ROMAN EMPIRE500B.C.- 500A.D.

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RISE OF THE ROMAN CIVILIZATION

Early Roman Settlement

Isolated by Alps and Appenines

Relatively Mild Climate-Allowed them to harvest more than one crop per year

“Latin's”: animal herders who eventually cultivated the land started a small village on the Tiber River which became Rome.

ROME’S ETRUSCAN HERITAGE

800 b.c. Etruscan settlers arrived on Western shore of Italian Peninsula

Built Rome into a center of tradeBuilt sewer system, Roman Forum, irrigation system

Contributions to Roman CultureRoman Religion (similar to Greek)Architecture-ArchesWeakened by battles with Greeks and Carthaginians over trade routes in the Mediterranean Sea allowed Romans to overthrow the Etruscans. http://www.roman-empire.net/

Punic Wars

Conflict with Carthage (North coast of Africa)

264 b.c. Carthage threatened the control of Sicily

which meant they could dominate the water routes.

Hannibal

Carthage led by HannibalInvaded Italy with 40,000 soldiers, 37 War elephants, 8,000 Calvary by traveling across the Alps After 15 years of fighting on Italian Peninsula, Hannibal was forced to divide his army.

PUNIC WARS 2

Rome led by Scipio: strategy was to try and not fight on their own soilAttacked CarthageForced Hannibal to returnDefeated Carthage in 202 b.c. and gained control of all the Western Mediterranean Sea.

The Early Republic

Republic: Form of government in which citizens elected representatives to carry out powers of government500 b.c. Consuls governed Rome

Two chosen from the Patrician class (upper class) by the SenateHeld complete powerCommand Army, Propose new legislation, Interpret and carry out laws

Consuls

Limitations:

One year terms

Consuls had to agree with each other.

In war, a dictator could be chosen for 6 month period.

SENATE

Senate: primarily advised the consuls on important aspects of governmentProposed new laws

Served for lifeFrom the Patrician class (10% of population)

Assembly: passed laws and elected consuls and other government officials

Consisted of both Patricians and PlebeiansPLEBIANS-free citizens who had little property and had to serve in the army.Patricians dominated Assembly

The Plebeian Struggle

500 b.c.- began to demand more rights.

Couldn’t marry patricians.

Not allowed to be high government official.

Treated severely in laws.

Plebian Reforms

Received first important demand: Right to elect a tribune:

leader who had the power to veto Senate actionsChosen based on geography ( not wealth)

450 b.c. : Roman law brought together in single written document called the “Twelve Tables”

Covered most aspects of Roman public lifeDefined property and family rightsPlebeians received more equal rights

Roman Society

Dominated by aristocratic families and wealthy merchants

Agriculture was basis of economy

Slaves performed hard labor

Varied social life

Public baths

Chariot racing

Gladiator contests in Coliseum

Theater was popular (mime)

RELIGION

Influenced by Greek Religion

Emperor worship required by citizens

Stressed religious tolerance

Rome becomes a Dictatorship

79 b.c. - 59 b.c. : Military leader Pompey forms an alliance with Crassus (wealthy noble) and Julius Caesar(political leader)Caesar gained power by becoming more involved in militaryWhen asked to give up his troops, he marched on RomePompey fled and Crassus had died previously which left Caesar as the sole person in power.

JULIUS CAESAR

Julius Caesar appointed himself as dictatorSenate became a rubber stamp for his policiesHe resettled population, established public building projects, extended Roman citizenship44 b.c. : Caesar extended his dictatorship for lifeIdes of March (March 15, 44 b.c.): stabbed to death in the Senate.

The Early Empire

After Caesar’s Death power combined for 11 years.Octavian: adopted son and appointed heir of Caesar.Marc Antony: Roman General.

OCTAVIAN WINS ALL POWER.He had to give approval of all laws.Selected all government officials for election.Commanded the Roman Army.Given title of “Augustus” which meant great one.

AUGUSTUS CAESAR

Brought end of Roman Republic and beginning of

Pax Romana

Period of Roman peace until 180 a.d.

No major wars (expansion of empire halted)

Increased commerce brought prosperity

Improved trade

DECAY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Pax Romana followed by a series of corrupt leaders whose only qualifications were that they were in control of the Roman Army.

Borders were constantly attacked.

SPLITTING THE EMPIRE

284 a.d. Diocletian emperorReorganized government into eastern and western regionsHe ruled West (from Rome)East ruled from ConstantinopleHoped it would improve the efficiency of the empireIndustry and trade declined (money became worthless)

FALL OF ROME

Germanic Barbarians became a threat in 5th Century a.d.Sought new lands because of population growth and fear of the Huns.Claimed large parts of the Western EmpireCarved out Kingdoms from the Roman Empire476 a.d. Roman Empire fell

Economy became stagnantCultivated land declinedPopulation declined

LEGACY OF ROME

Greatest contribution in the fields of government and lawDeveloped growth of Constitutional GovernmentsLaw formed foundation of many legal systems of Western World

Protection of PropertyAssumption of InnocenceEquality before the law

ArchitectureArches, domed roofsEngineering (aqueducts)

Language: RomanceFoundation of French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish