Rome: Republic to Empire

1. Rome: Republic to Empire

2. Geography of Rome • Built on seven hills along the Tiber River • Situated between the Alps (North) and the tip of the Italian peninsula (south) • Located Near the center of the Med. Sea

4. The Early Republic • Rome is unified as one city-state in 600 BC • Covered nearly 500 sq. miles! • Tarquin the Proud • Last King of Rome • Ousted in 509 BC and republic is founded • Only free-born males granted Roman citizenship and voting rights • Two groups want Power • Patricians- wealthy land owners • Plebians- common farmers , artisans, and merchants that made up the majority of the populations. Elected representatives called tribunes.

6. Government in the Republic • Roman Laws: established in 451 • Placed in the forum (open area that was the center of Roman political life) • Government Officials: • 2 Consuls- • commanded the army • 1 year term. No reelection for 10 years • Senate (300 members)- • made decisions regarding foreign and domestic policy • The Roman Army: • Organized into units called Legions • Service was required if you owned land or wanted to obtain a high political ranking political position

8. Rome’sInfluence Grows • 256 BCE- All of the Italian peninsula is under Roman control • Rome had gained an extensive trade network • The Punic Wars: 264-146 BCE • Rome vs. Carthage • Carthage was a city-state in north Africa • 2nd Punic Wars: Hannibal tries to take Rome and fails • 3rd Punic Wars: Rome defeats Carthage for good • Rome becomes the dominate force in the western Med.

10. The Republic Collapses • The gap between the rich and the poor grew as Rome grew • Farmers were left jobless and homeless • The Army • No longer loyal to the Republic • Loyal to their Commanders

11. Caesar takes Control. Hail Caesar! • Popular general and a consul with his friend Pompey • He declared himself governor of Gaul (present-day France) in 58 BCE • 58-50 BCE defeated all of Gaul and gained support • Ordered to disband and return to Rome by the Senate and Pompey • He refused and marched his army across the Rubicon River and then to Rome • He defeated Pompey and named dictator in 46 BCE • 2 years later named dictator for life • Granted citizenship to many outside of Italy • Assassinated in 44 BCE by several Senator including Marcus Brutus

12. V.

13. An Empire Begins • The 2nd Triumvirate: 43 BCE • Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus (former generals) • Lepidus is pressured by to retire by Octavian • Octavian and Antony fight for control of Rome • Antony meets Cleopatra of Egypt and w/ her help tries to defeat Octavian and fails • Octavian becomes the ruler and calls himself Emperor Augustus (exalted one) (27 BCE -14 CE) • Rome was now an Empire

14. Culture in the Empire • 207 years of Pax-Romana (Roman Peace) • The Empire stretched from Spain in the West to Mesopotamia in the East • Agriculture was the main industry • Slavery was important feature in everyday life • Gods and Goddesses were linked to the government and include Jupiter (father of the gods), Juno (his wife), and Minerva (goddess of wisdom and arts).

16. Christianity in the Empire • There were many religious in Rome • In 70 AD a Jewish revolt was put down in Jerusalem • Christianity spread quickly however many were persecuted • Constantine • Before a battle (312 CE) has a vision of cross and he wins the battle • Edict of Milan 313 CE- stops the persecution of the Christians • Emperor Theodosius made it the official religion of the empire in 380