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What three things do you think an empire needs in order to be successful? Explain your reasoning.
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The Birth of the Roman Empire
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Caesar in Power Julius Caesar: powerful public speaker who the poor loved He created the first Triumvirate: rule of three Of the three leaders, one died and one turned on Caesar, so he ran him out of town with his army Caesar was then made dictator for life by the Senate How long did that last? 2 months! Then the senate killed him
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Octavian aka Augustus Octavian was 19 when he took power and formed the second Triumvirate with Marc Antony and a nobody who soon left They split the empire in half, but Octavian got greedy so he took his army and attacked Antony and won He did not want to be assassinated so he called himself “first citizen” while the Senate called him Augustus: revered one Historians consider him the first Roman emperor
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Julio-Claudian Emperors
Pax Romana Emperors Pax Romana: Roman Peace After Augustus there was more than 200 years of peace Augustus Julio-Claudian Emperors (Relatives of Caesar) Army Emperors Flavian Emperors The Five Good Emperors
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Roman Society and Culture
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Building a Strong Empire
Government and Law Emperor hired governors to help Government pass new laws as needed and interpreted old ones Trade and Transportation They traded grain, wine, oil, cloth, pottery, glassware Built 60,000 miles of paved highways that helped move stuff and troops quickly Roman Army Any male citizen were required to serve (16-20 yrs!) Men from conquered places could serve in return for citizenship Locals helped protect themselves
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Life in the Empire Daily Life Slaves and Slavery
Rich had running water, baths, huge banquets Most were poor and lived in wood apartment buildings in cities Government gave everyone grain Slaves and Slavery Slavery was common but brutal Most could buy their freedom or be granted it Having slaves was a social status thing Roles of Men and Women Fathers held power and made decisions, Mothers ran the house All little children went to elementary, but only sons went on
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Engineering and Architecture
Fun and Games Theater, mimes, jugglers, dancers, acrobats, clowns, chariot racing, public executions, animal fights, gladiators: trained fighters Engineering and Architecture Aqueducts: bridge like structures that carried water from mtns Arches, vaulted ceilings, and concrete Language Latin – root of most languages Everything but J, Y, and W
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The Fall of the Western Empire
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Troubled Times Arise After Marcus Aurelius died, many competed for title of emperor Rising Inflation Running out of silver for coins, so they started putting less in Merchants then raised prices to receive the same silver Inflation: rise in price caused by decrease in value of money Increasing Insecurity People were worried and main cities were attacked by invaders
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Diocletian Made emperor in 284
He appointed a co-emperor and two assistants When he and his co-emperor retired, new ones stepped up Emperor in the east didn’t like Constantine and tried to take all power
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Constantine Became sole emperor in 324
Supported Christianity whole heartedly which caused massive spread of religion Built new capital city called Constantinople By 400, two empires existed, one in the west and in the east The western empire grew weaker, but the eastern grew stronger (remained until 1453)
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Causes of Decline Political and Military Economic Decline
Empire grew too fast and too large, government couldn’t support it Corruption and unstable leadership Soldiers loyalty to who pays the most Economic Decline Heavy taxes High Inflation Manufacturing and agriculture declined Social Change Number of poor increased Loss of patriotism Lack of political interest
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The Final Invasions (Invaders came from the north – between 410-476)
The Goths Came as refugees and first lived in peace Didn’t like Romans and revolted, crushing army and sacking Rome (first time in 800 years) The Vandals Crossed border while Goths fought armies and took N. Africa and eventually sacked Rome after Goths The Huns Huns: nomadic peoples from Asia who raided and plundered Attila – led the attacks and lost, but his followers overthrew the last Roman emperor in the west And so ends the Roman Empire!!!
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