Ancient Rome and the Origins of Christianity Lesson 2: The Roman Empire: Rise and Decline
BELLWORK Answer the following question with your neighbor: What events led to Rome becoming an empire?
Lesson 2 Objectives Identify the events leading to the decline of the Roman Republic Summarize the fundamental ideas and institutions of Western civilizations that originated in Rome Explain how and why the Roman empire divided Identify the factors that led to the decline and fall of Rome
Empire Building Through Conquest Rome began building an empire around the Mediterranean Sea after the republic was stable It brought Rome wealth Yet it created conflicts that divided Roman society and weakened the republic - eventually causing it to fall apart The Roman Empire arose from those ashes
Carthage A city-state on the coast of North Africa Settled by the Phoenician traders and the people of North Africa Ruled over a vast trading empire that stretched across North Africa and the western Mediterranean This territorial grab caused competition between Carthage and Rome
The Punic Wars 264 B.C.E. to 146 B.C.E. Rome and Carthage fought three wars 1st Rome defeated Carthage and won the islands of Sicily, Corsica, and Sardina 2nd Hannibal attacked Rome in an elaborate northern invasion, winning battles for 15 years Yet Rome counter attacked Carthage itself, which was unexpected
The Punic Wars Rome won all of Carthage s lands outside of Africa, paid a huge tax to Rome, giving Rome control of the Mediterranean 3rd Rome completely destroyed Carthage, the survivors were sold as slaves or killed Carthage became a province of Rome
Ruler of the Mediterranean Romans followed the policy of imperialism in Carthage and much of the Mediterranean Rome fought Carthage in the west In the east Rome confronted the Hellenistic rulers of those who had divided up the empire of Alexander the Great
War With Purpose Rome would start war for the gain of the wealth of the area Provinces like Macedonia, Greece, and other parts of Asia Minor came under Roman control Egypt and other areas became their allies
Impacts to Rome Increased territory and the greatly expanded trade brought incredible wealth to Rome Generals, officials, and traders became wealthy - creating a new social class They built mansions and imported goods from the east They also created latifundia
Impacts to Rome Rome acquired new slaves with every new province Well educated Greeks and highly skilled workers were prized and well cared for They were welcome in the homes and often were there to educate the children
Slaves Change Things Slave labor hurt the independent farmers who could not compete in the market against slave driven farms They had to sell their lands because of debt, leaving them homeless, and many flocked to Rome Here angry people began to riot
Social Changes The newly found wealth of the new Rome changed society as well The gaps between rich and poor grew wider and wider with this wealth Also corruption increased as well Greed and self-interest replaced the virtues of the early republic
Reforms Tiberius was elected as tribune called on the state to distribute land to the poor farmers Gais wanted to use public funds to buy grain to feed the poor These reforms angered the Senate Hired thugs killed the brothers and thousands of their supporters
The Republic Declines 100 years of civil war kept Rome fighting itself The fight was focused on if the senate should hold power or popular political leaders should rule Slave uprisings at home and provinces revolted as well The army becomes loyal to their commanders only
Julius Caesar An ambitious military commander He and Pompey dominated Roman politics for a time Caesar conquered Gaul after nine years which scared the Senate because of the power he wielded He was ordered to disband his army and return to Rome - he defied the order and started another civil war
Caesar s Reforms He took control of Rome, forcing the Senate to make him dictator He became absolute ruler of Rome He tried to deal with Rome s problems Public works to employ the jobless, fixed the governments of the provinces, changed citizenship He also created a new calendar
Caesar s Death Many feared that Caesar was becoming to powerful, like a king His enemies stabbed him to death on the floor of the Senate - to save the republic This plunged Rome into another civil war - with Octavian rising as the victor
The Roman Empire Octavia was given the title Augustus Exalted One and declared him princeps - first citizen He had absolute power over Rome He became the first emperor of Rome
Reforms for Government Moderate policies created a stable government, ending the civil wars The Senate was in power still and a well-trained civil service was used to enforce the laws High level jobs were open to all men of talent, regardless of their class Provinces were given a high level of self government
Reforms to Economics The tax system was adjusted for equality A census was created to record who should be taxed A postal service was created to ship goods Jobless were given labor jobs to build roads and temples and others were sent to farm the land
Problems of Leadership For over 200 years the empire functioned well The only problem that keeps coming up is the only question: Who would rule after an emperor died? There was always intrique and violence when a new emperor was needed
Emperors Not all emperors were as good as Augustus with some weak and others incompetent There were those that have been proved to be insane as well Good emperors made Rome strong, codified laws, and unified the provinces
The Pax Romana The 200 years from when Augustus unified Rome under his leadership to the end of Marcus Aurelius s reign Peace, order, unity, and prosperity of land expanded over a vast area of land The military provided peace and maintained roads, trade was profitable
Bread and Circuses Entertainment of the people of Rome Circus Maximus held chariot racing Gladiator competitions These were distractions from the social and economic problems of Rome
The Roman Empire Splits Rome faced threats from the inside and the outside Politics, economic problems, foreign invasions all hurt the empire This began at the end of the republic and the emperors were only able to slow down the decay
Politics Power struggles and violence replaced order Ambitious generals seized power using the legions, but there were only able to hold power for a few months or years
Economic and Social Issues High taxes were used to support the army The bureaucracy placed heavy burdens on business people and small farms Many farms were over cultivated and under producing Farmers were tied to the land even though they were technically free
The Empire Divided In 284 the emperor Diocletian decided to restore order To handle governing the empire he decided to divide it into two parts He remained ruler of east, and appointed a ruler for the west He fixes priced to slow inflation, and forced families to stay in the same professions to promote stability
Constantine A talented general He granted Christians toleration He set up a new capital in Byzantium, Constantinople Made the east very popular
Rome Faces Invasion The Germanic people invaded the borders, yet eventually these people became allies They had a common enemy - the Huns United bands of Visigoths, Ostrogoths, and other Germanic peoples fought the Huns across the Roman empire
Loss of Territory Rome struggled to hold these people off and had to pull back from the border areas Rome began to slowly crumble away Rome lost their lands all over Gaul, Spain, and North Africa Other peoples begin to occupy the lands Rome once controlled