CHAPTER 6SECTION 2

The Roman Empire

Key Terms

Civil WarJulius CaesarTriumvirateAugustusPax Romana

Problems in the Late Republic

Rome had no rival 100BC

Tension between classes

Tribune Gracchi-soldiers reduced to poverty

Tiberius- younger brother gave them public lands

Social Unrest

Roman elite did not like it

Senate urged mobs to kill Tiberius and Garius

First time Roman blood shed in the Forum

Violence becomes a political tool

The Military in Politics

• Breakdown in the military

• Replaced citizen soldier• Eliminated property

restriction for joining the military

• Poor hoped to share the plunder

• Private forces devoted to general

• Tool to increase their power

Rome Becomes an Empire

• 60 BC led for the next ten years

• First triumvirate– Julius Caesar (Gaul

modern France)– Gnaeus Pompey

(syria, Asia Minor)– Licinius Crassius

• Caesar and Pompey military commanders

Rome Becomes an Empire

Crassus one of the wealthiest in Rome

Crassus diesCaesar and Pompey

fight a civil warSenate declared Caesar

dictator for life.Gave citizenship to

people in provincesExpanded the Senate,

adding friend and supporters

Rome Becomes an Empire

Gave public land to veterans

Senators thought he would destroy Rome

Senate murders Caesar Ides of March

The Second Triumvirate

Octavia, Marc Anthony, Lepidus

Lepidus pushed asideOctavia and Anthony

fight civil warOctavia wins defeats

Anthony and Cleopatra

From Octavia to Augustus

Octavia sole rulerCreated political

orderPrinceps or first

citizenSenate gave title of

Augustus “the revered one”

Given the right to wear a crown and laurel

The Augustan Age

Augustus lead for 49 years

Divided power with the Senate

Conquests in Spain and Gaul and the Danube River

Set up civil serviceCreated police force,

fire brigade

The Augustan Age

“I found Rome built of bricks. I leave her clothed in marble.”

Made moral and religious reforms

Produced many great writers

Poets Horace and Ovid

The Good Emperors

The Empire grew tremendously

Trajan Rome was its largest

Hadrian- withdrew and built defensive fortifications

73 mile long wall in Britian

The Pax Romana

27 BC to AD 180- called Roman peace

Stable government Strong legal system Widespread trade

Peace enduredGovernment seldom

interrupted by war or invasion

Pax Romana

• Government– Strongest unifying force– Maintained order– Enforced the laws– Defended frontiers

• Members of Aristocracy participated in government

• Emperors made important decisions

Pax Romana

Empire divided into provinces

Provincial government fairer, more efficient

Cities governed like Rome

Senate, magistrates, Theatres, public baths, temples

Legal System

Unified the EmpireSpecifies what could

or could not be donePunishmentsApplied to all citizens

Trade and Transportation

Agriculture primary occupation

Independent farmersManufacturing

increased Spain, Gaul, Italy

made cheap pottery and textiles

Alexandria- glassware

Trade and Transportation

• Imported– Grain, wheat– Meat– Raw materials– Silk, linens– Glassware and jewelry

• Rome’s location• 50,000 miles of roads• Built for military• Cheaper to send by

ship

Slaves and Captivity

Important to Roman economy

Made more use of slaves than previous civilizations

Property of ownersHealthy males forced

to become gladiators1 million slaves lost

their lives attempting freedom

Gods and Goddesses

Numina-powerful sprits worshipped by early Romans

Lares- guardian of the spirits of each family

Government and religion were linked

Jupiter- father of the gods

Worship of the emperor became part of religion

Society and Culture

Rich lived extravagantly

Large sums of money on homes, gardens and slaves

Gave banquets that lasted for hours Served ostrich egg Served parrot tongue

Most people unemployed

Society and Culture

Government gave daily ration of grain

People lived in tenements

For a distraction government provided Games, races gladiator

contests 150 holidays a year Colosseum would fill

with 50,000 people

Society and Culture

Rich and poor attended the games

Animal shows Bears and tigers would

fight Animals from distant

lands Gladiators fought

animals Gladiators fought each

other to the death