What can you infer about the Romans from this picture of

ancient Rome?

• Why do Empires and nations get weaker and eventually fall?

• More specifically what factors weaken it?

ROME

LATIN

Common Latin phrases• bona fide (adjective).   genuine, sincere • carpe diem.   seize the day.• et cetera (abbreviated etc.).   and so on.• quo vadis?   where are you going?• terra incognita.   unknown land.• vice versa.   the order being reversed.• alma mater.   one's old school or university.• alter ego.   other self.• caveat emptor.   let the buyer beware.• circa (abbreviated c. and followed by a date).   about.• ex post facto.   retrospectively.• habeas corpus.   you may have the body • magna cum laude.   with great honour or academic

distinction.• magnum opus.   great work.• mea culpa.   by my fault • per capita.   by the head. • per diem.   per day. • persona non grata.   a non-acceptable person.• E Pluribus Unum. One from many.

• What number is this?

• Iv• Xiii• lxxv• Cxxii• Mdcc• mmxv

Today’s Essential questions1. What were some reasons that the

Roman Empire came to an end?Complete this sentence:

Sentence StarterThe Roman Empire

didn’t just fall in one day. It gradually went

down over time. COMPLETE this SENTENCE:

Factors that contributed to

Rome’s decline were…

Empire: a group of countries under a single authority

Roman Republic• Romans HATED kings –

they swore to kill anyone who exalted himself above the Senate

• The Patricians (rich, landowners - aristocracy) created a 300 member Senate

• Rome was NOT a Democracy

• Plebeians (common citizens) could vote on certain matters but not all

• The 300 senators voted democratically to make rome’s laws

• The Senate elected 2 Consuls (like presidents) for 1 year terms to rule or lead the Senate

• Elected dictator or supreme general in times of war

• The Senators were the generals of the Army

Ways non senators could participate in the Republic

• Tribunes: were 2 common citizens who were allowed to be in the Senate to protect the rights of the plebians

• Tribunes could yell “VETO” if they did not like particular law

• Centuriate Assembly (the army) selected the consuls and could propose laws

• Tribal Assembly (citizens grouped by neiborhoods or regions) could elect 2 Tribunes and propose laws

• 12 Tables – LAWS written down

• Concept all citizens = Equal under the Law

• System of Law• Judges or 8 Praetors chosen

by the army heard cases and citizen could sue citizen

• Due Process: (the right to be treated fairly- day in court

before Law for citizens

Roman Army• Highly militaristic- a

huge priority was placed on military success

• Rich senators were the generals

• Constantly recruiting soldiers rich and poor

• Conquered warriors were given opportunity to join the Roman Army so their army was constantly growing

• Full-time professional soldiers that trained constantly

• Super strict discipline• Promoted excellence• Were very logical

pragmatic – studied tactics losses

Roman Navy

Roman and American Republics

Julius Caesar

• Cleopatra

• Caesar• Caesari

on • Octavia

n • Mark

Antony

OctaviAn - Caesar Augustus• Wealthy Roman,

adopted son of Julius Caesar. Fought Mark Anthony for the leadership of Rome after the death of Caesar. Established the Roman Empire and became emperor of Rome after Caesar

• Cleopatra VII was the last person to rule Egypt as pharaoh.

• She was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, and therefore a descendant of one of Alexander the Great's generals who had seized control over Egypt after Alexander's death.

• Most Ptolemys spoke Greek and refused to learn Egyptian, By contrast, Cleopatra learned Egyptian and represented herself as the reincarnation of an Egyptian Goddess.

• Most of her life was a struggle for power with her brother

• She allied herself with Julius Caesar • She had a kid with Caesar (Caesarion) • She later got together with Marc Antony and

together they ruled Egypt• They fought against Octavian• Octavian’s forces defeated them • Mark Antony commits suicide • Cleopatra commits suicide by letting poisonous

snakes bite her

Pax Romana (Roman peaCe)200 years of Roman Peace and domination of their empire. Trade, wealth, massive building projects,

stadiums, bathhouses, gladiator contests, free bread and entertainment

• After the death of Caesar

• Rome was ruled by many different

emperors

Some good

many not so good

Roman Entertainment: keeping the masses calm with “Pan et Circuses”

Gladiator fights

Circus Maximus: Chariot racing

Baths (swimming pools)

Roman Theaters

Roman games and gambling

Public Toilets

The Vatican: Center of the Catholic Church. Smallest country in the world. Home to

hundreds of pieces of Renaissance art

1. Why did the Jews have problems with Rome?

2. What is monotheism?3. Why was Jesus crucified?4. What is Easter the celebration of? 5. Who was the apostle Paul? 6. Why were Christians persecuted?7. What are some reasons people

became Christians?8. Why is Constantine important to

Christianity? 9. Around when did Christianity

become the official religion of the Empire?

• The eastern ½ of the Empire was Richer Due to all the trade on the “Silk Road”

Imperialism SE Asia

Modern Markets (Bazaars) along the Silk Road

Diocletian split the empire into 2 parts (eastern and western) and Constantine moved the capital to the richer city of Byzantium

Byzantium was later renamed Constantinople

Causes for the Decline of Rome

• 1. Too many wars on frontiers with barbarians

• 2. Debt from wars, corruption and entertainment

• 3. Civil Wars – soldiers not loyal to Rome

• 4. Apathy: citizens not caring for preserving Rome

• 5. The rise of Christianity: Christians more loyal to religion than to Rome

Germanic Tribes

Reasons for the Roman Decline

Discussion questions: Decline of Rome

• 1. What problems would come with having an empire that stretched millions of miles?

• 2. Where did Rome get many of its new soldiers? What problem can you see with this?

• 3. Who are soldiers loyal to? • 6. Rome had 30 different emperors in a period of

75 years what does this say?• 7. Christianity was growing steadily. What does

Christianity teach about who you should be loyal to?

• 8. What does Christianity teach about war and conflict?

• 9. What is corruption? • 10. What happens to countries that spend too

much?• 11. How do you think Rome felt when the top

emperor moved himself and the capital to the eastern city of Byzantine?

•  

Atilla The Hun: I am the “punishment of God”

Changes as the Roman Empire Decline and life transitioned into the DARK AGES

(1st part of the Middle Ages)• As cities were the targets of

invasion people left cities took refuge on manors or large estates where they could grow their own food

• Trade massively declinedSo people had to farm to eat

• Money became scarce and people bartered (traded)

• With cities’ populations down there were no cohesive administration centers (loss of government structure)

• Education declined• The Latin language began to

change or not be spoken at all• Small kingdom replaced Roman

provinces• Loyalty and respect for Roman

law and institutions was forgotten

• People looked to the Church not Rome as a unifying or defining culture

• The POPE (leader of the Catholic Church) was sort of the new Roman Emperor

Domes

Arches

Roman engineering: Roads

Aqueducts: running water to the cities (toilets, baths,

fountains)

Rome’s lasting Achievements

• Latin• System of

government• Legal codes• Roads• Aquaducts