Rome: Republic to Empire
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Roman Republic, 509-27 bce
Classical Roman Empire, 27 bce-306 ce
Divided, Christianized Roman Empire, 306-476 ce
Western Christendom & Eastern Roman Empire
(Byzantine), 476 – 1453
IDs: Augustus Caesar (r. 27 bce-30 ce), Pax Romana,
Constantine (r. 306-337), Byzantine Empire
Grand Empires:
Rome & Han
China
Larger
Peace & Stability
Long-Lasting
Models
Argument
Rome relied on military power and slavery.
Faced with frequent challenges, Rome
survived because it transformed several times
– first, from a republic into an empire, then
into a divided, Christianized empire, and
finally into medieval “Christendom” in the
west and the Byzantine Empire in the east.
I. Roman Republic, 509-27 bce
A. Predecessor: Hellenistic Influence
B. Rome starts small & grows by conquest
Expansion around Mediterranean
1. Military strength
Farmermilitiamen
legion
2. Roman Values
• Respect for authority &
hierarchy (especially
fathers)
• Duty to
– family
– state (Rome)
– the gods
C. Crisis in Republic (100-27 BCE)
Wealthy elite buys up land
Plantations & Slave labor
Unemployed farmers 
city
Army commanders
Continuous civil war
D. Dictatorship & Civil War
Dictatorship: Julius
Caesar, d. 44
BCE
Civil War (44-27 BCE)
Octavian 
Augustus Caesar
(takes over in 27
BCE)
II. Classical Roman Empire, 27 bce-306 ce
A. Imperator
(emperor)
Augustus Caesar
(reigns 27
bce-30 ce)
B. Pax Romana (Roman Peace)
1. Strong
military
• Legions
• Provinces
• Military
governors
2. Ideology
Emperor as father
of people
Romans’ duty to
rule for good of
world
3. Continued Expansion
Parthian
(Persian)
Empire
Rhine &
Danube
4. Administration
Citizenship
Local urban elites
patrons
C. Empire as Urban Network
1. Rome
Forum
Baths
Theatres
Colosseum
Baths
Forum
Forum of Trajan
Pantheon
Pantheon
2. Provincial Cities
Trier (Rhine
frontier)
3. Dependent on Trade
4. Roman Attractions
Law
Technology
Hellenistic
culture
aqueduct
5. Bread & circuses
6. Slave empire
Latifundias
villa
D. Problems, 200-300 CE
1. Administrative
weakness
2. Depopulation
3. End of Expansion; Beginning of Defense
III. Divided, Christianized Roman Empire,
306-476 ce
• Constantine
(r. 306-337 CE)
A. Constantine divides empire into east &
west
B. Constantine Converts to Christianity
Uses Christianity to unify
& strengthen empire
C. Christianity becomes Official Roman
Religion
D. Crisis 400-476 CE
1. Depopulation &
Economic
breakdown
2. Invasion/
migration of
Germanic or
Barbarian
“Tribes”
Huns
The Barbarians did not make Rome
fall.
Attracted to Roman
wealth and lifestyle
Barbarians in Roman army
Not a “conquest”
Stilicho the “Barbarian” & his family
3. Network of Trade & Cities breaks down
IV. Western Christendom & Eastern Roman Empire
(Byzantine), 476 – 1453
A. Western Empire ends
476 CE: Last western
Roman emperor
deposed
Germanic kingdoms
(Medieval Christendom)
From empire & trade  local power
B. Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire)
continues until 1453
Emperor Justinian
C. Roman unity  Christian Unity
“Christendom”
Christian church
takes over
structure of
Roman Empire
Argument
Rome relied on military power and slavery.
Faced with frequent challenges, Rome
survived because it transformed several times
– first, from a republic into an empire, then
into a divided, Christianized empire, and
finally into medieval “Christendom” in the
west and the Byzantine Empire in the east.