1. NOTE: To change the image on this slide, select the picture and delete it. Then click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. ANCIENT ROME

2. Rome Started out as a single city in the western middle side of the Italian peninsula. Settled in a valley located near the Tiber River. Many different communities established in the Peninsula. Example: Greeks, Etruscans, Latin and others. Around 600 BC, the Etruscan had come the most powerful federated society in the Italian peninsula. They dominated many towns including Rome and tried to conquer the Greek cities but couldn’t. During this time Rome too advantage and grew much stronger. They built the city among the hills and slowly increased its power and riches until it dominated all the Mediterranean.

3. The Times of the King Roman monarchy = First period of Roman history. During the time of the kings curiae or an assembly of families gather together to make decisions. They also elected the Kings. They created Senate which was an assembly of aristocrat elders. They served as advisors of the King and held lifelong positions in the Senate. The Senators and their descendants were called Patricians. The Patricians increased their political and religious priviledges in order to obtain land and riches. Patricians expelled the King and established a republic.

4. The Republic 509-27 BC In the Republic the most powerful officials were two consuls. - One in charge of the army - One in charge of the court The division of power was made to prevent another monarchy from forming. Most people in Rome (Plebeians) did not have political power during this time. The Plebeians organized and established a parallel government in Rome and presented several demands to the Patricians. Demands: End debt slavery, participation in the Senate, written laws, distribution of public land and the power of Veto laws that affected them. The Patricians agree to their demands, fearing the plebeians would abandon the army and rebel.

5. PUNIC WARS (264-146 BC) Rome vs. Carthage Stared when Rome took over Sicily, which was dominated by Carthage. Sicily was important because: Riches Good center of trade Strategic location (between Carthage and Rome) The wars continued for more than a century until Rome destroyed Carthage. Rome kept expanding until they became the masters of the Mediterranean.

6. The Triumvirates (3 men) During the last years of the Republic civil war broke. This situation demonstrated the incompetence of the Roman government. The first triumvirate was an agreement among 3 well known people who tried to take control of political power in Rome and end civil wars. Members: Crassus, Pompey and Julius Cesar Crassus and Pompey eventually died and Cesar gained the title of dictator for life. He made several reforms such as punishment of government corruption and giving land to soldiers. These reforms angered some people, who organized and assassinated him in 44 BC. Civil war broke out again until 43 BC when Octavian Lepidus and Mark Anthony created a Second Triumvirate.

7. Formation of the Roman Empire The Second Triumvirate also ended in conflict. Lepidus was exile accused of betrayal and Octavian and Mark Anthony started a civil war. Octavian declared war on Mark Anthony because he fear that now that Anthony was in love with Cleopatra they will start a separate government and betray him. Octavian defeated Mark Anthony after 20 year of civil war. In 27 BC, the senate renamed Octavian, Augustus, which means “holy” or “sacred”. Octavian = Augustus Now Augustus had supreme power and became the first emperor of Rome. Augustus = first emperor of Rome. This was how the Roman Empire began.

8. Emperor Constantine Was a powerful leader in the empire since 306 AD. Moved the Capital from Rome to Constantinople. Was the first emperor to convert to Christianity. Created the edict of Milan in 313 AD, in which he ordered Christianity to be tolerated in the empire.

9. Western Empire and Eastern Empire Theodosius I Emperor from 379 to 395. He was the last emperor to rule over the entire empire. Adopted Christianity as the official religion of Rome and prohibited the worship of pagan gods. After Theodosius death his sons divided the empire in 2. Western empire – Capital in Rome Eastern empire – Capital in Byzantium, Constantinople. The Western Roman Empire started to be attack by Germanic tribes an in 410 they destroy the capital, Rome. The Western Roman Empire lost power and break into many kingdoms and the Middle Ages started. The Eastern Roman Empire lasted another ten centuries until 1453.