Day 1 The Roman Empire Copy notes from this Power Point (PPT) into your notebook. Crockett Co. Middle School Rome • 2 periods of Roman government. – Roman Republic • 509 BCE-30 BCE – Roman Empire • 30 BCE-476 CE Octavian Becomes Augustus • Octavian defeats Antony & Cleopatra @ battle of Actium becoming sole ruler of Rome • He had power to call the Senate, veto the Senate’s laws, & make laws himself • Began practice of declaring emperors gods • Jesus, founder of Christianity born during his reign Pax Romana – Roman Peace • Rome controlled most of the Mediterranean region & beyond – Complete control = almost no warfare • Nearly 200 years of peace & stability Emperors after Augustus • Variety in quality of emperors who succeeded Augustus • Emperor initially designed to be hereditary (passed down through family from generation to generation) – Led to confusion as to which family member inherits throne – Military played an role in selecting who would become emperor Emperors • Tiberius 14-37 CE: strengthened empire & abolished Assembly • Caligula 37-41 CE: assassinated by his guards • Claudius 41-54 CE: gained control of Britannia (which eventually became Great Britain) & conducted census of empire (48 CE: 5,984,072 Roman citizens) • Nero 54-68 CE: killed members of his families & blamed fire of Rome on Christians (he was actually accused of starting it & playing fiddle as Rome burned) Emperors • Year of the 4 Emperors (69 CE) • After Nero’s death, illustrated problems with imperial succession • Galba, Otho, Vitellius, & Vespasian • Vespasian 69-79 CE: built Colosseum & ruled during 1st Jewish Revolt (66-70 CE) • Trajan 98-117 CE: controlled more land than any other time of empire Emperors • Hadrian 117-138 CE: strengthened empire’s defenses (Hadrian’s Wall in UK) & put down 2nd Jewish Revolt • Marcus Aurelius 161-180 CE: end of his reign also ended the Pax Romana & succeeded by son Commodus (basis of “Galdiator”) • Diocletian 284-305 CE: divided empire into 2 administrative areas, Eastern (Byzantine) & Western (Roman) Empires Emperors • Constantine 312-337 CE: moved empire’s capital to Byzantium from Rome, Byzantium was renamed Constantinople, issued Edict of Milan (313 CE & allowed religious toleration), & converted to Christianity on deathbed • Justinian 527-565 CE: codified Roman law known as Justinian’s Code The Two Empires • Western (Roman) Empire – Officially ended 476 CE when last emperor, Romulus Augustus, was deposed by barbarian, Odoacer • Eastern (Byzantine) Empire – Lasted until 1453 when the empire was conquered by the Ottoman Turks Why did Rome fall? Economic Reasons Military Reasons • Gap between rich and poor • Armies were servants of • Impoverished workers Rome became tied to the land (sold • Armies supported some as the land was sold) emperors in return for pay • Fewer members of lower • Reliance on barbarian troops classes could buy goods, • Not ultimately loyal to Rome leading to decline of • Interested in obtaining manufacturing & trade riches, not defending Rome • Large estates became self- or furthering Rome’s sufficient, further hurting interests manufacturing & trade Why did Rome fall? Political Reasons Social Reasons • Decline in patriotism • Population decline due to • Democracy did not exist in hunger, plagues, & wars reality • Decline in intellectual culture • Citizens lost their voting rights • People spent leisure time • Most emperors did not inspire watching chariot races & respect or loyalty gladiatorial contests • East/West split created loyalty • Religious divisions problems • Eastern & Egyptian cults took • No orderly succession away popularity & status of • Murders, forced suicides, & traditional Roman religion civil wars often accompanied • New faiths like Christianity transition from one emperor to directly questioned & the next challenged concepts ex. imperial divinity Legacies of the Roman Empire • Administration of a vast empire The Romans did • Christianity not necessarily create and invent • Architecture (domes, arches, concrete) everything that they are • Engineering (Roman road system) commonly given • Historians credit for. What the Romans were • Jewish Diaspora best at was taking something (like • Literature (Latin Alphabet) the Etruscan • Roman law (all are = under law) arch), adapting it, and putting it to • Romance languages great use (such as in the • Transmission of Greek (Hellenistic) construction of culture aqueducts). .