roman empire

Moving Toward Moving Toward EmpireEmpire

In this lesson, students will be able to identify various factors which led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:

Punic WarsEmpire

Pax Romana

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The Romans weresuccessful conquerors.They copied the battletactics of the Greeks

and Macedonians.

Roman ConquerorsRoman Conquerors• The Romans split their legions into smaller, highly

mobile forces of 100 men called centuries.

• They allowed some conquered people to govern themselves while granting limited citizenship to others.

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Fun FactFun Fact• Roman soldiers wore sandals, with iron

studs on the leather soles. Hard-wearing, but easy to slip when running on wet stones!

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The Punic WarsThe Punic Wars• In 264 B.C., Rome came into conflict with another

great Mediterranean power-the Phoenician city of Carthage in North Africa.

• In three Punic Wars, Rome struggled with Carthage for control of the Western Mediterranean Sea.

• Ultimately, Rome destroyed Carthage.

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During the secondPunic War, the

great Carthaginiangeneral, Hannibal,

attacked Romefrom the North.

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Initially, Hannibalexperienced militarysuccess. However,

he could not conquerthe Italian peninsula.

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Hannibal evenused elephantsin his military

campaign.

A Total DefeatA Total Defeat• Ultimately, Rome destroyed Carthage.

• The Roman army ruined the land of Carthage and sold its surviving people into slavery.

• The Romans became kings of the Mediterranean Sea.

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As the Roman armyexperienced greater

success, Romangenerals became

increasingly powerfuland popular. Generals,

like Julius Caesar, wanted more power.

The End of the The End of the RepublicRepublic

• As generals became increasingly powerful, Rome ceased to be a republic and became an empire.

• An empire is a state that rules over different cultures.

• Eventually, an emperor ruled Rome.

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Julius Caesar threatened to seize

power and become adictator. However,

Senators assassinatedhim in 44 B.C.

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“Whenever the bones of Capys shall be discovered, it will come to pass that a descendant of his shall be slain at the hands of his kindred, and presently avenged at heavy cost to Italy.”

Eventually, Caesar’sadopted son, Octavian,became the first Romanemperor. He was calledAugustus Caesar andhis rule began a longperiod of peace in theRoman Empire known asthe Pax Romana or RomanPeace.Augustus Caesar

Questions for Questions for Reflection:Reflection:

• Why was the Roman army successful?• What were the Punic Wars?• How did Rome treat Carthage after its victory?• Who was Julius Caesar and what did he do?• Why did Rome become an empire?• Who was Augustus Caesar and what was the Pax

Romana?

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