The Rise and Fall of Rome

500 BC

476 AD

Pax Romana

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Rise of Rome

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Early Romans: • Latin- Early settlers of Rome• Etruscans- Northern Italy

– Eventually take control of Rome and build it into a great city.

– Build it on 7 hills for protection.

• 509 BC- Romans drive Etruscans out.

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Roman Government: Republic

• Republic - a government Republic - a government with elected representativeswith elected representatives

• Twelve TablesTwelve Tables

• PatriciansPatricians

• PlebeiansPlebeians

• SenateSenate

• ConsulsConsuls

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Roman government

• Patricians- wealthy landowners that controlled the republic.

• Consuls- two individuals that directed the daily affairs of government and led the army.– One-year terms

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The Senate

• 300-member council of patricians that made laws and served Rome–Most powerful part

of the Republic

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The Plebeians• The common people (common farmers, artisans, merchants)• Had no say in government• Allowed to take part in the assembly, but had less power than

the Senate.• Twelve Tables- 451 BCE

– Plebeians have Roman laws written.– Gives common people some protection against unfair

patrician decisions.

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The Punic Wars

• 264-202 BCE- Series of wars between Rome and Carthage for control of Mediterranean– Carthage – North African city founded by

Phoenicians.

• First Punic War (Rome wins)– Rome-superior army/Carthage-superior

navy– Rome gains Sicily – makes it a province

• Second Punic War (Rome wins)– Hannibal invades Italy.

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Hannibal• Carthaginian general• Invades Italy from the north via the Alps with

elephants.• Battle of Cannae

– Hannibal pulls back from Rome.– Romans believe he is retreating and follow.– Hannibal surrounds and defeats.

• Scipio- Roman general attacks Carthage– Hannibal tries to return home.– Defeats Hannibal at the Battle of Zama.

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Destruction of Carthage

• Romans burn it because it represented Hannibal.

• Survivors sold into slavery.• Becomes a Roman province along with

Greece and the Mediterranean.

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The Roman Republic in Crisis

• Hannibal’s invasion destroyed the farms.

• Newly conquered lands begin to import food into Rome.– Farmer income declines.– Latifundia (large estates) created.

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The Gracchus Brothers• Tiberius Gracchus

– Elected to tribune promising aid to the farmers

– Called for taking land and distributing it to the landless

• Limit farm size

• Gaius Gracchus– Gives grain to the poor– Opened more land to farmers– Secured more rights for the middle class

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More turmoil…• Romans originally stayed united due

to their fear of Carthage– No Carthage – nothing to fear

• Senate unable to provide effective leadership– Patricians become more concerned w/

keeping their power and wealth.

• Slave revolts!

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Spartacus

• 73 BCE

• Proclaims war on Rome in attempt to free the slaves.

• 2 years of successful revolts

• Eventually killed along with 6000 followers.

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The rise of dictators

• Dictator- one person w/ absolute power• Military loyalty came from loyalty to Rome.• Gaius Marius

– Ensures loyalty of troops by promising loot from conquered lands.

• Lucius Sulla– Rival to Marius– Bloody wars over power– Kills Marius and becomes dictator of Rome.

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First triumvirate• 60 BCE- Three army generals unite to rule Rome.

– Pompey – Crassus – Julius Caesar

• Caesar becomes consul and commands the Roman legions in Gaul.– Conquers Gaul (France) and England.

• Pompey gets support from Senate.– Orders Caesar to return home w/out the army.

• Caesar invades Rome w/ army and defeats Pompey.– Becomes a “hero of the empire.”

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Julius Caesar• Reforms Rome

1. Reorganized government with him as dictator.

2. Lowered taxes.

3. Makes governors responsible to him.

4. Grants citizenship to conquered peoples.• March 15, 44 BCE- Caesar assassinated

– Stabbed in the Senate as many became jelious– Augustus Caesar becomes next ruler– Pax Romana (a period of peace: 27 BC to 395 AD)

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The Roman Empire

• Augustus Caesar gains control of the following:– Military

• Takes complete control of army• Gives veterans bonuses of land.

– Provinces• Supervised all the governors.

– Loyalty to Rome• Granted citizenship to more conquered

peoples of Europe.

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Second triumvirate• Mark Antony• Lepidus• Octavian• Created by Mark Antony

– Falls in love w/ Cleopatra, queen of Egypt

• Octavian crushes the combined fleet of Antony and Cleopatra.

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Octavian• 31 BCE- creates the Roman Empire

• Allows Senate to keep some power, but he would retain sole rulership.

• Changes name to Augustus– “honored and majestic”

• Takes title of “Caesar”– “first citizen”

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Pax Romana

• ““The Roman Peace”- 27-180 ADThe Roman Peace”- 27-180 AD– Period of peace and prosperity.Period of peace and prosperity.

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Tiberius

• 14-37 AD

• Augustus’ stepson

• Plots and violence become common in Roman politics.

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Caligula

• Cruel and insane

• Rules for 4 years–Assassinated by his imperial

guard.

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Claudius

• 41-54 AD

• Restores order to the Roman Empire.

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Nero• Claudius’ stepson• Becomes Emperor at age 17.• Becomes bloodthirsty and violent.

– Murders own mother for criticizing his mistress.

• Rome burns in 64 AD.– Nero blames the Christians.

• Army rebels against him, and he commits suicide.

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Vespasian

• The year after Nero’s death, 2 emperors are assassinated and 1 commits suicide.

• Chosen by military as emperor of Rome.

• Restores discipline in the army and the administration of the Empire.– Puts down revolts in Judaea and Gaul.

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Nerva

• Vespasian's sons rule for almost 10 years.

• Senate chooses Nerva as the new emperor in 96 AD.

• Establishes the adoptive system. – Adopts a son and declares him the

heir to the throne.

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Trajan

• 98-117 AD

• Adopted son of Nerva.

• Spanish-born

• Wise and popular– Eases tax burden.

• Empire reaches its greatest size.

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Hadrian

• 117-138 AD

• Devoted to protecting the Empire, rather than expanding it.

• Creates Palestine out of Jewish territory.– Encourages non-Jews to live there.

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Marcus Aurelius• Last of the adopted emperors

– “Good Emperors”

• Abandons the adoptive system and chooses his own son as the new emperor– Commodus – unfit to rule– End of the Pax Romana

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Roman Empire is divided into the Western Empire and the Eastern Empire by Diocletian and Constantine

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Fall of Rome

• Empire was too large

• Increase use of slaves put Romans out of work

• Prices increased• Corruption• Decrease in trade• Invasions: Franks,

Visigoths, Huns, Vandals, Saxons

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