Chapter 6, Section 1
 Rome’s Geography
 Site of Rome chosen for its fertile soil and
strategic location
 Early Rulers
 Kings build Rome’s first temples and public centers
 Romans found a republic—a government in which citizens elect
leaders.
 Patricians and Plebeians
 Different groups struggle for power in early Roman Republic
 Patricians—wealthy landowning class that holds most of the power
 Plebeians—artisans, merchants and farmers; can vote, but cannot
rule
 Tribunes—elected representatives who protect Plebeians’ rights
 Twelve Tables
 In 451 B.C. officials carve Roman laws on twelve tablets.
 Called the Twelve Tables, they become the basis for later Roman
law.
 Laws confirm the right of all free citizens to the protection of the
law.
 Citizenship is limited to adult male landowners.
 Government Under the Republic
 Rome elects two consuls—one to lead the army and one to direct
government.
 Senate—chosen from Roman upper class; makes foreign and
domestic policy.
 The Roman Army
 Roman legion—military
unit of 5,000 infantry,
supported by cavalry.
 Army is powerful and a
key factor in Rome’s
rise to greatness.
 Rome Conquers Italy
 By 265 B.C., Rome controls the entire Italian peninsula.
 Rome treats the conquered peoples justly. This enables Rome to
grow.
 War with Carthage
 Rome and Carthage begin the Punic Wars—three wars
between 264 through 146 B.C.
 Rome defeats Carthage and wins Sicily in the first 23year war.
 Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, avenges this defeat
in the Second Punic War.
 He attacks Italy through Spain and France, but doesn’t take
Rome.
 Rome Triumphs
 Roman defeat Hannibal in 202 B.C.
 Rome destroys Carthage and enslaves its people in the
Third Punic War from 149-146 B.C.
Chapter 6, Section 2
 Economic Turmoil
 Gap between rich and poor widens as Roman Republic grows.
 Civil war—conflict between groups within the same country begins.
 Military Upheaval
 Military becomes less disciplined and disloyal.
 Soldiers recruited from the poor; show loyalty only to their generals
 Julius Caesar Takes Control
 Military leader Julius Caesar is elected consul in
59 B.C.
 Military victories give Caesar increasing
popularity and power.
 Caesar is named dictator for life in 44 B.C.
 Caesar’s Reforms
 Caesar makes reforms: grants wider citizenship, creates jobs for the
poor.
 Group of senators opposes Caesar and murders him on March 15,
44 B.C.
 Beginning of the Empire
 43 B.C. Caesar’s supporters take control; become Second
Triumvirate.
 Octavian accepts title of Augustus, “exalted one,” and rules Rome.
 Pax Romana
 Under Augustus, Rome moves from a republic to an
empire.
 Power no longer resides with citizens, but in a
single ruler.
 Rome enjoys 200 years of peace and prosperity
known as Pax Romana
 A Sound Government
 Augustus creates a lasting system of government.
 Glorifies Rome with beautiful public buildings
 Slaves and Captivity
 Slavery is a significant part of Roman life in both cities and farms.
 Some slaves become gladiators; forced to fight to the death.
 Gods and Goddesses
 Early Romans honored guardian spirits and gods Jupiter, Juno, and
Minerva.
 Worship of emperor becomes part of official religion of Rome.
Chapter 6, Section 3
 Romans Conquer Judea
 Rome conquers Judea, home of the Jews; makes it part of the empire
in A.D. 6
 Many Jews believe in a coming Messiah (meaning anointed one), or
savior, who will eventually free them.
 Jesus of Nazareth
 Jesus was born in
Bethlehem sometime
around 6 to 4 B.C.
 He is a carpenter until
about the age 30 when
he begins preaching.
Mosaic of Jesus at Church of San Apollinare
Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy.
 Jesus Death
 Many Jews view Jesus as the Messiah; others see him as a false
teacher.
 Roman governor Pontius Pilate sentences Jesus to be crucified.
 Growth of Christianity
 Followers spread Christianity—new religion based on the teachings
of Jesus.
 The term “Christian” to designate followers of Christianity was first
used in Antioch (see Acts 11: 26).
 Persecution of the Christians
 Christians won’t worship the Roman gods or the emperor. They are
considered enemies of the State.
 Roman rulers use Christians as scapegoats for hard times.
 As Pax Romana crumbles, Christians are crucified, burned, and
killed in the arena.
 Christianity’s Expansion
 Christianity becomes a powerful force and appeals to people
because of these reasons:
 embraces all people
 gives hope to the powerless
 appeals to those repelled by extravagance of Roman life
 offers a personal relationship with God
 promises eternal life after death
 Constantine Accepts Christianity
 Constantine—Roman emperor battles for control of Rome in A.D.
312.
 He has a vision of a cross—the Christian symbol—and places it on
soldiers’ shields.
 He believes Christian God helped him win the battle and legalizes
Christianity.
Chapter 6, Section 4
 End of Marcus Aurelius’ reign as emperor (A.D. 161-180)
brought about end of Pax Romana. Ruler’s after Marcus Aurelius
had no idea how to deal with the giant empire and its
problems.
 Agriculture faced serious problems
 Harvests were increasingly meager because soil lost fertility.
 Years of war destroyed farmland.
Serious food shortages, disease, and population decline resulted.
 Roman military in disarray
 less disciplined soldiers
 allegiance to commanders, not to Rome itself
 Later Romans lose their sense of patriotism.
 Constantine Moves the Capital
 A.D. 312 Constantine gains control of the western part of the
empire.
 A.D. 324 he secures the eastern empire and the system of a single
ruler.
 A.D. 330 Constantine moves the capital from Rome to Byzantium on
the Bosporus Strait between Europe and Asia.
 The center of power shifts from Rome to the east.
 An Empire No More
 Roman power in the western half of the empire ceases to exist.
 The eastern half of the empire comes to be called the Byzantine Empire,
and flourishes for 1,000 years.
 The Byzantine emperors ruled from Constantinople.
THE LEGACY OF ROME
• The Latin Language
o Latin was official language of Roman
Catholic Church until 1900s
o Develops into French, Spanish,
Portuguese, Italian, Romanian
o More than half the words in English stem
from Latin
THE LEGACY OF ROME
• Master Builders
• Romans pioneer use of arch; also used
domes and concrete
o Create aqueducts—structures to bring
water into cities, towns
THE LEGACY OF ROME
• Roman System of Law
o Principles of Roman law form basis of
modern legal systems
• Rome’s Enduring Influence
o By preserving and adding to Greek
civilization, Rome strengthened the
Western cultural tradition