Rome Robert Gearhart 8/25/2018

Early Roman History Legendary founding of the city of Rome in 753 BC Founders were the brothers Romulus and Remus Site occupied as early as 800 BC? 8/25/2018

The Etruscans Dominated by the Etruscans Overthrown 509 BC Occupied northern Italy Created many of Rome’s cultural legacies Overthrown 509 BC Established a Republic 8/25/2018

The Roman Republic (509-31 BC) Major tensions existed between the patricians (rich) and plebeians (poor) Known as the Struggle of the Orders Theme dominated Rome’s history By 264 BC, plebeians had achieved equal rights with patricians Major tensions existed for the rest of Roman history between rich and poor 8/25/2018

Structure of Roman Government 8/25/2018

Roman Expansion From 509 BC on, Rome expanded throughout the Italian peninsula By 264 BC, Rome was to expand beyond Italy Tried to occupy the island of Sicily Fought 3 wars for control of the Mediterranean with the North African city-state of Carthage Known as the Punic Wars 264-146 BC 8/25/2018

Roman Expansion After 169 BC, Rome began to absorb the Greek city-states Absorbed Greek Hellenistic culture Also moved in Asia Minor and northern Europe 8/25/2018

The End of the Roman Republic Roman expansion caused trouble within the government Expansion caused the rich to get richer Relied on landowners for military service Landowners could not farm land while they were off fighting wars 8/25/2018

The End of the Roman Republic Meant that farms went bankrupt and were absorbed by richer farmers Meant that the small landowners were forced out of military service Latifundia By 100 BC, the problem was to maintain a minimum number of troops in the army 8/25/2018

Reformers: Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus First attempt to reform the system 133 BC 123 BC Tried to reform land ownership laws Patricians Murdered by Senate 8/25/2018

Civil Wars: 1st Stage Between 91 BC and 31 BC, Rome fought 3 civil wars that ended the Republic Marius Reformed the army in 100 BC Ended the connection between land ownership and military service Generals paid the troops 8/25/2018

Sulla Aide to Marius Defeated Marius in 83 BC Murdered all his opponents Died in 79 BC Reinforced privileges of the wealthy 8/25/2018

Civil Wars: 2nd Stage Julius Caesar 100 BC-44 BC Nephew of Marius Formed 1st Triumvirate in 59 BC Caesar Pompey Crassus Caesar won in 48 BC Tried to reform the system Murdered in 44 BC 8/25/2018

Civil War: 3rd Stage 2nd Triumvirate formed after Caesar’s murder Marc Antony Lepidus Octavian (Augustus) Octavian won in 31 BC Reformed the system 8/25/2018

The Roman Empire Octavian established the Principate in 27 BC, ending the civil wars and started the empire First Emperors were able to establish peace and prosperity, with a few minor interruptions Pax Romana Lasted until 180 AD 8/25/2018

Fall of the Empire After 180 AD Faced a series of barbarians invasions Huns moved west from China and forced all other tribes to move west into the Empire 8/25/2018

Fall of the Roman Empire Series of civil wars that lasted over 100 years Destroyed the economy Empire focus moved east after 330 AD Capital moved to new city of Constantinople Empire officially split into East and West in 395 AD Christianity adopted as the official religion. Western Empire fell in 476 AD Eastern Empire remained until 1453 AD 8/25/2018