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
Top Related