1. The Rise of the Roman Empire
World History
Chapter 5.1 and 5.2

2. The Impact of Geography
The city of Rome location was very favorable to early settlers:
For Trade:
Near the Tiber River, it had access to the sea
Situated on a natural Tiber River crossing point for north-south traffic
The Italian peninsula was also an important crossroads between the western and eastern Mediterranean Sea.
For Defense:
Far enough inland where it was safe from pirates
Was built on seven hills, so it was easily defended

3. Important People of Italy
Latins- people from the region of Latium
Spoke Latin, and Indo-European Language
Other Settlers of Italy:
Greeks- came to Italy during the age of Greek Colonization; passed on their alphabet, art, architecture, and literature.
Etruscans- most influential; from Etruria north of Rome; turned Rome from a village to a city; passed on their dress and the organization of their army.

4. The Roman Republic
After about 200 years of Etruscan Rule, the Romans overthrew the last Etruscan King and established a republic.
Republic- a form of government in which the leader is not a monarch and certain citizens have the right to vote
The Early Roman Republic was surrounded by enemies and for the next 200 years the Romans were constantly at war.
After conquering all of Italy, the Romans devised the Roman Confederation to rule Italy.
Allowed some people to become citizens
The remaining communities were made allies, making it clear that loyal allies could also become citizens
Made the conquered peoples feel like they had a real stake in Rome’s success

5. Why was Rome Successful?
Romans were good diplomats
Extended citizenship and allowed conquered states to run their own affairs
Romans excelled in Military Matters
Large armies
Brilliant strategists
Built roads to fortified towns in order to move troops quickly to crush rebellions
Romans were practical when it came to law and politics
Created political institutions in response to problems, as the problems arose

6. Patricians vs. Plebians
Great landowners; Rome’s Ruling class; could be elected to office
Plebians
Less wealthy landholders, craftspeople, merchants, and small farmers; larger group; could vote but could not run for office
Consuls
Two chief executive officers who were chosen every year; ran the government and led the Roman Army into battle
Praetors
Chief executive officers who were in charge of civil law- law as it applied to Roman Citizens; more praetors were added as territory expanded

7. The Punic Wars
Wars between the Roman Republic and the powerful city-state of Carthage
Carthage
North African civilization founded by the Phoenicians; large trading empire in the Mediterranean
Their presence in Sicily, an island close to the Italian coast, made the Romans fearful.
The First Punic War (264 B.C.)
Rome sends army to Sicily, which Carthage saw as an act of war
Rome, realizing they could not win the war without an navy, builds a large navy
Roman Navy defeats Carthaginian navy off coast of Sicily, ending the war
Carthage gives up all rights to Sicily and paid a fine; Sicily becomes Rome’s first province

8. The Punic Wars The Second Punic War (216 B.C.)
Hannibal, the leader of Carthage, vowed revenge against Rome for the First Punic War; decides to bring the war to the Romans
Hannibal leads army of 46,000 men, horses, and 37 war elephants through Spain and planned to enter the Roman Republic from the North
Hannibal’s army, especially the elephants, took a massive toll attempting to cross the Alps
The Romans meet Hannibal at Cannae, but lost an army of 40,000 men.
Rome raises two new armies sends one to battle Hannibal in Italy, and the other to Carthage, forcing Hannibal to return to Carthage
While in Carthage, Romans defeat Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 202 B.C. ending the Second Punic War
Rome gains Spain, and becomes the dominant power in the western Mediterranean.

9. The Punic Wars The Third Punic War (146 B.C.)
Due to public pressure to eliminate Carthage, Rome decides to invade Carthage
Carthage was destroyed, and their inhabitants (50,000 men, women, and children) were sold into slavery
Salted the fields of Carthage so it could never rise again
The territory of Carthage became a Roman Province called Africa

10. From Republic to Empire
Growing Inequality and Unrest
Senate was the real governing body of Rome and it was full of wealthy landed elites.
The aristocrats, however, only represented a small fraction of the population of Rome at the time.
Small farmers found it impossible to compete with the landed elite and lost their land.
The Brother Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus tried to enact Land Reform laws that would help the poor.
The aristocratic Senators assassinated them.

11. The Collapse of a Republic
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Sulla defeated other generals to take control of Rome
Restored power to the hands of the Senate and eliminated the popular assemblies
His example of using an army to seize power would set a precedent for future generals
The First Triumvirate (60 B.C.)
Julius Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey joined forces to form the First Triumvirate
Triumvirate- is a government by three people with equal power
Each leader was given military rule over certain areas
When Crassus dies in 53 B.C., the Senate agreed that the rule of Pompey alone would be to their benefit and asked Caesar to lay down his command

12. Caesar Crosses the Rubicon…
Caesar refused to lay down his command
Marched his army into Italy
It was illegal for Roman Generals to March their armies past the Rubicon River
This was the “point of no return” Julius Caesar
Caesar defeats Pompey in a Civil War
Officially made dictator of Rome
Dictator- an absolute ruler
Caesar enacts reforms (changes)
Gives land to the poor
Increases the Senate to 900 members, and then fills it full of his supporters
Weakens the Senate

13. The Age of Augustus Octavian was now ruler of Rome
Won power after Caesar’s death
Proclaimed the “restoration of the Republic”
Gave power back to the Senate
Senate awarded him the name Augustus- “the revered one”
The senate also gave him the title of Imperator- or commander in chief, this is where we get our word emperor from.
Imperators after Augustus
They expanded the power of the imperator by taking away power from the Senate
The more powerful they became, the more corrupt the were.

14. The Height of the Roman Empire

15. The Decline and Fall of the Empire
After a series of military rulers, the Roman Empire began to experience some serious problems
Political- Civil wars during power vacuums were becoming way to common as the Roman Throne was occupied by whoever had military strength to seize it.
Economic- Invasions, civil wars, and plagues (an epidemic disease) came close to causing an economic collapse.
noticeable decline in trade and small industry
Labor shortage due to plague
Farm production declined as fields were ravaged by invaders or, even more common, by the defending Roman soldiers
Inflation- a rapid increase in prices

16. The Division of the Empire
With all the problems facing the Roman Empire, the rulers Diocletian and Constantine decided the empire was too big to be ruled.
The decided to split the Empire into two:
The Western Roman Empire with the capital as Rome
The Eastern Roman Empire with the capital in Constantinople
Later known as the Byzantium Empire

18. “Barbarian Invaders”
“Barbarians” is often a term used by “civilized people” in order to describe people who are outsiders and different than them.
The Huns
Came from Asia, moved into eastern Europe, putting pressure of the Germanic Visigoths
The Visigoths
Moved south and west, crossed the Danube River into Roman Territory, initially as allies of the Roman Empire
However, the soon began to revolt and later sacked Rome
The Vandals
Poured into southern Spain and then North Africa attacking Rome from the south.
They too sacked Rome
Our word “vandal” and “vandalism” is taken from this group

19. Recap of the Downfall
In 476 A.D., the western emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic head of the Army.
This is usually seen as the official fall of Rome.
Factors:
Political
Many upheavals and military domination of politics
Economic
Inflation
Labor shortage
Trading and Farming declined
Plague
Disease killed 1/10th of the population
Barbarian Invaders