If you wanted to take over this part of the world, where would you build your headquarters?

Roman Geography: Rome’s Central location was vital to its success as an empire.

Roman Empire statistics How long did it last? Almost 1,500 years (One of the longest lasting Empires… ever) Population: 65 million people (almost ¼ of the world’s total population)

Founding of Rome In 753 B.C.E., the city of Rome was founded, on the Tiber River, in what is now central Italy. Mythical history: Romulus killed his brother and founded Rome.

Rome Expands Rome soon attracted many people, and the city grew larger.

509 B.C.E. Overthrow! The last king of Rome was Tarquin the Proud

Roman Republic In the early 6th Century B.C.E., Rome became a republic. This meant that a group of people, called the Senate, made the laws for the people of Rome.

12 Tables A struggle developed between patricians and plebeians over laws. The result was the Twelve Tables, laws carved into rock so everyone would know the laws.

War! Rome's neighbors had things the Romans wanted and wanted things the Romans had. This resulted in many wars.

Punic Wars Between Rome and Carthage 3 wars, 246-146 BCE (Punic means Carthaginian)

Carthage was the capital of a large civilization that had cities and colonies all around the Mediterranean Sea. Fought Rome over control of Sicily.. Rome won 1st war The Carthaginian commander was Hamilcar Barca, whose son Hannibal became one of the most famous generals in human history.

The Struggles with Carthage Hannibal was a brilliant general and won many battles by using strategy Second Punic War, Hannibal won battle after battle against Rome. Took his huge army from North Africa, through Spain, through Gaul, over the Alps, and into the heart of Rome itself.

In the end, Hannibal was defeated at the Battle of Zama, in 202 B.C.E. This was the end of the Second Punic War.

Rome's victories over Carthage made Rome the dominant power in the Mediterranean world and allowed Roman soldiers to conquer other areas.

The Growth of Government During the Punic Wars, the power of the Senate grew. But the government also had other people in it. The actual heads of government were called consuls. Usually, two consuls were elected, and they could be re-elected.

With the successes of the Roman army, Roman generals became very popular. They also became very powerful.

Two generals named Sulla and Gaius Marius fought each other for control of Rome. In 83 B.C.E., Sulla won and became dictator. It was one of many civil wars that threatened to tear Rome apart. Versus

The Romans eventually succeeded in conquering was a large area in what is now France then called Gaul.

The main conqueror of the tribes in Gaul was Julius Caesar The main conqueror of the tribes in Gaul was Julius Caesar. A brilliant general, Caesar had many triumphs, including two expeditions to the island the Romans called Britannia.

The Triumvirate Caesar, Crassus and Pompey become the First Triumvirate {3 consuls} (meaning "three people rule").

Crassus was a famous Senator Crassus was a famous Senator. Pompey was a famous general, who defeated both Sulla the dictator and Spartacus the slave.

D4L Caesar and Civil Wars The three members of the Triumvirate fought for control of the government. The winner was Julius Caesar, who was made dictator for life by the Senate. D4L

Jealous of his popularity and afraid of his ambitions, a group of Senators (including Marcus Brutus, whom Caesar thought was one of his best friends) killed Caesar in 44 B.C.E.

We Three Kings three men took power: Marc Antony, Caesar's right-hand man; Octavian, Caesar's step-son; and Lepidus, an important leader. This was the Second Triumvirate

Power Struggle Octavian defeated Marc Antony Called himself Caesar Augustus The Roman Empire was born

Rome Expands Roman conquests followed for hundreds of years. Roman soldiers were better-trained, better-equipped, and better-fed than their opponents..

Empire's Rise & Fall A succession of emperors did both great and terrible things (often at the same time). Some of the most important emperors were:

Good Emperors Trajan built great structures in and around Rome, including the Forum and a great wall in what is now Germany; Hadrian, who built great structures in Rome and elsewhere, including Hadrian’s Wall, a massive stone wall that divided Roman Britain from Scotland.

Marcus Aurelius, who won great victories over the German tribes and was known as a philosopher-king for his famous writings. Constantine, converted to Christianity Moved the capital of the empire to Constantinople, in what is now Turkey.

Bad Emperors Caligula: committed rape and incest. Demanded Roman citizens treat him as a god

Nero: murdered his mother and wife Nero: murdered his mother and wife. He confiscated senators' property and severely taxed the people to build his own golden home. Played the lyre while Rome burned , blamed it on the Christians

The Fall of Rome Roman Empire grew too large to control. Rome lost more and more territory to Germanic tribes and other invaders. Rome was sacked by Alaric and the Visigoths in 410.

The Empire had been divided into two parts: Eastern and Western. The Eastern Empire, with its capital at Constantinople, survived for hundreds of years after the "fall" of the Western part. The Byzantine Empire

Construction, Culture, Economics Roman civilization is also famous for its construction and its culture

Construction projects The Romans connected the vast parts of their Empire with roads. They also built aqueducts to carry water from the far reaches of the Empire to large cities.

the Romans built many baths, which provided heated water through inventive means.

Roman Economy Agriculture: latifundia, a large farm that produced food to sell, rather than to be eaten, used slave labor Trade with other empires (silk road)

Religion Roman religion began as a copy of Greek religion… gods had different names Eventually became Christian empire. Constantine conversion 312 Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Empire

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Philosophy and Drama Seneca: famous Roman playwright Marcus Aurelius: Roman Emperor/philosopher It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live. If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.

Bread & Circuses Free food, water, and entertainment helped to protect corrupt leaders because they kept Roman citizens from revolting

Games Gladiators were slaves or former soldiers who fought in the Colosseum and in other arenas, against other people or against animals.