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Rise of the Roman Empire
Mythological Founding of Rome—c. 758 – 728 B. C.
Apennine mountains in northern Tuscany
Sunny hills
Relatively flat terrain
Broad fertile plains
The EtruscansIn the late 8th century BC Greek colonizers arrived in the south and in Sicily; while in central Italy and the Po Valley came the ETRUSCANS.
Etruscan Rule Cast Off—509 B. C.
Seeds of Roman
Democracy
Overthrow of rule of Tarquinius Superbus
led to division of executive
power
Law of the 12
Tablets—405 B. C.
Putting the law in
writing
Tribunes elected from plebian
class to represent class interest
Tribunes had right of “veto” over any law they believed to be harmful to plebeian
interest
War as a democratizin
g agent
Roman Conquest by 4th Century B. C.
Mastering Italian Peninsula (c. 270 B. D.)
Battle for Sicily—the Punic Wars (264-246 B. C.)
Conquest of Greece (2nd century B. C.)
Hannibal and his father
The 2nd Punic War
Roman general Scipio Africanus—he attacked Carthage
Secret to Military Success
Courage
Loyalty
Devotion to duty
Simplicity
Hard workStyle of Conquest
Payment of taxes
Acknowledgement of Roman leadership
Supply soldiers for future Roman conquests
From Republic to Empire
Control of trade routes
Riches & grain from conquered provinces
Emergence of new wealthy class & the creation of latifundia
Disappearance of small farmer replaced by slave labor
Drastic widening of gap between rich & poor
Increased corruption, greed, self-interest
The PURPOSE of government
Efforts to ReformThe Gracchi Brothers—Tiberius
& Gaius 2nd Century B. C.
Gaius flees from wealthy Roman
elite
Tiberius on Roman Coin
Both were assassinated for trying to reform the government through redistribution of wealth
Julius Caesar
Public Works
Recognition of Provinces
Extension of Citizenship
Bid to be King
Augustus Caesar (Octavian)31 B.C. – A. D. 14
Power struggle with Mark Anthony—victorious after Battle of Actium (31B.C.)
Title princeps (first citizen) but exercised absolute power
Creation of stable government through creation of well-trained civil service to enforce the laws
Achievements of Augustus
• Efficient, well-trained civil service
• High level jobs open to men of talent regardless of class
• Allegiance of cities & provinces to Rome
• Tax system more equitable
• Postal service introduced
• Jobless put to work
Pax Romana1. Well-maintained roads facilitated travel & trade through the empire
2. The Roman army provided protection for travelers and traders
3. Roman and Greek ideas flowed freely as people moved throughout the empire
The Five Good Emperors
Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius
The High Point of Empire
A. D. 96-180
Roman AchievementsArt & Literature
Virgil’s Aeneid—showed Rome’s historic past attempting to portray it as heroic or more so that the history of Greece
Livy’s history—sought to rouse patriotic feeling & restore failing Roman virtues
Art (specifically sculpture) strove for not only accuracy but depicting character
Hadrian’s Wall
Sports Arenas
Roman Law
Accused allowed to face his accuser
People of the same status are equal before the law
Accused is innocent until proven guilty
Guilt must be clearly established through evidence
Decisions should be based on fairness
Roman law as applied to Roman citizens
War & Conquest as Agent Carrying Greco-Roman
Civilization
