined with Crassus and Pompey • Triumvirate – a group of three rulers • Caesar leads his men to victory in Gaul (France) • Pompey fears Caesar’s power and orders him to return • Caesar’s troops will defeat Pompey’s troops; he will return to Rome a hero • Senate names him dictator for life

11. Caesar’s reforms • Ruled as an absolute ruler • Granted Roman citizenship to many • Expanded the Senate to include supporters from different regions • Created jobs • New public buildings • Started colonies • Increased pay for soldiers

12. Caesar’s Death • Fearing his growing power, many Senators plot against Caesar • Stabbed to death (23 times) in the Senate chamber • Included his friend Marcus Brutus • “Et, tu brute?”

13. Roman empire • Upon Caesar’s death, his supporters will defeat the assassins • Octavian joins with a powerful general Mark Antony, and a powerful politician Lepidus • Lepidus forced to retire, Mark Antony and Octavian become bitter rivals • While leading troops, Mark Antony meets Cleopatra Queen of Egypt • Civil war arises between Mark Antony and Octavian

14. augustus • Octavian defeats Mark Antony and becomes the unchallenged ruler of Rome • Augustus – “exalted one” • Imperator – supreme military commander – emperor

15. Paxromana • “Roman peace” • Period of little fighting for some 200 years • Great growth in population and territory • Efficient government and strong rulers • Great buildings • Civil service jobs

16. Empire declines • Rulers in the later stage of the PaxRomana did not know how to deal with such a large empire • Disrupted trade • Raising of taxes • Inflation – drop in the value of money combined with a rise in prices • Food shortage • Disease • Mercenaries replace soldiers

17. constantine • Diocletian divides the empire to efficiently rule • Constantine gains control of western empire • Then gains control of eastern empire • Moves the capital to Byzantium – Constantinople

18. Germanic Invasion • With capital in east, western empire begins to crumble • Germanic people lived peacefully on the borders of Rome • Asian nomads called the Huns destroyed all those in their path, forcing the Germanic peoples into Rome • Germans begin to overrun Rome

19. attila • Unified 100,000 Huns and terrorized the Roman empire from east to west • Conquered 70 major Roman cities • Roman empire in final stages, Germanic invaders able to take control after Attila’s death

20. Greco-Roman • The mixing of elements of Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman cultures • Art reflected Roman ideals of strength, permanence, and solidarity • Pompeii – Roman town preserved in volcanic ash, shows evidence of Roman art • Virgil – Roman poet who wrote the Aeneid

21. Rome’s Legacy • Latin language – adopted by many and developed into other languages • Romance Languages – French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian • English also influenced heavily by Latin

22. Rome’s legacy • Grand architecture (Colosseum p.182) • Arch, dome, and concrete invented • Aqueducts – used to bring water into cities, relied on arches p. 181 • Roman roads constructed from stone, bricks, and concrete • Many famous buildings in U.S. based off of Roman architecture (U.S. Capitol)

23. Rome’s legacy • Roman law – fair, equal, and applied to all citizens • All persons equal under law • Person considered innocent until proven guilty • Burden of proof rested with the accuser and not the accused • Any law that seemed unreasonable or unfair could be banned • Serves as basis for laws around the world