■ Essential Question: – What were the lasting characteristics of the Roman Republic & the Roman Empire? ■ Warm-Up Question: – What is Hellenism? – Why was Alexander of Macedonia considered “great”?

In addition to Greece, a significant classical civilization was ancient Rome

Impact of Geography on Rome: Identify 1 geographic feature & propose how it might impact the culture of Rome

The Geography of Rome Rome was located on the Italian peninsula along the Mediterranean Sea The Romans were influenced by the Greeks & neighboring Etruscans

The Roman Republic ■ In 509 BCE the Romans overthrew the last Etruscan king and established a republic. ■ Enemies surrounded Rome, so the young republic began a long period of continuous warfare.

The Culture of Ancient Rome Roman religion was polytheistic & based on the Greek gods (usually only the names changed)

The Culture of Ancient Rome Roman writing was called Latin & was based on Greek writing

The Culture of Ancient Rome Roman architecture borrowed heavily from Greek styles Like Greek agoras, Roman cities had a forum for markets & public gatherings

The Culture of Ancient Rome Society was divided among 3 major groups: At the top were the nobles, called patricians, who controlled most of the land & held key military & gov’t positions (made up 5% of Roman citizens) wealthy landowners that controlled the republic

The Life of the Patricians

Ancient Rome Society was divided among 3 major groups: Most people were commoners, called plebeians, who were farmers, shopkeepers, or peasants; Plebeians paid the majority of taxes (made up 95% of Roman citizens) -could vote -had less power

The Life of the Plebeians

The Culture of Ancient Rome Society was divided among 3 major groups: At the bottom of society were slaves & other non-Roman citizens

Quick Class Discussion: Based upon this image, what was Roman government like?

The Government of Ancient Rome Rome was originally ruled by kings, but in 509 B.C. the Romans created a republic A republic is a form of government in which citizens have the power to elect their leaders

© 2010, TESCC 17 Roman government ■C■Consuls- two individuals that directed the daily affairs of government and led the army. –O–One-year terms

The most important feature of the republic was the Senate, whose 300 members were elected by citizens to make laws & taxes

Senate ■ 300 member council ■ made laws and served Rome – Most powerful part of The Republic

The Government of Ancient Rome In 451 B.C., government officials wrote down Rome’s laws onto the Twelve Tables which were hung in the forum for all citizens to see The Twelve Tables were based on the idea that all citizens had a right to the protection of the law

By the 3 rd century B.C., the Romans conquered the Italian peninsula & began to exert power in the Mediterranean world But, the growth of Rome threatened Carthage, the superpower of the Mediterranean world

In a series of battles known as the Punic Wars, Rome defeated Carthage & began the dominant power in the Mediterranean

After the Punic Wars, Rome conquered new territories & gained great wealth One of the generals who led Rome’s expansion was a politician named Julius Caesar

Problems for the Roman Republic ■ Rome’s expansion brought wealth, but also created problems: – The addition of new lands & sources of slave labor increased the gap between the rich & poor – Generals who controlled the armies became more powerful than the politicians in the Senate – Struggles for power led to a series of civil wars in Rome

Collapse of the Republic ■ Sulla’s (a general) seizure of Rome led to 50 years of civil war. ■ Three men emerged victorious and became Rome’s first triumvirate. – Crassus- power based on wealth than military power; especially since Pompey took credit for downing the Spartacus Rebellion – Pompey – military commander – Julius Caesar – equestrian, war hero ■ Crassus was killed off quickly.

The First Triumvirate  Julius Caesar  Crassus  Pompey ■ Meant to rule together, but each wants power.

PompeyPompey Civil War & Dictators Julius Caesar

Senate Chooses Pompey ■ The senate ordered Julius Caesar to give up his command. ■ He refused. ■ He kept his loyal army and moved into Italy illegally by crossing the Rubicon River. ■ Caesar wins! CaesarCaesar defeated defeated Pompey and Pompey and became became dictator dictator in 47BCE in 47BCE

Julius Caesar ■ Reforms Rome 1.Reorganized government with him as dictator. 2.Lowered taxes. 3.Makes governors responsible to him. 4.Grants citizenship to conquered peoples. 5.Jobs for poor (public buildings) He filled the Senate with his supporters toHe filled the Senate with his supporters to weaken its power.

Beware the Ides of March! 44 BCE A group of senators assassinated Caesar in 44BCE.A group of senators assassinated Caesar in 44BCE. Marks the end of the RepublicMarks the end of the Republic

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare Eulogy given by Marc Antony Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; *Julius Caesar – was he good or bad?

The assassination led to another civil war led by Caesar’s adopted nephew Octavian & his best general, Marc Antony

The Second Triumvirate  Octavian (Caesar’s adopted son)  Mark Antony (A general)  Lepidus (Powerful politician)

The Second Triumvirate ■ Octavian, Antony and Lepidus ■ Octavian and Antony divided the Roman world between themselves; – Antony took the east He married Cleopatra, though he was already married, to add Egypt to Rome. – Octavian took the west He defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle Actium in 31 BCE. Both fled Egypt and committed suicide a year later. – A new period of Roman history was ushered in The Age of Augustus Octavian took the title of Augustus which means: exalted one or emperor

End of the Republic & Rise of the Empire ■ Caesar’s death changed Rome: – People no longer trusted the Senate to rule Rome & the Roman Republic came to an end & the empire began

The Rise of the Roman Empire Octavian emerged as the unchallenged leader of Rome, was given the title Augustus (“Exalted One”), & became Rome’s first emperor Under Augustus, Rome was ruled as an empire; the Senate still met but the emperor had all the real power

© 2010, TESCC The Pax Romana Augustus’ 41 year reign marked the beginning of a 207-year era of peace, wealth, & expansion known as the Pax Romana (“the Roman Peace”) from 27 B.C. to 180 A.D. Pax Romana Pax Romana

During the Pax Romana, the empire expanded to its height & brought great wealth to Rome

The Pax Romana became the “golden age” of Rome as emperors like Augustus built roads & a merit-based bureaucracy to rule the empire Roman aqueducts brought water to cities

The Roman Military Rome was protected by an advanced army that was divided into groups of 5,000 soldiers called legions Each legion was divided into smaller groups of 80 men called a century

Conclusions ■ Rome expanded from a city, to a republic, to an empire – The era of the Roman Republic introduced representative democracy – The era of the Roman Empire sparked the Pax Romana & the “golden age” of Roman innovation & culture

Closure Activity ■ Would you rather live during the Roman Republic or the Empire? – Provide at least 3 reasons why