Rome Location Rome is centrally located in the

Rome • Location – Rome is centrally located in the Mediterranean Basin and distant from Eastern Mediterranean powers. -Country – Italian peninsula -Alps mountains – provided protection -Mediterranean Sea – protection and sea-borne commerce -Rome became the center of trade

Rome is in a great location because: - It is sheltered from invasion by mountains and ocean - It is a perfect location for trading

Rome • Punic Wars – Rome vs. Carthage (264 – 146 B. C. /B. C. E. ) – Rome and Carthage (Africa) were in competition over trade. – Hannibal (general from Carthage) invaded the Italian Peninsula through the Alps. – Results: • Three wars resulted in Roman victory, destruction of Carthage and expanded trade and wealth for Rome.

Rome • Roman mythology was based on the Greek polytheistic religion – Mythology provided explanations of natural phenomena, human qualities, and life events • Roman gods/goddesses: 1. Jupiter – supreme god 2. Juno – Jupiter’s wife 3. Apollo – god of music and poetry 4. Diana – goddess of hunting and childbirth 5. Minerva – goddess of wisdom 6. Venus – goddess of love and beauty - Symbols and images of gods/goddesses used in literature, art, and architecture

Rome went through several stages of government: Roman Republic – government ran with input from people (similar to a democracy) Roman Empire/Imperial Rome – government ran by an emperor

Rome • Roman Republic (where voters elect officials to run the state) – Social structure • Upper class – Patricians – powerful nobility who controlled the government, few in number • Lower class – Plebeians – farmers and workers, majority of the population • Slaves – not based on race

Rome • Citizenship of the Roman Republic – Citizens were patrician and plebeian men. – Some selected foreigners who contributed to the Roman economy could be citizens. – Right and responsibilities included: vote, pay taxes, provide military service

Rome • Features of Roman democracy – Representative democracy – vote for leaders to represent the people – Assemblies – voted on laws and elected officials – The Senate – controlled public funds and decided foreign policy – Consuls – chief executives who represented the patricians (upper class) – Tribunes – represented the plebeians (lower class) – Laws of Rome codified as the Twelve Tables

Rome • Causes for the decline of the Roman Republic – Spread of slavery in the agricultural system – Migration of small farmers into cities = unemployment – Civil war over the power of Julius Caesar – Devaluation of Roman currency = inflation (when prices rise and demand falls) – Use of violence rises

Rome • Origin and evolution of Imperial Rome – First triumvirate (rule of 3) was formed: Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus – Julius Caesar – very popular general who seized power, civil wars over his power, assassinated by friends on the Ides of March (March 15) – Second triumvirate was formed: Marc Anthony, Octavian, Lepidus – Marc Anthony commits suicide

Aside on Julius Caesar: - very popular general who seized power, civil wars over his power, assassinated by friends on the Ides of March (March 15) Why was Julius Caesar assassinated? - Other politicians were afraid of his ambitions and popularity

Rome • Imperial Rome cont’d. – Augustus Caesar – civil wars over power, defeat of Marc Anthony, became Rome’s first emperor – The Roman Empire unified and enlarged, using imperial authority and the military. – There was failure to provide peaceful succession of Emperors.

Rome • Evolution of the Roman Empire and spread of Roman culture – In the Mediterranean basin, Rome spread to: • Africa, Asia, Europe (including the Hellenistic world of the Eastern Mediterranean) • Western Europe (Gaul/France, British Isles)

Rome • Pax Romana – Latin for Roman peace • 200 centuries of peace and prosperity under imperial rule • Led to the expansion and solidification of the Roman Empire, particularly in the Near East

Rome • Economic impact of the Pax Romana – Established uniform (same) system of money, which helped to expand trade – Guaranteed safe travel and trade on Roman roads – Promoted prosperity and stability • Social impact of the Pax Romana – Returned stability to social classes – Increased emphasis on the family

Rome • Political impact of the Pax Romana – Created a civil service – Developed uniform rule of law

Rome • New religion was introduced to Rome Christianity – Had its roots in Judaism – Was led by Jesus of Nazareth who was proclaimed the Messiah (Savior) – Conflicted with polytheistic beliefs of Roman Empire

Rome • Beliefs, traditions, and customs of Christianity – Monotheistic religion – Jesus was both the Son and incarnation (human form) of God – Life after death – New Testament – contained accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus, as well as writings of early Christians – Christian doctrine established by early church councils

Rome • Spread of Christianity – Carried by the Apostles (Paul) throughout the Roman Empire – Early martyrs (someone who suffers for a belief) inspired others – Slowed as a result of persecution by Roman authorities – Adopted and legalized by Emperor Constantine

Rome • Impact of the (Christian) Church of Rome in the late Roman Empire – Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and made it legal. – Christianity later became the official state religion. – The Church became a source of moral authority. – Loyalty to the Church became more important than loyalty to the Emperor. – The Church became the main unifying force of Western Europe.

Emperor Constantien - Constantine was the winner in a battle between co-emperors to become sole emperor - Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome and moved the capital to Istanbul (renaming it Constantinople)

Rome • Contributions of ancient Rome – – Art/architecture: Pantheon (temple for the gods), Colosseum (arena), Forum (center of government business) – Technology: roads, aqueducts (transported water to towns), Roman arches – Science: Ptolemy – Medicine: emphasis on public health (public baths, public water system, medical schools)

Rome • Contributions of Rome cont’d. – Language: Latin (origin of Romance languages – French, Spanish, Italian) – Literature: Virgil’s Aeneid (poem on the fall of Troy) – Religion: Roman mythology and the adoption of Christianity as the imperial religion – Law: the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” (from the Twelve Tables)

Rome • Why Rome fell: – Geographic size – difficulty of defense and administration – Economy – cost of defense and devaluation of Roman currency – Military – army membership starting to include non-Romans, resulting in decline of discipline

Rome • Causes for the decline of the Western Roman Empire cont’d. – Moral decay – people’s loss of faith in Rome and the family – Political problems – civil conflict and weak administration – Invasion – attacks on borders

Rome • Division of Roman Empire – Move of capital by Constantine from Rome to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople – Survival of Western Roman Empire until 476 A. D. /C. E. , when it ceased to have a Roman Emperor – Eastern Roman Empire renamed the Byzantine Empire