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Ancient Rome. From Republic to Empire. The Geography of Rome. Geography. The Sea: Italy located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea Makes it a center for trade Rely more on land than sea however for growth of civilization (unlike the Greeks) The Land:
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Ancient Rome From Republic to Empire
Geography • The Sea: • Italy located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea • Makes it a center for trade • Rely more on land than sea however for growth of civilization (unlike the Greeks) • The Land: • Mountainous terrain, but also includes many navigable rivers and fertile valleys. • Soil adept to agriculture • Wheat and grapes
Influence of the Etruscans and the Greeks • Writing • Religion • The Arch
The Roman Republic: 509 BCE - 27 BCE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvsbfoKgG-8
Roman Republic Video Topics • During the video (part one and two) take notes on the following topics: 15 total • Romulus and Remus Story • Geography of Rome • Republic Structure of Government • Roman Conquests/Soldiers • Slaves/Revolts
Republican Government • Republic: a form of government where citizens have the right to vote for their officials • Rome’s Republic: • At first dominated by the wealthy aristocratic class called the Patricians • Conflict of the Orders: • The lower class (98% of the population) called the Plebians fight for increased decision making power in the government process • Compromise: • 2 elected officials from the Plebian class called Tribunes serve as the head of the Assembly • Twelve Tables – a written code of law hung in the Forum where all citizens could read and know the laws (creates equality under the law)
Republican Government • Branches of Rome’s Republic Government: • Consuls : 2 elected leaders of Rome who served for one year periods (in charge of overseeing the government and the army) • Senate: chosen from aristocratic class and seats often passed down from father to son – in charge of law making • Assemblies: drawn from the lower class with limited authority to propose laws or veto laws (led by Tribunes) • Dictator: one man elected in times of crisis to command thee Republic with sole authority (term limit of 6 months) • Roman Army: divided into legions and controlled by Generals. Soldiers were volunteers and professionals but must be land owners (i.e. citizens). • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhnWyRvC1dU
The Twelve Tables, 450 BCE • Providing political and social rights for the plebeians. • Written on a series of tablets hung in the forum • Significant because it allowed greater equality under the law
Roman Law • The Twelve Tables were an early example of the importance of written law and set a precedent for further equality guaranteed by law to all citizens: • the right to receive equal treatment under the law. • the right to be punished only for actions, not thoughts. • the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Collapse of the Roman Republic • Economic: growing gap between rich and poor • Wealthy landowners increasingly used slaves which put small farmers and laborers out of work • Social Unrest: growing unemployment led to social unrest • Poor farmers moved into overcrowded cities • Lack of jobs • Shortage of grain supplies • Riots • Senators using violence • Military Upheaval: soldiers loyalty gradually changed from the Roman state to their generals
Collapse of the Republic Cont. • Julius Caesar: Rome’s most infamous general http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO565zLOQSc • Became governor of Gaul (modern day France) after his army conquered it • Republic government not able to maintain peace so Caesar and 2 other generals form a Triumvirate of rulers (3 rulers divide duties of governing Roman territories) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z88_UTf23nc • Eventually Caesar marches his army into Rome and defeats that other generals and proclaims himself Dictator for life • Makes reforms, creates jobs, redistributes land to the poor • Senators assassinate him - grow weary of his ego and power trip and they conspire to him • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z88_UTf23nc
The Roman Empire: 27 BCE - 476 CE
The Roman Empire • Augustus: First Emperor of Rome • Caesar’s death kicks off a 15 year long civil war with his adopted son and nephew Octavian as the victor • Essentially dismantles the Republic and creates an Imperial government • One ruler, the Emperor, has sole authority • Senate still exists however their power is sharply decreased. • He creates the first Civil Service • He hires people from the plebian class to work for the government to help administer the Empire • His policies set off a 200 year peace within the realm which historians call the PaxRomana or Roman Peace
The Roman World • Values: • Emphasized loyalty, discipline • A practical people who valued strength more than beauty and usefulness • Slaves • Important to the Roman economy, perhaps more so than in any other civilization at the time • Most were war captives (men, women and children) • Some forced to be Gladiators • Gods: • Polytheistic (belief in many gods) • Public and private worship • Took on Greek Gods
The Roman World • Culture: • Wealthy lived extravagantly while the poor barely survived relying on grain supplies from the government • Games – gladiator fights, naval battles, chariot races • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvRWUCfAPs0&feature=relmfu • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfSTZUEH95Q&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWCwnkdPPCc&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s66zFW3nogU&feature=relmfu • Roman Baths/Aqueducts • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/roman/ • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6snVyK6gQCE
The Empire in Crisis: 3rd Century • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PszVWZNWVA • Rome’s Economy Weakens: • Hostile tribes from Asia, Germany, France etc… invade Roman territory disrupting trade • Pirates on the Mediterranean disrupt trade • Gov’t raised taxes • Inflation – decrease in the value of money while prices go up • Over worked soil led to food shortages and famine • Military and Political Turmoil: • Rome could no longer supply enough of their own soldiers and hired mercenaries (foreign soldiers who fought for money) • Loss of patriotism
Emperor’s Attempt Reform • Diocletian r. 284 CE – 305 CE • Claimed to be descended from Roman Gods • Severely limited personal freedoms and restored order • Doubled the size of the Empire • Controlled inflation by setting prices • Divided the Empire in 2 parts: • East – Greek speaking • West – Latin speaking • Purpose was to better administer the large Empire
Constantine • Gained control of the western part in 312 CE • Continued many of Diocletian’s reforms • Secured control of the east through military campaigns thus reuniting the Empire • Moved the capital from Rome to Istanbul in the east and renamed it Constantinople • Strategically located for trade and defense • Shifted power from west to east • After his death the empire was again divided and would never recover
The Western Empire Crumbles • Germanic Invasion: 370 CE Mongol nomads, Huns invaded Germanic tribes on Rome’s Northern border. • Causes Germanic tribes to flee their lands into Roman territory • Invaded Roman lands in Italy, Gaul, and Spain • Even attacked and ransacked the city of Rome itself in 410 CE • Attila the Hun: united the Huns into a powerful fighting force • Took an army of 100,000 and terrorized both the east and western parts of the Empire • Protective walls around Constantinople were successful in keeping the Huns out • Attila’s army went after the city of Rome itself but were unable to control it due to disease, famine and then Attila’s own death
Survival of the Eastern Empire • Eastern Empire Lives On: • Last Roman Emperor – 14 year old boy who fled from power due to continued German attacks in 476 CE • Left the west in disarray and leaderless • Eastern Half Survives: • Came to be known as the Byzantine Empire • Was never taken by the Huns or the Germanic tribes • Emperors continue to rule, trade flourishes, remains an important Mediterranean influence for another 1000 years.
The Legacy of Rome • Republic Government • Roman Law • Latin Language • Roman Catholic Church • City Planning • Romanesque Architectural Style • Roman Engineering • Aqueducts • Sewage systems • Dams • Cement • Arch