TheTheRoman Roman EmpireEmpire

The Greeks Shape bronze statues so real they The Greeks Shape bronze statues so real they

seem to breathe, seem to breathe,And carve cold marble until it almost comes And carve cold marble until it almost comes to to life. life.The Greeks compose great orations, and The Greeks compose great orations, and measuremeasureThe heavens so well they can predict the The heavens so well they can predict the risingrising of the stars. of the stars.But you, Romans, remember your great arts:But you, Romans, remember your great arts:To govern the peoples with authority,To govern the peoples with authority,To establish peace under the rule of law,To establish peace under the rule of law,To conquer the mighty, and show them, To conquer the mighty, and show them, mercy once they are conquered. mercy once they are conquered. -Aeneid VI, 847-853 -Aeneid VI, 847-853

TheTheRoman Roman EmpireEmpire

I.I. Beginnings of Roman Beginnings of Roman CivilizationCivilization: as Greek : as Greek civilization began to civilization began to decline, Roman decline, Roman civilization was civilization was developing and developing and increasing its power.increasing its power.

II.II. PoliticsPolitics::1. 1. RepublicRepublic—form of —form of government in which government in which power rests with power rests with citizens who have the citizens who have the right to vote to select right to vote to select their leaders their leaders (citizens (citizens = free born males)= free born males)

B.B. Power struggle Power struggle between two groups:between two groups:

1. 1. PatriciansPatricians——aristocratic aristocratic landowners who landowners who held most held most of the power. of the power.

2.2. PlebeiansPlebeians—the common —the common farmers, artisans and farmers, artisans and merchants who made up merchants who made up the majority of the the majority of the populationpopulation

a. Plebeians were a. Plebeians were banned from banned from the most important the most important political political positions by law positions by law

3. 3. TribunesTribunes——representatives representatives elected by plebeians elected by plebeians to protect their to protect their rightsrights

C.C.ConsulsConsuls—two —two officials who officials who commanded the commanded the army and directed army and directed the governmentthe government

1. Elected for one 1. Elected for one yearyear

D. D. SenateSenate—300 —300 members chosen members chosen from aristocracy from aristocracy who controlled who controlled foreign and financial foreign and financial policiespolicies

III.III. MilitaryMilitary: all citizens : all citizens were expected to were expected to serve in the armyserve in the army

A. A. LegionLegion——Roman Roman military military unit—unit— 5,000 skilled 5,000 skilled Roman Roman soldierssoldiers

B.B. Their skills play an Their skills play an important role in important role in Rome’s rise to Rome’s rise to greatnessgreatness

1. 1. The Punic WarsThe Punic Wars—Rome —Rome won war with Carthage won war with Carthage and gained control of and gained control of the Mediterranean Sea the Mediterranean Sea from Anatolia (Turkey) from Anatolia (Turkey) to Spainto Spain

IV.IV. Rapid growth of Rome Rapid growth of Rome creates problemscreates problems: : increasing wealth and increasing wealth and expanding empire expanding empire brought many brought many problems:problems:

A.A. ProblemsProblems::

1. Increasing 1. Increasing unemploymentunemployment2. Corruption of 2. Corruption of wealthy and wealthy and powerful powerful3. Growing gap 3. Growing gap between rich between rich and and poor poor

a. a. RESULTRESULT = = Civil WarCivil War——conflict between conflict between groups within the groups within the same country same country

V. V. Julius CaesarJulius Caesar: : strong strong leader who leader who is appointed is appointed absolute absolute ruler (total ruler (total power) 44 power) 44 B.C. and B.C. and succeeds in succeeds in bringing bringing order to order to Rome Rome

A.A. Caesars ReformsCaesars Reforms::1. Granted citizenship to 1. Granted citizenship to many many people in the people in the provincesprovinces2. Expanded the Senate2. Expanded the Senate3. Created jobs through 3. Created jobs through construction of construction of

new public new public buildings buildings4. Increased pay4. Increased pay for soldiers for soldiers

B.B. March 15, 44 B.C.March 15, 44 B.C.——Ides Ides of Marchof March—Resentment —Resentment over Caesar’s absolute over Caesar’s absolute power ended when power ended when Marcus Brutus and Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius Gaius Cassius assassinated assassinated Caesar by stabbing Caesar by stabbing him in the Senate him in the Senate chamberchamber

1.1. Brutus and Cassius Brutus and Cassius wanted to protect the wanted to protect the Republic Republic that Caesar threatened that Caesar threatened with his dictatorshipwith his dictatorship

Obituary of CaesarObituary of Caesar::1. Who was he?1. Who was he?2. How did he die?2. How did he die?3. Why did Brutus and 3. Why did Brutus and Cassius Cassius kill him? kill him?4. What did he 4. What did he accomplish accomplish in his lifetime? in his lifetime?*Use page 147 to help *Use page 147 to help with additional with additional information! information!