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The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire. World History – Libertyville HS. The Roman Empire. “ Pax Romana ” = Roman Peace Lasted 200 years, from 27 BC to 180 AD Few civil wars & no invasions Legal system helped to Romanize regions Empire covered 2.2 million square miles with 120 million pop.

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The Roman Empire

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  1. The Roman Empire World History – Libertyville HS

  2. The Roman Empire • “PaxRomana” = Roman Peace • Lasted 200 years, from 27 BC to 180 AD • Few civil wars & no invasions • Legal system helped to Romanize regions • Empire covered 2.2 million square miles with 120 million pop.

  3. Government of the Empire • Emperor had total control over the government • Senate still met, but had little real power (no legions) • Efficient bureaucracy, like the Han Chinese • Army socialized non-citizens to become loyal Roman citizens

  4. Economy of the Empire • Based on trade and farming • Trade • Traded throughout Europe, SW Asia, North Africa – even China (226 AD) • Road network very important to trade (quick / cheap) • Mediterranean was pirate free (19th C.)

  5. Infrastructure • Roads • Built for and by the Army • Encouraged trade and defense of Empire • Over 55K miles of roads • Many towns that sprung up at road intersections exist today (Paris; London) • Aqueducts delivered water to cities

  6. Life in the Roman Empire • Life in Rome • City of 1 million+, mostly unemployed plebeians • “Bread & circuses” • Bread = daily dole of food • Circuses = games, theater, etc.

  7. Life in Rome • Haves and the have nots • Haves =Patricians, equestrians were decadent • Have nots = plebeians • Desperately poor • Lived in cramped apartment buildings prone to fires, collapse

  8. Life in the Roman Empire • Life in the provinces • Security of PaxRomana meant hundreds of towns, cities springing up • Simpler life where people farmed, raised families, and lived their lives

  9. Life in the Roman Empire • Life along frontiers • Use of client state as buffers to protect against invasion • Transformed German border tribes into semi civilized states • Germans provided most troops of army • German people wanted to move into Empire • Led to tension, invasion

  10. Octavian, First Emperor (27 BC-14 AD) • Adopted by Julius Caesar at age 19 • “Restored” Republic in 27 AD; Senate promptly named him emperor (“Augustus”) • Focused on consolidation of his own power • Kept tabs on rivals • Kept control over army

  11. Octavian, First Emperor • State of Empire, under Octavian • Frontier (“Imperial”) provinces (28 legions, no senators)– why? • Interior Provinces (Romanized; Senate control, NO legions)

  12. Octavian’s Plans for Expansion • Expansion plans included invasion of Bohemia • Setbacks • 3 year revolt in Balkans • Loss of 3 legions in Germany (Teutoburg Forest story) • After Teutoburg Forest, Octavian switched strategy to defense

  13. Succession of Emperors • Julian Emperors (27 BC to 68 AD) • 5 emperors, from Octavian to Nero • Post Julian Emperors • Lots of insanity, amorality • “Five Good Emperors” (96-180 AD) • Good because they were not insane • Long reigns • Militarily successful

  14. Decline of Imperial Rome • From 180 to 284 AD, 30 Emperors ruled in succession • Short reigns led to political paralysis • Civil wars by contenders for the throne weakened frontier • Army, especially Praetorian Guard, began deciding who would be emperor • Some of the emperors were insane or had short reigns

  15. Decline of Imperial Rome • Difficulty maintaining borders • Army on frontier gradually became less Roman and more “barbarian” • Migratory pressures from outside empire • Increasing cost of bureaucracy • Taxes paid only by citizens (212 AD: citizenship) • Subject population paid tribute • Rich tended to avoid taxes • Land, local power went to rich

  16. Partial Recovery and Reform (284-337 AD) • Diocletian (284-311 AD) • Great organizer • Recognized that empire was too big • Split empire into four parts • East was “Hellenized” • West war Germanic • Leaders of North, South were “Caesar”, or junior emperors • Doubled size of army (300k to 600k)

  17. Partial Recovery and Reform • Diocletian’s reforms • Excluded patricians from military command • Imposed rigid direction of labor on all people • Constantine “The Great” (307-337 AD) • Time of great unrest in West • City populations shrinking • Trade declined • Farmland not cultivated

  18. Partial Recovery and Reform • Constantine moved capital from Rome to Byzantium • Renamed city Constantinople • Allowed for free worship of Christianity throughout empire (converted on deathbed)

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