Chapter 2 Lesson 1 The Expansion and Fall

Chapter 2, Lesson 1: The Expansion and Fall of Rome

2 -1: The Rise and Expansion of Rome

Origins of Rome • 700 - 500 BCE - The Italian peninsula is inhabited by three main cultural groups (Latins, Greeks, and Etruscans) • Latins built the original settlement of Rome on a series of 7 hills along the banks of the Tiber River in central Italy • Cool, rainy winters made land great for farming • Location near the Apennines Mountain range protected the city from severe weather, safe from invasion • Tiber River acted as a highway for trade

A Kingdom Emerges • Sometime during the 8 th century BCE, Rome became a kingdom • A series of kings ruled Rome for several centuries • Many of the kings were related to the Etruscans, a powerful group north of Rome • Tarquin the Proud was the last king to rule Rome • Romans rose up in 510 BCE and drove Tarquin from power because of his harsh rule • Romans refused to accept another king and moved towards a more democratic, republican government

From Republic to Empire • The Romans established a republic, a form of government in which power rests with citizens that vote to elect leaders • For the next 500 years, the Romans used a system of government that would later become a model for modern nations (i. e. the USA) • All male citizens had a voice in the government (they could vote) • Wealthier people had greater influence, women had few rights • Roman government limited the power of one person in the government (checks and balances) • At the head of the government were two consuls (limited power, one year term, Senate could check their power)

The Roman Army • Rome had a powerful, wellorganized citizen army • Used the army to expand their territory • Rome conquered all of Italy and other nearby lands • 264 - 146 BCE - Roman forces defeat a powerful North African empire known as Carthage (the Punic Wars) • This war allowed the Romans to control the Mediterranean Sea

Decline of the Republic • As the empire grew larger, maintaining order became more difficult • Tensions rose between classes of people and erupted into a civil war • 45 BCE - a powerful Roman general named Julius Caesar brought Rome order and named himself as the sole ruler • 44 BCE - Political opponents assassinate Caesar • Caesar’s adopted son Octavian takes power and the title “Augustus, ” which means “divine one”

Rome Becomes an Empire • Under Augustus, Rome became an empire, a group of different cultures or territories held by a single all-powerful ruler • The ruler of an empire is an emperor • Augustus was a careful, brilliant leader who made a strong government that took power from the Senate • He oversaw a time of peace and prosperity known as the “Pax Romana” • Augustus died in 14 ACE, but the policies he made allowed Rome to grow stronger

Rome at its height 2, 000 sq. mi. - 50, 000 miles of roads stretching from Britain to Spain to North African to Mesopotamia - 60, 000 people including Celts, Germans, North Africans, Greeks, Italians, Jews, Syrians, Egyptians etc.

The Rise of Christianity • At the height of Rome’s power, a new religion known as Christianity spread across the empire • From it’s emergence in Judea on the eastern border of Rome, Christianity emerged to become the most popular religion in the world • Christianity is based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe is the son of God • Jesus was born in the Roman province of Judea sometime between 6 and 4 BCE • He was Jewish and practiced Judaism • Many of Jesus’ teachings were based on Judaism (belief in one god); he also taught to love God, neighbors, and even your enemies • He taught that God created a kingdom in heaven for all people who followed his teachings

Jesus’ Impact • Jesus began his teachings as a young adult • He achieved a great following, which troubled both local Jewish and Imperial Roman rulers • They viewed him as a threat, arrested him for sedition, and crucified him (common Roman punishment for slaves and pirates) • According to Christian belief, Jesus rose from the dead and went to heaven • His followers continued to spread his teachings at great risk (Christians refused to worship or honor Roman gods, and many were imprisoned or killed) • Christianity continued to spread throughout the empire as it was popular with poor people, slaves, women, and others out of the mainstream of Roman society