From Republic to Empire
• Tiberius Gracchus represented interests of
Rome’s lower class. He served as Tribune.
• He wanted to limit the amount of land
controlled by the Patricians.
• He was assassinated in 132 B.C.E.
• His brother Gaius Gracchus continued his
brother’s reforms.
Julius Caesar Conquers Gaul
Roman Fort
Roman Empire 117 A.D.
Julius Caesar
• 47 BCE: seized power in Rome, by made dictator. A by
44 B.C.E: title dictator for life.
• Land reforms & land to the poor.
• ↑ Senate to 900 & packed it with supporters of his
reforms.
• Assassinated by a group of senators in 44 B.C.E. (partly
unhappy w/ relationship w/ Cleo & their son)
• Caesarion called “King of Kings” when Cleo & her next
lover, Marc Antony, celebrated triumph over Armenia
Octavian aka. Augustus Caesar
(r. 27 BCE- 14CE)
• first Roman Emperor, though
its the Principate
• Senate titles Augustus
(“revered one”).
• Battle of Actium 31BCE makes
undisputed ruler (no
Cleo/Marc!!)
• Statute and coins promoted
Augustus (31 B.C.E.-14 C.E.)
•
Standing army of 150K men split into legions of around
5K each.
•
Only Roman citizens could be legionaries. Subject
peoples in the provinces and else where could serve
under the legionaries.
•
Created the Praetorian (his personal) guard ~ 9K men.
5 maniples
(600) Triarii
10 maniples
principes
Early
Roman
Legion
10 maniples
hastati
10 maniples
velites
The Pax Romana
• peace and prosperity which begins with Augustus
and continues for 200 years.
• Julio-Claudian line which ends with Nero.
• After Nero there is a civil war and Vespasian
becomes emperor.
At its height, the Roman empire contained portions
of three continents (Africa, Europe, and Asia).
Keep in mind this area of influence as we look at
examples of Roman achievements.
Entertainment & Social Life
Colosseum
gladiators, navy
battles, and
animal fights
• Circus Maximus
chariot racing
capacity =
250,000
• Public Baths
hot pools, warm
pools, cold pools
Circus Maximus
Engineering
• Roads
– aided the army
– remained long after
the fall of Rome
• Aqueducts
brought fresh
water to cities
(some still in use
across Europe)
Characteristics of Domes:
Basilicas: Large, relatively
open; able to have mor places
Pantheon
The floor was made
from stone from the
four corners of the
empire.
Public Baths
Latin
• Official language of the western half of
the empire
• Official language of the Catholic
church until the 20th century
• Languages derived from Latin – called
Romance languages
Language , Literature,
History & Philosophy
• Latin
• Poetry
Virgil’s –Aeneid
• History: Studied the rise and
fall of Rome
– Livy –
– Tacitus –
• Stoicism
Marcus Aurelius
– This emperor even wrote of
book of philosophy called
Meditations
Philosophy
• Stoicism
prioritizes duty and accepting one’s fate
adopted from the teachings of the Greek
philosopher Zeno
Marcus Aurelius was the most noted stoic
– This emperor even wrote of book of philosophy
called Meditations
Roman Law
• Some Main Concepts
– “innocent until proven
guilty”
– guilt must be “clearer
than daylight”
– Actions, not thoughts,
were punishable
– Defendants could
challenge their accusers
before a judge
– Judges could set aside
unfair laws
• Tradition of written
law dates back to
c.450 BCE with the
“Twelve Tables.”
• Jurists sought to
construct a rational
body of law that
would apply to all
peoples under Roman
control
Roman Coinage
Elagabalus & Grandmother
Hades stealing Persephone
Good & Bad Emperors
• Hadrian (117-138 C.E.)• Marcus Aurelius ( 161-180 C.E.)-
Roman Family Life
Slavery
• Slaves made up 1/3 of the Roman population.
• Working conditions for slaves in the cities
were somewhat better.
• Laborers would often be chained together
while working in the fields.
• Spartacus’uprising in 73 B.C.E. was the
largest slave revolt, but not the only one.
The Pantheon 128 A.D.
• Commissioned by
Emperor Hadrin
• Started in 118 A.D.
• It is a clock of sorts. It
tells the time by rays
of light hitting the
sculptures inside.
The Roman Empire
Other Important Roman Emperors:
Diocletian -
The Roman Empire
Other Important Roman Emperors:
Constantine -
The Roman Empire
Other Important Roman Emperors:
Justinian - his code of laws quickly spread throughout all of
Europe
Roman Contributions
Law - The Twelve Tables (450 BC) gradually developed into Justinian’s Code of
the 6th century AD. It divided law into civil and criminal law. Roman law
was just and humane. In principle, all people were equal. The accused
were considered to be innocent until proven guilty. Torture was outlawed.
Roman Contributions
Roads - To unite the empire of over 100 million Greeks, Egyptians, Gauls,
Germans, Britains, and others, Rome built roads for trade and protection.
Latin language and culture spread to the outlying provinces.
The Fall of the Roman Empire
The Eastern half of the empire lasted until 1453 AD when the
Turks conquered Constantinople. Rome was conquered by
German barbarians in 476 AD.
Roman Contributions
Language - “Romance” languages of Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and
Romanian are based on Latin. Latin became the language of the
government, church, and schools throughout Europe. Modern law and
medicine still contain many Latin terms.
Roman Contributions
Builders - Roads, bridges, aqueducts, sewers, public baths, coliseums, and
basilicas (churches) were built by Roman engineers. Romans developed
concrete and used arches and domes in their construction.
Roman Contributions
Literature - Virgil’s Aeneid is an epic poem modeled after Homer’s Illiad.
Ceasar’s Commentaries, on his battles in Gaul are considered great
literature.
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Reasons:
Political:
1.
Lack of democracy led to a loss of patriotism
2.
The Empire was geographically to big
3.
Lack of orderly succession led to civil wars and generals coming to power
Economic:
1.
Growing gap between the rich and the poor
2.
Farmers lost land because of growing debt (Slaves)
3.
Increased use of slaves led to a loss of trade and high unemployment
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Reasons:
Social:
1.
Wars, hunger and plague
2.
Cultural decline (Sense of drift)
Military:
1.
Armies were masters of the state and could make and unmake emperors
2.
Lack of trust in the Military (Mercenaries)
The Roman “Empire”
It’s development: 1) started as a monarchy (king), 2) a
republic was formed as more people were assimilated into the
empire (vote for representatives to make decisions), 3) Empire
(rulers called Caesar), Caesars make all the decisions for the
people
It’s location: began in Italy (Rome) – the empire surrounds
the Mediterranean Sea and was large enough to unite Europe
with the Middle East (trade, common language [Latin],
common government)
The “Republic”: Type of government where citizens elect representatives who
decide on important issues (laws, taxes, etc.) – government in Rome before it
became an empire
Pax Romana: “Roman Peace”
- Began with Augustus Caesar
- 200 years of peace and prosperity (the Golden Age of Rome)
Contributions to our Society
Literature:
Continued the Greek tradition drama, poetry, novels
Engineering:
the science of making things
Architecture:
copied Greek “Classical”
architecture, added round shapes
(arch and dome)
Roads:
built the first great roadways, ability
to move army quickly and facilitate
trade between cities and proveniences
Arch:
Replaced columns for support –
stronger than columns, could build
larger structures with more open
space
Carry fresh water from the mountains
to the cities
- Applied to all people within the empire
- the basis for our legal system today
- the Twelve Tables were the written laws of Rome
Aqueducts:
Laws:
Latin language:
- allowed everyone in the empire to communicate with
each other
- common language of Europe for many centuries