1. Ancient Rome
Chapter Six

2. Rome Objective
Trace the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, and analyze its impact on culture, government, and religion

3. Setting the Stage…
Third century A.D, Rome faced many problems = inside and outside of empire
Drastic economic, military, and political reforms could possibly hold off
collapse
Romans borrowed and adapted cultural elements freely = Greek and
Hellenistic cultures especially
Roman art, architecture, language, literature, engineering, and law
become legacy to the world

4. Fall of the Roman Empire
Social
Economic
Fall of the Roman Empire
Military
Political

5. Economic disruption of trade = hostile tribes and pirates
poor harvests = overworked soil
reached limit of expansion
gold and silver drain = no more sources of money
inflation = created more money which causes a drop in value of money
and the rise in prices
crushing tax burden
widening gap between the rich and poor
Pax Romana came to an end when Rome plunged into a time of economic growth

6. Military army in disarray threat from outside tribes
Germanic people, fleeing from Huns (Asia), invaded Roman territory (Empire)
Attila and the Huns attack; do not take Rome though
low funds for defense
problems recruiting Roman citizens; recruiting of non-Romans
mercenaries – soldiers for money = not loyal
decline of patriotism and loyalty among soldiers

7. Social decline in interest in public affairs low confidence in empire
disloyalty and corruption
contrast between rich and poor
decline in population due to
disease and food shortage

8. Political after Marcus Aurelius had no idea how to deal
with giant empire or growing problems
political office becomes a burden not a reward
military interference with politics
civil war and unrest
division of empire
Diocletian splits empire into Greek-speaking
East and Latin-speaking West

9. Political Diocletian takes East (wealthier)
Constantine later unites empire under him
after Constantine = empire divides
East survives / West falls
By building a new capital, Constantine shifted
the center of Roman power leaving the western
portion to decline
moving of capital to Byzantium (Turkey)
later renamed Constantinople

10. The Fall of the Empire (476 B.C.)
last Roman Emperor
Fourteen (14) year old Romulus Augustulus
ousted by Germans
Roman Empire was split in two!
eastern half known as Byzantine Empire – ruled from Constantinople
preserved Greek and Roman culture for another 1000 years

11. The Fall of the Empire (476 B.C.)
** Factors for the fall:
division of the empire
lack of discipline in the army
growth of corruption in the government **
** the Fall of Rome was the end of Roman
civilization **

12. LEGACY… Greco-Roman Culture = mix of Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman
Art – sculpture from Greeks
* Realistic not beautiful and idealistic
* Mosaics
* Frescos (large murals) painted on walls
Architecture – arches and domes
* Aqueducts
* Roman Baths

14. LEGACY… Language = Latin remained official language
** Law = most lasting and widespread contribution
* fair and equal under the law
* innocent until proven guilty
* punishment for actions, not thoughts
* change laws that are unreasonable or unfair
* everyone equal under the law **

15. LEGACY… Greek philosophy * Virgil – modeled epics after Homer
(Aeneid – epic of Aeneas)
History
* Livy: multi-volume history of Rome = combined legend with history
* Tacitus: accurate history or Rome = good and bad
** Laws / Language / Art / Architecture = Roman contributions to European culture **

16. Did Rome Really Fall????? slow decline people live the same afterwards
Roman Catholic Church preserves culture
turned into something greater - elements of culture still exists everywhere

17. Essential Question
Describe how the world might be different if Rome had not existed.
Write three complete sentences in the summary location on your note sheet

18. Rome Objective
Trace the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, and analyze its impact on culture, government, and religion