Ancient Rome (509 BC-476 AD)

I. Ancient villages along the Tiber River form the city of Rome in the 700’s BC, Romans were very influenced by the Greeks

A. Roman Government- established world’s first republic- democratic government in which people vote for representatives to run the government & vote in the Senate

Roman Architecture

ARCH OF TITUS

Senatus Populusque Romanus (Roman Senate & People)

Roman Latin Alphabet A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V X Y Z

Countries that use the Latin Alphabet

1. Republic establishes highly disciplined and organized army divided into legions, each with 6,000 soldiers

The Roman Legions

Spoils of War

2. By 265 BC, Romans controlled all of Italy, began expansion into Mediterranean

Roman Emergence

B. By 55 BC, Julius Caesar conquered Spain, Britain, and Gaul (France)

Julius Caesar quotes: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” “I’d rather be first in a small village than second in Rome.” “Cowards die many times before their actual deaths.”

Caesar’s Invasions

1. Amazingly popular, Caesar defeats rivals & becomes dictator for life, but jealous Senators stab him to death in 44 BC Julius Caesar Marcus Brutus

2. Roman republic plunged into civil war, won by Caesar’s adopted son, Augustus (Octavian) Augustus defeats Mark Antony & Cleopatra at Actium

Augustus’ Enemies: Antony & Cleopatra

Augustus “I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble.”

Ancient Rome

Circus Maximus

The Pantheon

A few Greco-Roman gods & goddesses Zeus Jupiter (king of the gods) Aphrodite Venus (goddess of beauty) Athena Minerva (goddess of wisdom) Ares Mars (god of war) Eros Cupid (god of love) Hades Pluto (lord of the underworld) Helios Apollo (sun god & god of music) Poseidon Neptune (sea god)

II. Rise of the Roman Empire

A. Augustus ends the republic by eliminating the power of the Senate, the Roman government now ruled by an Emperor (Emperors worshipped as one of the gods)

B. Romans continue expansion into Egypt, Greece, Palestine, and North Africa

C. 27 BC-180 AD a time of great prosperity known as the Pax Romana (Roman Peace)

Height of the Empire, AD 117

Coliseum

Gladiators Fight In The Colosseum

Chariot Races in the Circus Maximus

1. Romans set up an efficient administration, roads & aqueducts supplied all regions with food and water

Roman Roads

Roman Aqueducts

Public Bathhouse

2. Roman law codes became the basis of all modern law

III. Rise of Christianity

A. Life of Jesus- at age 30 began preaching message of love and forgiveness, attracted crowds, promised eternal life

1. Roman and Jewish leaders believed Jesus a threat to the traditional order, he’s crucified (followers believe he was the son of God & was resurrected 3 days later)

Roman Crucifixion

B. Early Christians persecuted, many died and became martyrs (one who dies for a cause or belief)

Early Christian Martyrs

1. Christianity slowly spreads, and by 391 AD, Christianity is the official religion of the Roman Empire Paul the Apostle Emperor Constantine

Early Christian Areas

IV. The fall of the Empire- internal corruption and external invasion combine to topple Rome

A. Internal- millions of poor drained resources, series of weak and unstable emperors & civil war

B. External- empire became too large to defend, couldn’t stop invasions from German barbarian tribes

1. Rome captured by German barbarian tribes in 476 AD, Western Europe broken into separate kingdoms ruled by German kings, Roman and German societies combine

The Roman Empire

The Roman Forum

C. Eastern portion of the Roman Empire continued to live on as the Byzantine Empire (500 AD- 1453 AD)

D. Legacy- Romans the most powerful in the ancient world, continued Greek knowledge/ learning, society and culture is example to all future nations

On a ½ sheet of paper write your name and….. *Two things you learned from 1.2 *One question you have about anything in 1.2