ROME 753 BCE-600 CE Animated map 4/8/2015 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved. 3 I. Geography 1. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION • • Italy at crossroads of Med. Sea Rome at crossroads of Italian peninsula 2. Mild climate and arable land for surplus farming 4/8/2015 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved. 4 II. Roman Republic 509-44 BCE 1. Ruled by kings from 753-509 BCE 2. Senate • Made up of wealthiest, most influential Romans 3. 2 Consuls • Led gov’t, served 1 yr, chosen by Senate 4. Conflict: Patricians and Plebians • • Lower classes had few rights, always fighting for more Tribune- chosen by lower class, had great power 5 4/8/2015 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved. 6 III. Society 1. Paterfamilias • Oldest male in family ALWAYS in charge 2. Women treated like children • No voting or property rights 3. Hierarchical society 4. Patron/Client • Patron (senator) provided benefits for clients • • Legal advice, food, protection, loans Clients voted for patron and fought for him in battle 7 IV. Roman Expansion 1. By 290 BCE took over all of Italy • Won support by offering Roman citizenship 2. Punic Wars 264-146 BCE • Fought Carthage- gained Sicily, Spain, Carthage 3. Gaius Julius Caesar 51 BCE • 4/8/2015 Conquered Celts of Gaul (in France) copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved. 8 V. Failure of Republic 1. Agriculture began to fail • The rich bought out land and created Latifundia-large estate did not produce necessary grain 2. High unemployment- poverty and riots 3. Influential generals • • 4/8/2015 Promised benefits to soldiers Army more loyal to generals than to Rome copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved. 10 VI. Roman Principate 31 BCE-330 CE 1. Octavian (Augustus Caesar)- military dictator • • • 4/8/2015 Emperor (Caesar) affirmed by Senate Emperor began to create laws, not Senate Emperor was deified after death copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved. 11 VII. Urban Empire 1. Rome administered through and for a network of cities and towns: • Major cities Alexandria, Antioch, Carthage 2. Makeup of towns/cities: • • • 4/8/2015 Temples, gardens, baths, theaters, amphitheaters, and games Rich lived in fine townhomes Poor lived in dark, smelly, wooden tenements susceptible to fire copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved. 12 VII. Continued… 3. Commerce greatly increased during Pax Romana (Roman Peace) 4. Rome depended heavily on grain imports from Egypt 5. Romanization- spread of Latin language and Roman way of life • • 4/8/2015 Mainly in western provinces, east was still Hellenisitic Towns sprang up and locals were granted citizens’ rights copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved. 13 VIII. Rise of Christianity 1. In Judaea (Israel), Jews waited for promised “Messiah”. 2. Jesus preached a personal faith in God; he was son of God. 3. Jesus accused of blasphemy by Jews. Turned over to Romans and crucified. 4. Followers spread religion throughout empire. • • 4/8/2015 Apostle Paul spread Christianity to most Greek communities and Rome At first, it mainly appealed to women, slaves, poor. copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved. 14 IX. Technology & Transformation 1. Aqueducts- carried water from source to urban center 2. Arches and domes- extensively used in Roman construction. Allowed distribution of great weight 3. Concrete invented and cranes used extensively • 4/8/2015 Amphitheaters, brides, roads, baths, sewers copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved. 15 IX. Continued… 1. “Third-century crisis” • • • • Symptom: frequent change of rulers Germanic tribes raid Costs of defense raised taxes, coins devalued Population shifted into countryside 2. Diocletian (284 CE)- ruled more than 20 yrs and reformed economy to save the Empire 4/8/2015 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com; All Rights Reserved. 16