The Roman Empire The Rule of Augustus Pax Romana Daily Life Key Roman Leaders Fall of the Empire

Augustus Very clever and experienced Politician * Held numerous offices in government * Refused to be crown Emperor Why did he refuse? Thought the people would not accept him Wanted more of a traditional republic Responsible for: Strong army Goal was to bring back the “old Roman Virtues” Made the empire easier to defend Focused on conservation and made Rome more “beautiful”

Augustus’ Rule Believed gaining new territory was unnecessary * focused on what Rome already had * set up a fire brigade and police force Census- population count * helped determine the needs of Rome based upon the number of people there * determined taxes, public projects Augustus- ruled for 41 years

Pax Romana Pax Romana- A long period of peace in the Roman empire * no fighting or war for 200 years * good overall living conditions (prosperity) Trade: Increased because there were no taxes on goods No pirates in the Mediterranean (safe) Shipping became a huge business Increased trade made more business for the Romans * helped their economy grow * wine and olives were the main items exported * Manufactured Items- pottery, bronze and woolen cloth

Pax Romana and Roman Law * Law goes through some major changes during the Pax Romana Changes to Roman Law: Changes to the 12 Tables Fairness to Romans and Non Romans Laws were made that were “reasonable” Innocent until proven guilty ** 125 AD Roman Law becomes standardized (same everywhere) ** Juris Prudentes- special lawyers and legal writers who helped determine law ** Roman legal principles formed the basis of law for the western world and Christian Churches

Daily Life of the Romans Initial Problems for the city of Rome 1. Overcrowded 2. Air Pollution 3. Crime 4. High cost of living (high taxes) 5. High unemployment Roman Housing: 1. Domus- houses for the rich * marbled walls, stone floors, stained glass windows, furnace heat and indoor plumbing 2. Apartments called islands (6 stories high) * 26 blocks of islands for every single house * cramped living conditions and high rent * higher up you lived in the apartment, the lower the rent

Education for Boys Education: Boys went to school with girls until age 12 Poor went to work after age 12 Rich continued their education Studied reading, grammar, music, geometry, arithmetic and shorthand At Age 15- Entered a school called a Rhetoric Speech and Writing Preparation for a political career Others went to school in Athens or Alexandria for a career in Philosophy and Medication

Education for Girls Girls education stopped at age 12 * daughters of the rich were given private lessons * Some women worked or owned small shops * Wealthy women had enslaved people ** Rich women were free to study the arts, literature and fashions

Leisure Time Spending Free Time: Met at public bath houses Watching Gladiator games The Gladiator Games: Gladiators- fought to the death, most were enslaved people, criminals or poor people Feast before the games began “Hail Emperor, those are about to die salute you” Many Gladiators died Wild animals were used (5,000 killed in one day)

Key Roman Leaders Augustus- first Emperor of Rome * Reorganized Government * Brought peace to Rome * Name changed from Octavian Tiberius- Step son of Augustus * Reformed taxes and finances Caligula- Abused political power, wild and careless ruler * Claimed himself “Divine” * Fought with his own Governments * Involved in many scandals in Rome * Eventually assassinated as part of a conspiracy

Key Roman Leaders Claudius- conquered most of England * First Roman Emperor born outside of Italy (From Gaul) * Took over after Caligula’s death * Extended citizenship to many people outside of Rome * Built many roads, aqueducts Nero- adopted by Claudius and became his heir and successor * focused on cultural growth or Rome * helped rebuild Rome after a “Great Fire in 64 AD” * some thought he intentionally started it * rebuilt Rome to a city plan * Wild ruler, tyrant (executed his own mother!)

Diocletian Ruled from 245 AD to 313 AD Rome was collapsing during his rule, he attempted to save it Changes Diocletian Made to Rome: Rule of Divine Right- power came from gods, not the people Divided Empire into 2 parts (easier to manage) Attempted to solve economic problems with the “Edict of Maximum Prices” Overall an effective leader, but Rome was in TROUBLE!

Constantine I Ruled from 312 AD to 337 AD First Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity Takes a firm control of the Empire Changes Constantine I Makes to Rome: Sons had to follow in their fathers footsteps Edict of Milan- Religious Tolerance in Rome * people could be Christians 3. Moved the rich back to their estates 4. Built a new capital city- Constantinople (Eastern Europe) ** Despite the efforts, Rome continued to decline

Decline of the Roman Empire Reasons for the fall of the Empire: Political Confusion- no set policy for choosing a new Emperor * sometimes chosen by ruling Family * sometimes rule was auctioned out 2. Economic Troubles- High Taxes! * Inflation- periods of high prices for goods * Gold was no longer coming to Rome * Money began to lose value 3. Foreign Enemies- Rome was paying attention to internal problems, they were vulnerable to attack * Germanic herders attacked from northern and Eastern Europe * Trade and Farming declines in these areas ** Overall- Rome becomes too large to manage ** Economic and Political stress begin to tear the empire down internally

End of the Empire Increased attacks from the Germans * Battle of Adrianople- Germans defeat Rome, Rome grows weaker Attila the Hun- leader of nomadic groups in Asia * attacked parts of Eastern Roman empire By about 400 AD Rome becomes quite weak 410 AD- Germanic Chief Alaric invades Rome * Rome tells its people that Rome can no longer support its people * Rome collapses