CDLXXVI Did the Tortoise ? Teach the Romans?
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Roman Empire What happened in What CDLXXVI did the tortoise ? teach the Romans? Why the LONG FACE, Quid novi? Senator? Translation: “What’s new?” IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Roman_Empire_FC.indd 1 3/13/17 11:01 AM II (2) and leopatras eet in a sea attle at c The Empire Begins tium, in Greece. The assassination of Roman ruler Julius Soon after that victory, Octavian became Caesar in 44 BCE led to civil war. Over the the sole ruler of Rome. He took the name next 13 years, the Roman world suffered Augustus Caesar and the title princeps from an ongoing struggle among political fi rst one. he oman eplic was rivals. Those battling for power included over. But because Augustus was both Caesar’s adoptive son Octavian and Marc strong and wise, he won widespread sp Antony, who had served as a general under port. Augustus reigned until his death in Caesar. Antony eventually allied himself 14 CE. The empire he established would with Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen. But in last for hundreds of years. 31 BCE, Octavian’s forces defeated Antony THE FORUM WAS Rome’s main political, religious, and busi- ness center. Built on flat ground surrounded by the city’s hills, the forum was home to many important temples, monuments, and public buildings. The Roman senate met there, in a building called the Curia. l AUGUSTUS l CALIGULA WAS l NERO IS REMEM- Caesar, Rome’s cruel. Some say bered as the ruler first emperor, he wanted his who played his restored peace horse to be an fiddle while RULERS to Rome. official! Rome burned. Roman_Empire_2-3.indd 2 3/13/17 11:25 AM III (3) l UNDER AUGUSTUS’S l AUGUSTUS’S REIGN to Rome and sub- leadership, the marked the begin- mit to the Roman empire grew and ning of the Pax army’s control. The prospered. By the Romana (Roman Pax Romana ended end of his reign, Peace). For about during the reign of Rome controlled 200 years, the entire Emperor Marcus lands in Africa, Mediterranean world Aurelius (161–180 Asia, and Europe. remained remark- CE). Marcus (left) Augustus helped ably calm under faced revolts and unify this diverse Rome’s protection. invasions at the empire by granting Many provinces were empire’s borders citizenship to free allowed to govern in Syria, Germany, men in the prov- themselves, but they Britain, and else- inces. He also made had to pay taxes where. taxation fairer and tried to improve the TODAY lives of the poor. l TRAJAN, A l HADRIAN WAS A l MARCUS AURELIUS, l CONSTANTINE kind emperor, great emperor. last emperor of the made Constan- encouraged His architects Pax Romana, cam- tinople the capital education and built many mag- paigned against of the Eastern the arts. nificent buildings. the barbarians. Roman Empire. Roman_Empire_2-3.indd 3 3/13/17 11:25 AM IV (4) Trade and Money Roman Trade Network in 180 CE The emperor Augustus believed that Roman Empire building a network of roads across Internal Trade Route BRITAIN External Trade Route the empire was vital, not only for Londinium GERMANY conquests and defense but – just as important – for trade. The wealth GAUL that trade created allowed Roman (FRANCE) cltre to orish. ATLANTIC OCEAN Lugdunum Besides roads, the Mediterranean Arelate Sirmium Sea and the empire’s major rivers Rome Barcino served as essential trade routes. Thessalonica Byzantium Trapezus Ships carried millions of sacks of SPAIN GREECE ASIA MINOR grain from Egypt to Rome each year. Antiocha Each province of the empire pro- Carthage duced its own exports. For example, Leptis Magna Spain exported olive oil to other N Tyrus Alexandria provinces. W E ARABIA EGYPT The Romans traded far beyond S AFRICA their empire – with China, India, Persia, and non-Roman Africa. Silk cloth was a key import from China. Asian and African traders introduced the Romans to new spices. Pepper from India became a Roman favorite for cooking. Romans also used spic- l MATERIAL GOODS weren’t the only es to make medicines, cosmetics, things traded and perfumes. throughout the Roman Empire. There was also a busy trade in ideas and beliefs. The Romans spread their state religion across the lands they conquered. But the religions of the conquered peoples also made their way to Rome. Some Romans u THE ROMANS HAD value for each kind portrait. Augustus worshipped gods learned about the of coin so that and the emperors like Mithras (left), use of coins from traders across the who followed him from Persia, and the Greeks. But empire could use continued this Isis, from Egypt. it was not until the same money. practice. Most Greek philosophy 23 or 24 BCE that Coins were made Roman coins dis- also appealed to Augustus estab- of gold, silver, play the image of many Romans, lished a standard bronze, and cop- the emperor who who adopted the currency, or money, per. Julius Caesar ruled at the time ways of living for the whole had issued coins they were minted. recommended by empire. He set a stamped with his Greek thinkers. Roman_Empire_4-5_v2.indd 4 3/13/17 11:04 AM V (5) r THE ROMANS Roman Trade Network in 180 CE were master road- builders. Over centuries, they Roman Empire constructed 50,000 Internal Trade Route BRITAIN miles of roads link- External Trade Route GERMANY ing all parts of the Londinium empire. Their roads were higher in the middle and lower GAUL (FRANCE) at the sides so that ATLANTIC rainwater would Lugdunum drain into ditches. OCEAN The roads were Arelate Sirmium so well made that Rome stretches of Roman Barcino Thessalonica road still exist Byzantium Trapezus today in Europe, SPAIN GREECE ASIA Africa, and the MINOR Middle East. Antiocha Carthage Leptis Magna N Tyrus Alexandria W E ARABIA EGYPT S AFRICA u TRADE BETWEEN goods back and the Roman Empire forth along it. They and the far-off brought silk from land of China was China to the West made possible by and wool, gold, the Silk Road. The and silver from Silk Road was a the Roman Empire 4,000-mile path to China. Trade across central Asia. along this route u WHEREVER THEY cities that were bathhouses, the- So did Lyon, Teams of mer- reached its height went, the Roman modeled on Rome aters, and arenas. France; its ancient chants and their in about 200 CE, armies built forts. itself. Like the The city of London, Roman name was animals – camels, during China’s Han Some of these empire’s capital, England, originated Lugdunum. donkeys, and hors- dynasty. military outposts they had their own as a Roman city es – transported developed into forums, markets, called Londinium. Roman_Empire_4-5_v2.indd 5 3/13/17 11:04 AM VI (6) A PLATE OF ARMOR made of metal The Roman Army strips tied together The Roman Empire’s power with leather straps protected the upper came from its well-trained body. Although this army. Roman soldiers made metal jacket was heavy, the metal conquest possible. Once strips allowed the lands were captured, troops soldier some free- kept conquered peoples un- dom of movement. Soldiers had to der control and protected help each other the empire’s borders. put on and lace Roman soldiers were busy. up their armor. hen the werent fi ghting, the were ilding orts and ridges, sperising mines and arries, or making road repairs. On many days UNDER HIS METAL jacket, the the hiked miles carring soldier wore a 60-pound packs. tunic of wool. s emperor, gsts en acted dramatic reforms, or changes, to omes arm. SOLDIERS CARRIED He cut its size in half and or- metal-tipped throwing spears, ganied it into militar daggers, and nits called legions, each short, double- with a few thousand sol- edged swords. diers. or training and fi ght ing, each legion was split in to smaller grops, called centuries, of about 100 men THIS BELT, OR APRON, each. Their commanders of leather strips protected the were called centurions. lower body. Heavy ring the time o the re weights on the public, soldiers had been bottom of each strip kept the paid not with money, but apron in place. with alales taken rom the people they conquered. gsts changed this, too. e gae soldiers reglar pa THE SOLDIER’S and created a retirement heavy sandals were studded program or them. ecase with nails. of these reforms, more men made the army a career. The army became more profes- sional – and more loyal to Rome than to any one army leader. Roman_Empire_6-7.indd 6 3/13/17 11:06 AM VII (7) CENTURIONS AND r WHEN ATTACKING other command- a city, Roman ing officers wore soldiers sometimes crests on their linked their shields helmets so their above their heads soldiers could in what they called spot them easily the testudo, or tor- in battle. The hel- toise. The shields met covered and protected them protected the head from the stones without blocking and missiles vision. Flaps hurled by their protected the enemies. It made cheeks and neck. a roof so strong that other soldiers could walk over it. r THE ROMANS called this giant slingshot a ballista. It fired heavy rocks over 1,200 feet. CENTURIONS WORE red tunics under their armor. u THE SIGHT OF A huge battering ram struck fear in the THE SOLDIER’S hearts of Rome’s d CATAPULTS SENT rectangular shield enemies. Mounted spears soaring into was made of many on a wheeled the enemy’s camp. layers of thick platform, the ram Sometimes burning wood wrapped in pounded against rags were attached leather, with an the walls and gates to the tips of the iron rim at the top of a city or fort until spears.