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The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire. World History – Libertyville HS. Octavian, First Emperor (r. 27 BC-14 AD). Adopted by Julius Caesar at age 19 Fought in civil war vs. Senate & others for control of Rome Upon victory, focused on consolidating his power Senate declared him “Augustus” (emperor)

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The Roman Empire

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  1. The Roman Empire World History – Libertyville HS

  2. Octavian, First Emperor (r. 27 BC-14 AD) • Adopted by Julius Caesar at age 19 • Fought in civil war vs. Senate & others for control of Rome • Upon victory, focused on consolidating his power • Senate declared him “Augustus” (emperor) • Kept tabs on rivals through spies • Kept control over army

  3. Octavian, First Emperor • Octavian reorganized the state / empire • Frontier provinces were designated “Imperial” • No Senators Allowed! – Why? • 28 legions stationed • Interior Provinces • “Romanized” areas • Senate controlled • NO legions stationed

  4. 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. Mediterranean called “Mare Nostrum” (Our Sea)

  5. Government of the Empire • Emperor had total control over the government & army • Senate still met, but had little real power (no legions) • Maintained bureaucracy, like the Han • Government was fairly corrupt – tax farming • Bribing elected officials standard practice

  6. Economy of the Empire • Trade • Traded throughout Europe, SW Asia, North Africa – even China (226 AD) • Road network very important to trade (quick / cheap) • Mediterranean was pirate free (not again = 19th C.)

  7. 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.

  8. 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

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

  10. Life in the Roman Empire • Life along frontiers • Use of client states, esp. in Europe, as buffers to protect against invasion (sound familiar?) • Transformed German border tribes into semi civilized states • In later Roman Empire, Germans provided most troops of army • Roman army was primary means by which new citizens were added to empire (part of retirement)

  11. Reasons for Decline of Imperial Rome • #1: Difficulty maintaining borders • Army on frontier gradually became less Roman and more “barbarian” • People outside Empire crossed borders to get to (relative) safety of Empire and away from Huns, others • #2: Cost of bureaucracy • Taxes paid by citizens, but rich tended to avoid taxes • Land, local power went to rich • Tribute and taxes couldn’t keep up with costs of Empire

  12. Reasons for Decline • Reason #3: Size of Empire • Emperor Diocletian (284-311 AD) divided Empire into four parts • East was “Hellenized” • West was Germanic • Leaders of North, South were “Caesar”, or junior emperors • Emperor Constantine (307-337 AD) moved capitol to Constantinople

  13. Fall of the Western Empire • After 337 AD, while the Eastern Empire recovered and advanced, the West continued to decline • Generals stripped the frontiers of troops to fight in civil wars or declare self emperor • Assassins killed emperors • Meanwhile, outsiders migrated into Roman Europe, Africa

  14. End of the Empire • Attila the Hun (434-454 AD) • Came out of steppes of Western Asia leading a horde of horsemen • Laid siege to Constantinople, bought off • Went to Italy, laid siege to Rome, but suddenly retreated (Pope claimed miracle) • In 476 AD, Odoacer, a German mercenary, deposed the last Roman Emperor, a child, and became King of Italy Last Emperor (L) giving crown to Odoacer (R)

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