All roads lead to Rome as illustrated by People’s and Empires

ByEric James

• Humble beginnings as a community of farmers in 7th Century B.C.

• Rose to power in 168 B.C.– Replaced Macedon as the dominant world power.– Filled the power vacuum created by the death of

Alexander the Great and subsequent fall of Macedonian rule.

Origins of Rome

• Began as a Republic.– Became too large for Senate to effectively control.– Julius Caesar rose to power through seizure and retention of consular

powers (designed for emergency defense).• Transition to Empire.

– Caesar assassinated by his own Senate.– Massive power vacuum leads to civil war.– Octavius Augustus brought an end to the civil war, declaring himself

Emperor and stripping the Senate of much of its authority.• Empirical Ambitions.

– The more empirical Rome became, the more militaristic its focus.– Became a “population in arms” constantly defending or acquiring territory.– Enforced Empirical laws as codified by the Twelve Tables.

Roman Rise to Power

• Division of the Empire.– Power struggles, individual ambitions, and civil wars led to a division

between East and West.• Rome was the capital of the West.• Constantinople the capitol of the East.

– Empire gradually weakened as the “barbarians” infringed upon and harassed Roman lands.• The great city of Rome was sacked several times by invaders.• Eventually fell to the Vandals and Visigoths.• Constantinople lived on under the Byzantines, preserving Roman influence.

• Final deposition of Rome.– Constantinople overthrown by Ottoman Turks.

• City is renamed Istanbul and would serve as the Capital of the Ottoman Empire.

The Fall of Rome