Rome
The Rise and Fall of an Empire
Geography of Rome
Advantages:
• Plenty of open plains
• Apennines don’t dominate the
landscape
• More food
• The Italian peninsula is right in the
middle of the Mediterranean
• Benefits trade and empire building
• Rome is about 15 miles up the
Tiber River from the coast
• Protects from sea invaders
• Rome is built on seven hills
• Easy to defend
Disadvantages:
• Italian peninsula has a lack of
natural harbors
• Not ideal for trade
• No true barriers to invaders
• Alps are significant, but there
are passes
• Few natural resources
• Forced them to fight for
resources
The Founding of Rome
• Founded by the Latins, probably
around 750 B.C.
• Influenced by both the Greeks and
the Etruscans
• Etruscans were in control of Rome
from about 650 – 500 B.C.
• Rome was ruled under a monarchy
until around 500 B.C.
• Romans rebelled against their
Etruscan rulers and established a
republic
• Why a republic?
• Did not like power in the hands of one
man
• Inspired by the Athenian democracy?
The Roman Republic
• The Roman Republic lasted from 509 B.C – 27 B.C.
• Most offices were restricted to 1 year terms
• Meant to keep any one man from having too much power
• This created a society based upon COMPETITION
• Senators were appointed for life
• This created a very strong aristocracy, as only members of the
upper classes (primarily patricians) could join the Senate
• Roman society was similar to the mob
• Just as mob bosses took care of the people in their territory in return
for allegiance…
• …Patricians took care of their “clients” in return for allegiance
• Rome was continually at war, continually expanding
• In order to serve in the military, you had to own land
• What’s the problem here?
Roman Warfare
• Roman culture placed a great emphasis on AMBITION and GLORY
• Throughout the history of the Republic, Rome was CONSTANTLY
at war
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_Rome
• By about 300 B.C., Rome had become a regional power in Italy
• Organized, dedicated, efficient army
• Sidenote – “Decimation” – What is decimation?
• If they were to expand farther, they needed to deal with
Carthage…
• Carthage was another powerful city state situated in North Africa
• Originally founded by the Phoenicians – What were they known for?
• Carthage was building a powerful trade empire throughout the
Mediterranean and a strong navy to defend it
• The conflicts between Carthage and Rome are called the Punic
Wars
• Punicia was the roman term for Phoenicia
Rome vs. Carthage
First Punic War
• Cause:
• Rome and Carthage fight over Sicily - Why is Sicily important?
• Fighting:
• Carthage had a dominant navy
• Rome had a dominant army – Who has an advantage here?
• Rome scrambles to build ships modeled after a sunken
Carthaginian ship
• Rome gets creative….. notice anything?
• In the end, Rome has more manpower and
outlasts the Carthaginians
• Result:
• Rome wins
• Treaty is signed weakening Carthage
Second Punic War
• Cause:
• Carthage rebuilds and wants revenge
• Fighting:
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Rome expects a naval attack
Carthage, under Hannibal, attack over land… crossing over the Alps
WAR ELEPHANTS! – Is this a good idea for Hannibal?
Carthage loses most elephants and most siege equipment
Rome lets Hannibal ravage the countryside, knowing he can’t sack
Rome without siege equipment
• Finally, Rome attacks Carthage, forcing Hannibal back to Africa
• Result:
• Rome wins again
• Carthage weakened once more
Third Punic War
• Cause:
• Carthage has paid off war debt
• Rome wants to finish them off
• Fighting:
• Rome demands that Carthage move their city inland
• Should Carthage do this? Why or why not?
• Impossible for a city-state built on sea trade
• Rome attacks Carthage
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Defeats Carthaginian army
Murders much of the population
Sells the rest into slavery
Pours salt over all of the fields – Why?
• Result:
• No more Carthage
• Rome is the undisputed dominant force in the Mediterranean
Rome – Before Punic Wars – 264 B.C.
Rome – After Punic Wars – 146 B.C.
Fall of the Republic
• After the Punic Wars, Rome continued to expand through warfare
• Only landowners could become soldiers in the Roman Army – Problems?
• As a result, Rome had limits on the size of it’s army
• With increasing territory to protect, this became a problem
• Also, because these landowners spent so much time fighting, many of their
farms fell into bankruptcy
• The wealthy were the primary beneficiaries of Roman expansion – Why?
• Newly conquered lands were often sold or rented to the highest bidder –
allowing the wealthy to get more land
• Also, as farms fell into bankruptcy, that land would be bought up by the
wealthy
• Many soldiers returned to find themselves homeless and unemployed
• Roman expansion brought a steady stream of slaves back to Rome • Wealthy landowners used slaves from newly conquered territories to work
their land – Why? Any problems with this?
• This maximized their profits
• Also took jobs away from plebs – creating massive unemployment
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Fall of the Republic
• The Roman tax system was unfair
• Tax collection was given to the highest bidder
• The winning bidder would owe the government the agreed amount
• Anything he was able to collect above that amount was his to keep – Result?
• As a result, tax collectors squeezed every penny they could out of the poor
• The unemployed and homeless began to fill the city, living on welfare
• Tension began to mount between the classes
• Two political factions began to form:
• Populares – pushed for popular reform, supported by the plebs
• Optimates – held onto status quo, supported by the patricians
• Why would you want to be a populare? An optimate?
• Conflict between the classes leads to political violence
• Populares and Optimates fight for power and influence
• These battles often end with somebody dead
• Once violence enters Roman politics, it stays…..
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The Fall of the Republic – Who Am I?
• Tiberius Gracchus
• Elected Tribune in 133 B.C. He attempted to institute huge land
redistribution plan, limiting each citizen to 300 acres, with the rest of
the land being distributed among the poor. Eventually, upon
completion of his 1 year term, he attempted to run again, but was
driven from Rome and killed by the Senators.
• Gaius Gracchus
• Elected as tribune 10 years after his brother, in 123 B.C. Like his
brother, he fought hard (and loud) for reforms for the poor. Also like
his brother, he and his followers were killed by the Senate.
• Gaius Marius
• Army General elected to Consul by the plebeians. Used his power
with the military to hold the office beyond the one year term. Was
Consul for seven different terms. Among other reforms, he removed
the land ownership restriction for participation in Rome’s army.
The Fall of the Republic – Who Am I?
• Lucius Cornelius Sulla
• Another Army General elected to Consul/Dictator by the Senate.
Used his power to remove many of the reforms and restore the
power and influence of the Senate while reducing the ability of the
Tribunes and the Plebeian Assembly.
• Pompey
• Army General who became Consul in 89 B.C. From a plebeian family,
many of the plebs looked to him for hope. Instead of real reform, he
relied on Bread and Circuses to keep the plebs distracted.
• Julius Caesar
• Patrician politician who formed the First Triumvirate to control Rome
with Pompey (and Crassus, a wealthy Senator). When this alliance
broke down and Pompey took sole power, Caesar marched on Rome,
defeated Pompey and became Dictator, growing his power and
eventually dismantled the Republic and had himself declared
Dictator for life. (until his death…)
Roman Empire
• After the death of Julius Caesar, Octavian (his
grand-nephew) and Mark Antony (an army
general) fight for control
• Octavian wins
• Renames himself Augustus (“respected one”)
• Named himself “first citizen” of the Republic
• Why did he call himself that?
• Effectively became a dictator
• Senate remained, but had no real power
Pax Romana
• Latin for “Roman Peace”
• Period of peace, prosperity, and expansion
• Augustus ushered in a time of peace that lasted over 200
years (27 B.C. – A.D. 180)
• Why is this impressive?
• Changes during this time:
• More men were made eligible for citizenship
• Fairer laws
• Civil service system put in place
• Govt. promotions based on merit
• Census taken to keep track of population and taxes
• Built roads
• Good for trade, travel, and military mobility
The Decline of the Roman Empire
• A.D. 180 – End of Pax Romana – period of peace, prosperity, and
expansion
• Expansion of lands leads to expansion of army and increased costs
• At the same time, poverty and unemployment are again on the rise
• To conserve precious metals, Emperors reduce gold and silver in the
money, which leads to inflation – What is inflation?
• Inflation – increase in prices related to devaluation of currency
• Economic conditions increase crime rates and political instability
• Violence re-enters Roman politics
• Peaceful succession of the Emperor was rare
• Of the 29 Emperors between AD 180-284, only 4 died of natural
causes
The Decline of the Roman Empire
• New Emperors often came about through military coup
• Coup – violent overthrow of the government
• The army remained strong
• Replenished with war captives, barbarians, mercenaries
• Soldiers began fighting for money, rather than for the empire
• Sound familiar?
• Emperor Diocletian 284-305
• What would your parents do if you continued
to misbehave?
• Strict dictator
• Harsh laws controlled all business
• Doubled the size of the military
• Split the empire into East/West
The Decline of the Roman Empire
• Constantine 324-337
• Enforced even more control
• Moved capital to Byzantium, renamed Constantinople
• Attila the Hun enters Europe
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Forces Germanic tribes into Roman territory
Weakened the Roman Empire with repeated invasions
Never quite conquered Rome or Constantinople
Germanic invasions continued until fall of Rome in AD 476
Eastern part of Empire (Byzantine Empire) continued in some
form until AD 1453
The Decline of the Roman Empire
• There are many (MANY) theories about factors that contributed to the decline
of the Roman Empire. Here are some:
• Decline in Morals, Ethics and Values
• Sex, alcohol, savagery
• Political Corruption
• Senate Corruption, Military power struggles
• Overexpansion and Heavy Military Spending
• Increased taxes on conquered barbarians incited more rebellion
• Reliance on mercenaries
• Weakening Economy, High Inflation, Unemployment
• Growing empire, Diminishing resources, Large “welfare” bill
• The Mob and the Gladiatorial Games
• Unemployment caused civil unrest – Gladiatorial Games took on increasing cost
• Famine
• Over-worked land, increase in disease due to poor conditions
• Barbarians
• Used Rome’s military knowledge against them
Roman Cultural Influence:
Remnants of Roman Culture in
our world today…
• Language (many words have Latin roots)
• https://www.msu.edu/~defores1/gre/roots/
gre_rts_afx2.htm?...
• Romance Languages
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Spanish
Portuguese
French
Italian
Romanian
Roman Cultural Influence:
Remnants of Roman Culture in
our world today…
• Government
• U.S. Senate
• Laws
Roman Cultural Influence:
Remnants of Roman Culture in
our world today…
• Art and literature
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Mosaics
Virgil – wrote The Aeneid, an epic
Ovid – Roman poet
Cicero – Roman Philosopher
Roman Cultural Influence:
Remnants of Roman Culture in
our world today…
• Architecture
• Arches, domes
• Aqueducts
• Colosseum
Roman Cultural Influence:
Remnants of Roman Culture in
our world today…
• The Colosseum
• Mock naval battles
• Gladiator fights
• Used criminals and war prisoners
• Built without mortar
• “Bread and circuses”
• Roman govt. provided free food and
entertainment for the plebeians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOylD1KC6kc&sa
fe=active
Aqueducts!