The Roman Republic
Chapter 6, Section 1
The Origins of Rome
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Rome’s Geography
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Site of Rome chosen for its fertile soil and strategic
location
Located on Italian Peninsula in the center of the
Mediterranean Sea.
Built on seven hills along Tiber River
The First Romans
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Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans compete for control of the
region.
Latins found original settlement of Rome between 1000 B.C.
and 500 B.C.
Etruscans native to northern Italy influence Roman
civilization
The Early Republic

Early Rulers
Around 600 B.C. Etruscan kings begin to rule
Rome.
 Kings build Rome’s first temples and public centers
 Romans overthrow cruel Etruscan kings in 509 B.C.
 Romans found a republic—a government in which
citizens elect leaders.
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The Early Republic

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
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Tribunes—elected representatives who protect Plebeians’
rights
The Early Republic

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.
 The Twelve Tables are hung in the Forum
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The Early Republic

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.
 Democratic assemblies elect tribunes and makes laws
for common people.
 Dictators are leaders appointed briefly in times of
crisis.
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The Early Republic
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The Roman Army
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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 Spreads Its Power

Rome Conquers Italy
The Romans defeat the Etruscans in the north and
the Greek city-states in the south.
 By 265 B.C., Rome controls the entire Italian
peninsula.
 Rome treats the conquered peoples justly. This
enables Rome to grow.
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Rome Spreads Its Power
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Rome’s Commercial Network
Rome establishes a large trading network.
 Access to the Mediterranean Sea provides many
trade routes.
 Carthage, a powerful city-state in North Africa, soon
rivals Rome.
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Rome Spreads Its Power
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War with Carthage
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Rome and Carthage begin the Punic Wars—three wars
between 264 through 146 B.C.
Rome defeats Carthage and wins Sicily in the first 23-year
war.
Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, avenges this defeat in the
Second Punic War.
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He attacks Italy through Spain and France, but doesn’t take Rome.
Rome Triumphs
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Roman general Scipio defeats Hannibal in 202 B.C.
Rome destroys Carthage and enslaves its people in the Third
Punic War from 149-146 B.C.
Hannibal
crossing the
Alps in the
Second
Punic War
The Roman Empire
Chapter 6, Section 2
The Republic Collapses

Economic Turmoil
Gap between rich and poor widens as Roman
Republic grows.
 Farmers and former soldiers lose to large estates and
become homeless.
 Two tribunes, Tiberius and Gaius, try to help the
poor, but are murdered.
 Civil war—conflict between groups within the same
country begins.

The Republic Collapses
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Military Upheaval
Military becomes less disciplined and disloyal.
 Soldiers recruited from the poor; show loyalty only
to their generals
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The Republic Collapses
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Julius Caesar Takes Control
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Military leader Julius Caesar is elected consul in 59 B.C.
Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey form a triumvirate—a group of
three leaders.
Military victories give Caesar increasing popularity and power.
Pompey fears Caesar’s growing power and challenges him.
Caesar defeats Pompey’s armies in Greece, Asia, Spain, and
Egypt
Caesar is named dictator for life in 44 B.C.
The Republic Collapses

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.
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The Republic Collapses
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Beginning of the Empire
43 B.C. Caesar’s supporters take control; become
Second Triumvirate.
 Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus alliance ends in
jealousy and violence.
 In 31 B.C. Mark Antony and Cleopatra’s forces are
defeated at Actium
 Octavian accepts title of Augustus, “exalted one,”
and rules Rome.
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A Vast and Powerful Empire
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Pax Romana
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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, Rome’s ablest ruler, creates a lasting system of
government.
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Glorifies Rome with beautiful public buildings
Sets up a civil service to administer the empire
A Vast and Powerful Empire
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Agriculture and Trade
Agriculture is the most important industry in the
empire; 90% of Romans farm.
 Common coin, denarius, makes trade within empire
easier
 Rome has a vast trading network which includes
China and India.
 Network of Roman roads links the empire to Persia
and Russia.
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The Roman World
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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.
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Gods and Goddesses
Early Romans honored guardian spirits and gods
Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva.
 Worship of emperor becomes part of official
religion of Rome.
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The Roman World
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Society and Culture
Rich live well; most people are poor, receive grain
from government.
 150 holidays and Colosseum events were created to
control the masses.
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The Rise of
Christianity
Chapter 6, Section 3
The Life and Teaching of Jesus
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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.
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The Life and Teaching of Jesus
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Jesus of Nazareth
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Mosaic of Jesus at Church of San
Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy.
Jesus was born in
Bethlehem sometime
around 6 to 4 B.C.
He was raised in Nazareth
in the province of Galilee.
He is a carpenter until
about the age 30 when he
begins preaching.
The Life and Teaching of Jesus
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Jesus of Nazareth (continued)
According to the four Gospels (of Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John) Jesus is said to perform miracles.
 He stresses a personal relationship with God, love
for friends and enemies.
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The Life and Teaching of Jesus
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A Growing Movement
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Sermon on the Mount by Danish
painter Carl Heinrich Bloch, 1890.
Apostles-from the Greek
word “apostolos” means
literally “someone sent
out.” These are twelve
men who are close
disciples of Jesus.
Jesus ignores wealth and
status; his message
appeals to the poor.
The Life and Teaching of Jesus

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.
 Apostles believe Jesus resurrected from the dead and
ascended into heaven.
 Jesus comes to be called “Christos,” the Greek word
for “savior.” The word Christian and Christianity is
derived from that word.
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Christianity Spreads Through the Empire
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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).
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Christianity Spreads Through the Empire
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Paul’s Mission
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Was originally named Saul, and
was a member of the strict
Jewish sect of Pharisees.
He persecutes Christians at
first, but on his way to
Damascus to arrest some
Christians he has an experience
where he claimed Jesus
appeared to him calling him to
be an Apostle to the Gentiles.
Saint Paul, by El Greco, circa
1608-1614
Christianity Spreads Through the Empire
Paul spends his life preaching and interpreting
Christianity.
 Paul stresses Jesus is the Son of God who died for
people’s sins.
 Paul declared that Christianity was open to all, Gentile as
well as Jew.
 The common languages of Latin and Greek, spoken
throughout the empire, helps the spread of the Christian
message. The New Testament is written entirely in
common (Koine) Greek spoken by most people who live
in the eastern Mediterranean region.
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Christianity Spreads Through the Empire
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Paul is the author of epistles or
letters to the churches. All of these
letters existing were included in the
New Testament.
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Romans
1 and 2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 and 2 Thessalonians
The Pastoral Epistles
to Timothy and Titus
Philemon
Christianity Spreads Through the
Empire
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Jewish Rebellion
Jews rebel against Rome in 66 A.D.
 Romans storm Jerusalem and destroy the Temple in
70 A.D.
 Another Jewish rebellion occurs in 132 A.D., which
the Romans crush. Jews and ethnically Jewish
Christians are barred from Jerusalem.
 Diaspora—centuries of Jewish exile—from the
Greek word for “dispersal”.
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Christianity Spreads Through the
Empire
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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.
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A World Religion
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Christianity’s Expansion
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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
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A World Religion
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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.
 In A.D. 380 the Emperor Theodosius makes
Christianity the religion of the empire.
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A World Religion
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Early Christian Church
Priests direct a single church (parish).
 Bishops supervise numerous churches (diocese)
 Apostle Peter is considered the first bishop of
Rome, therefore, the clergy trace their authority to
him.
 Pope—means father or head of the Christian
Church. Rome becomes the center of the Church.
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A World Religion
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A Single Voice
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Church leaders compile standard Christian beliefs in the New
Testament
The New Testament is added to the Hebrew Bible (renamed
the Old Testament)
The Fathers of the Church
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Early writers and scholars of Christianity are called Fathers
of the Church
Augustine, bishop in North Africa, is one of the most
important Fathers
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He stressed the importance of receiving the sacraments to obtain
God’s grace
He wrote his most famous book, The City of God.
Person(s)
1. Jesus of Nazareth
2. apostles
3. Paul
4. Pontius Pilate
5. Constantine
6. Peter
7. Augustine
Role in the Rise and Spread of Christianity
Acts 11:26
“and when he had found him, he brought him
to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the
church and taught a great many people. And in
Antioch the disciples were first called
Christians.” (ESV)
The Fall of the Roman
Empire
Chapter 6, Section 4
A Century in Crisis
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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.
Rome’s Economy Weakens
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Hostile tribes and pirates disrupt trade.
Empire at limit of expansion and lacks new
sources of gold and silver.
empire raised taxes as a result
 empire minted coins with less silver
inflation resulted
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Rome’s Economy Weakens
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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.
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Military and Political Turmoil
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Roman military in disarray
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Less loyalty among average citizens
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less disciplined soldiers
allegiance to commanders, not to Rome itself
recruiting of mercenaries who were less loyal to Rome
Earlier Romans cared more about the Republic.
Later Romans lose their sense of patriotism.
Emperors Attempt Reform
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Diocletian Reforms the Empire
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Becomes emperor in 284.
Severely limits personal freedoms.
Doubles size of Roman army.
Controls inflation by price fixing.
Divides the empire
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Greek speaking East (takes for himself)
Latin-speaking West (appoints a co-ruler)
Kept overall control.
Retired in A.D. 305, but civil war broke out.
Four rivals competed for control, including the commander
Constantine
Emperors Attempt Reform
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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.
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The Western Empire Crumbles
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Germanic Invasions
A.D. 370 the Huns move into Europe causing the
Germanic peoples to flee into Roman territory.
 A.D. 410 Germans invade and overrun Rome itself and
plunder it for three days.
Attila the Hun
 In 444 the Huns unite under Attila and terrorize both
halves of the empire.
 In 452 the Huns advance against Rome, but fail in
conquering the city due to famine and disease.
 Attila dies in 453.
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The Western Empire Crumbles
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An Empire No More
14-year-old emperor Romulus Augustulus ousted by
German by German forces in 426.
 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 Byzantine emperors saw themselves as heirs to the
power of Augustus Caesar.
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6.5 Rome and the
Roots of Western
Civilization
The Romans develop many ideas
and institutions that become
fundamental to Western
Civilization.
The Legacy of GrecoRoman Civilization
•
A New Culture Emerges
Romans adopt aspects of Greek and
Hellenistic culture
o Results in Greco-Roman culture, or
classical civilization
o
The Legacy of GrecoRoman Civilization
•
Roman Fine Arts
Romans develop
bas-relief sculptures
to tell stories [Visual
1]
o Artists skilled in
creating mosaics,
painting frescoes
o Pompeii—Roman
town; ash from
volcano eruption
A.D. 79 preserves
art [Visual 2]
o
The Legacy of GrecoRoman Civilization
•
Learning and Literature
Romans borrow from Greek
philosophy and literature
o Poet Virgil writes epic Aeneid
modeled after Homer’s Greek epics
o Roman historian Tacitus excels in
writing factually accurate history
o Annals and Histories provide
comprehensive look at Roman life
o
The Legacy of
Rome
•
The Latin Language
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
o
The Legacy of
Rome
•
Master Builders [Visual]
Romans pioneer use of arch; also
used domes and concrete
o Create aqueducts—structures to bring
water into cities, towns
o
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