Global Review of Roman History PDF

Part II: Roman Expansion THE PUNIC WARS AND ROMAN MILITARY (slide #6-8) 1.Who fought in the Punic Wars and what was The Punic Wars impacted Rome by.... What are important vocabulary words to know the outcome?...

Part II: Roman Expansion THE PUNIC WARS AND ROMAN MILITARY (slide #6-8) 1.Who fought in the Punic Wars and what was The Punic Wars impacted Rome by.... What are important vocabulary words to know the outcome? related to the Punic Wars and Military (& the Allowed them to increase their territory definitions)? The Punic Wars was Rome vs. Carthage and eventually expand throughout the Rime won all three wars Mediterranean. Roman Legion - An important military formation that consisted of 10 cohorts 2. How was Roman territory impacted by the Punic Wars - A series of three wars fought against Punic Wars? Carthage, but won by rome Roman territory expanded. They were known Expansion of their territory impacted as the masters of the Mediterranean Rome by.... 3. What were three ways the Roman Army was Land that was conquered by Rome had so powerful? to pay taxes and supply soldiers. Strong, well deciplines, and had an organized army. They hired people to fight instead of any citizen fighting. Roman Legion was an important military formation that helped them win battles 4. How did the Romans treat conquered people? The Romans treated conquered people with much respect.  JULIUS CAESAR (slide #9) 1. How did Julius Caesar gain Julius Caesar impacted Rome by… What are important vocabulary words to know popularity? related to Julius Caesar (& the definitions)? Julius Caesar impacted Rome by helping By leading the roman military to conquer them expand their empire. He gained so Julius Caesar - A roman general who gained Gaul, which is modern day France. much popularity, he was similar to a popularity for capturing Gaul dictator. When he got too greedy, the senate was scared and killed him. His Gaul - Modern day france 2. What happened when he came back to death caused a civil war in Rome. Rome? Civil War - When an empire is split, two sides fighting eachother He returned because the senate was fearful of his fame. Instead, he returned with his military and threatened them. He wanted to be dictator of Rome for life. 3. Who killed Caesar? Why was he killed? The senate was worried that if Julius Caesar continued to rule, their democracy would end. Members of the senate ganged up and killed him, resulting in a Civil War.,  SUMMARY STATEMENT During Rome’s expansion, there were many accomplishments that made a big impact. Rome had a strong Write 1-4 sentences explaining the army which helped them win the Punic Wars against Carthage, capturing their land. Julius Ceaser overall accomplishments and conquered Gaul making him gain much popularity by the time he came back. These made a big impact by impact of Rome during their period expanding Rome and opening up new opportunities. of expansion. Critical Question Expansion changed Rome by creating a physically larger empire. They now had more land and people that How did expansion change Rome? were under their control. This impacted their government, economy, and most other aspects of their Empire. It brought big change to Rome.  Rome’s Break-Up The Roman Empire’s period of greatness lasted about two hundred years. It began with the reign of Caesar Augustus in 27 BC and ended with the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD. The next few hundred years were violent times. Many different rulers came to power. Two emperors introduced reforms to stop the decay. Diocletian came to power in 284. He divided the empire into two parts to make it easier to rule. Diocletian controlled prices and forced farmers to stay on their land to help the economy. Constantine came to power in 312. He continued the reforms of Diocletian. Constantine became a Christian and ended Christian persecution. He also built a new capital, Constantinople. As a result, the eastern part of the empire became the center of power, but these improvements did not last. Eventually the Western and Eastern Roman Empire split into two separate empires. Each group referred to themselves as Rome. However, we now refer to the Eastern Roman Empire as the Byzantine Empire. 1. Who was Diocletian? Was in power 284-312 Divided empire into two Controlled prices and forced farmers to stay on their land to help the economy 2. Who was Constantine? Built a new capital in the East Power centered around the East, separating it into two empires 3. What are the two sections of the Roman Empire called after it split? Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire The Fall of Rome Historians use the year 476 to mark the fall of Rome. In fact, the empire had been declining for many years. Many factors led to the fall of Rome. As the empire expanded and acquired more territory, taxes were increased to support the government and army. In time, higher taxes wiped out the middle class, and trade and business suffered. At the same time, an influx of slaves into the empire caused widespread unemployment. The population declined because of disease and war. This in turn led to a number of social problems, such as crime, moral decay and lack of interest in the government. While the poor grew poorer the rich indulged themselves in idleness and pleasure. Few people in Rome seemed to realize, or care, that the empire was crumbling around them. Beginning about the year 200, the orderly succession to the throne that had characterized the empire throughout its history ended. Rival factions of the army fought civil wars and installed their own candidate as emperor. During one fifty-year period, twenty-six different emperors ruled from Rome. Of this number, twenty-five were murdered. Such instability in the government weakened Rome and made it vulnerable to attacks from Germanic tribes to the north. As Rome grew weaker, its army also declined. Citizens ignored their duties and refused to enlist in the army, forcing officials to recruit barbarians who had settled within the empire. The overall effect was that the army became undisciplined and ineffective. The Romans were attacked by many barbaric groups like the Vandals and the Visigoths. All of these factors contributed to the takeover of the Western Roman Empire by a Germanic tribe in the year 476. Gradually, Germanic customs, ideas and languages replaced Roman customs. 1. After looking at Rome as an empire, what are three main causes of its downfall? Higher Taxes Wiped out the middle class An Increase in slaves caused mass unemployment Population Decline - disease, war, and poor living conditions Instability - constant change in leadership Weakening Military  1. What groups led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire? Huns, Vandals, Visigoths, and Ostrogoths Phases of Rome's Government: Phase Roman Monarchy Roman Republic Roman Empire Years 753 BCE to 509 BCE 509 B.C.E. to 27 B.C.E. 27 BCE to 476 CE Ruling Style Monarchy Democratic Republic Authoritarianism/Dictatorship Definition A single person who has the People vote for representatives Enforces strict obedience to power to rule. This power is (govt officials) who then create authority at expense of personal passed down through policies. Officials make decisions freedom. Demanding that people bloodline. for them completely obey the government  and refusing to let them act as they wish. Has one central leader (dictator) Name of King 2 Consuls Emperor Ruler Supervised the government Commanded armies Only serve one term Chosen by senate Checked Power Dictator - has complete power DURING WAR Think about the following questions. Write down your ideas in the space below: a. Why did Rome switch from a Republic to a Dictatorship? What factors do you think most contributed to this? Instability in the government helped Rome switch from a Republic to a Dictatorship. In the Republic, they raised taxes which wiped out the middle class. In addition, a higher death rate from disease and war. If the republic wasn’t working, there needed to be change. b. How was Rome similar and different from the United States today? Similar - Had a form of democracy Different - Not a monarch/empire, one person didn't hold too much power c. Historians often discuss how in Rome, the rule of law (in other words, laws or documents) was more important than the rule of individuals (the actual person ruling). What do you think this means? How was this true in Rome? The person who rules is less important than what laws are created. The type of government switched multiple times. This means rulers were switching, but it was because of how well the laws they implemented were working.  Christianity: Origins, Beliefs, and Spread Part I: Overview of Christianity Watch the overview video on Christianity, and write down five takeaways as you are watching. Originated in Europe Focus on a person’s relationship with god Three types of Christianity: orthodox, catholic, and Protestant Biggest following worldwide (2.4 billion people) Follow the New Testament God is made up of the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit The goal is to reach salvation and spend the afterlife in heaven with god Jesus = Messiah Use the map to answer the questions that follow: What parts of the world have the largest Based on the map, what inferences can we make percentages of Christians? about the religion of Christianity? Southern Africa Large and widespread religion South America Missionaries Mid Europe Conquest Greenland Followers Some small islands/countries Mexico Spreading faith is a major part of religion! Part II: The Origins & Key Beliefs of Christianity Who was Jesus? Christianity is a belief system that was founded by the followers 1. Who was Jesus? Where did he of Jesus of Nazareth in Judea, a Roman province in the Middle live? East in the 1st century CE. Jesus was born and raised Jewish, and in his 30’s set off as a preacher, teaching his own version of Jesus and his followers founded Judaism. Christianity. He lived in Nazareth in Judea, a Roman providence. Born and According to Christian texts, he also performed miracles such raised Jewish. as healing the sick. During this time, Jesus gained many followers. 2. What did Jesus do during his life? After his death, followers of Jesus split with Judaism and began their own religion which differed, Christianity, or followers of He was a preacher who taught his own Christ (Greek for “the anointed one”), which differed from version of Judaism. He performed Judaism in significant ways. However, due to their shared miracles like healing the sick. People in origins, there are also many similarities between the two belief power were not happy with him. systems. 3. Why are there many similarities between Christianity and Judaism? Christianity is based off of Judaism. Holy Book Christianity’s sacred text is called the Holy Bible and is 1. What is the name of the holy made up of two parts. The first section is called the Old book? Testament, which is based on Judaism’s sacred text, the Torah. The second section is called the New Testament The Holy Bible which is made up of stories about the life of Jesus as 2. What are the two parts of the written by his followers, letters between his followers, and book? other writings by Christians early in the religion. The Old testament - based off of Torah The New Testament - made up of stories about the life of Jesus Key Beliefs Jesus Christ was the Son of God. 1. Who do Christians believe Jesus God sent his Son to earth to save humanity from was? the consequences of its sins. The son of god Jesus gave his life on the Cross (the Crucifixion- Jesus was sentenced to death by the Roman government) and rose from the dead after three 2. What do Christians believe about the afterlife? days (the Resurrection). For Christians, this marked God’s conquest over death and the belief that Do not sin or there will be Christians could go to heaven when they died. consequences. After death, a person’s That there is only one God, so they are soul is judged to go to Heaven or Hell. monotheistic, but they believe that there are three elements to this one God: 3. Is Christianity monotheistic or ○ (1) God the Father polytheistic? ○ (2) God the Son Monotheistic but the god has three ○ (3) The Holy Spirit elements Christians believe that there is a life after earthly death. 4. What are similarities in the The Christian church believes in one baptism into teachings of Christianity and the Christian church, whether this be as an infant Judaism? or as an adult, as an outward sign of an inward commitment to the teachings of Jesus. Follow the ten commandments and believe in free will Christians also believe in the ten commandments and free will Part III: What type of Ideas did Jesus Preach? Directions: Read the source from the New Testament and answer the questions below. Think about the sources in the context of the Roman Empire. The Beatitudes are the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-10). In this sermon, Jesus preached to a large crowd who had begun following him. In this sermon, Jesus teaches his followers the type of life and behavior they should follow in order to live a Christian life. He also tells them that if they follow these ideas, they will be rewarded by going to heaven when they die. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Excerpts from The New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Psalms copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970 Questions to consider: 1) How does Jesus encourage his followers to treat other people? Treat other people with kindness and respect, no matter who they are. 2) What group(s) of people might the ideas Jesus appeal to? Why? The poor, weak, and sad. Jesus said they would receive help. 3) What group(s) of people might dislike or be offended by what Jesus was expressing? Why? People with a lot of power and leaders. Christianity weakens their power 4) Which of these ideas best explains the appeal of Christianity? “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The Death of Jesus: Rome started to see jesus as a threat to their stability Encouraged the belief of one god and equality among people Jesus was arrested by the Roman government and put to death by the crucifixion. Died but believed to be resurrected three days later. He went to heaven on a holiday now known as Easter. Summary: Jesus, the son of god, is the founder of christianity. Christianity follows the holy bible, which is composed of the old and new testaents. Jesus grew up Jewish, but was a preacher and taught his own version. It spread a lot by people showing their faith, now is the most common religion.  The Spread of Christianity Part I: Mapping the Spread 1. According to the map, during which time period did Christianity spread the most? 1. 300 CE (2) 300-600 CE (3) 600-800 CE 2. Identify two centers of Christian diffusion: Rome and Paris 3. Make a prediction: Reflect on the spread of other religions like Buddhism. How might Christianity have spread throughout the Roman empire? Christianity spread through missionaries, conquest, and people spreading their faith. Part II: Christianity Spreads disciple A personal follower of jesus messiah Anointed one during his life The savior apostles The 12 chief disciples sect A group of people with partially different beliefs than the larger religious group to which they belong. preach To deliver a sermon or religious missionary A person sent on a religious speech mission to spread their faith. During Jesus’ life, Jesus spread his message to other Jewish people throughout Judea. Jesus recruited twelve of his disciples to help him on a mission to spread his message to the Jews throughout Jerusalem. After Jesus’ death, the apostles and other disciples spread his message. In the beginning, they mainly preached to the Jewish people of Judea. Some Jewish people accepted Jesus as the messiah or anointed one. The disciples began to preach to Jewish communities outside of Judea. One apostle named Peter established Christianity in the city of Rome. The work of missionaries like Paul who traveled to preach Jesus’ message helped Christianity grow from a small sect within Judaism to a major world religion. Paul played one of the most influential roles in spreading Christianity. How was Christianity spread during Jesus’ How was Christianity spread after Jesus’ life? death? People accepted Jesus as the messiah Recruited 12 disciples to help him preach Apostles spread his message in Judea, his message through Jerusalem and further to other areas Paul had never met Jesus. In fact, he had been among those who persecuted Jesus’ followers. But one day Paul had a vision of Jesus speaking to him. He immediately became a Christian and decided to spread Jesus’ teachings to non-Jewish people. Paul journeyed around the Mediterranean and set up churches in Asia Minor and Greece. He wrote letters to Christian communities explaining difficult teachings and expanding on Christian teaching. His letters became part of the New Testament. Within a hundred years of Jesus’ death, Christianity had spread throughout the Roman Empire (Europe and North Africa). The unity of the Roman Empire eased the work of missionaries. They were able to travel along Roman roads and across the Mediterranean Sea, which was protected by Roman fleets. Early documents were written in Greek or Latin (the official language of the Roman Empire) so people all throughout the empire could easily read and understand them. A. What role did Paul play in the spread of Christianity? (give specific examples of things he did) - Set up churches in Asia Minor and Greece - Wrote letters to christian communities (became part of the new testament) B. How did the context of the Roman Empire facilitate (help) the early spread of Christianity? - Eased the work of missionaries - Written in Greek or Latin so all Romans could understand Part III: Rome’s Treatment of Early Christians Examine Images: Look at the images on the board, make observations, and identify how the treatment of Christians is portrayed in early Rome.  According to the images, how were early Christians treated in the Roman Empire? Early christians were tortured in the Roman Empire. They were forced to be in gladiator fights and publicly hung. The religion was unpopular and they were a treat to the stability of Rome. They believed in equality which went against roman power structures and they went against Roman religion and did not pray and sacrifice to Roman gods. *Christians were persecuted by the emperors *Seen as a threat because they refused to perform sacrifices or worship Gods of Rome Early (including the Emperor who was often viewed as a God) Christianity *Scapegoated for problems (c. 30-300) *Became martyrs (a person who dies for their beliefs) How were early Christians treated by Rome? Why? They were prosecuted because of their religion. They didn’t follow Rome's religion by praying to their god. Instead, they brought stability by thinking everyone was equal.  The Emperor Constantine I converted to Christianity in 312. In 313, Emperor The Edict of Constantine outlawed religious persecution in the Roman empire. The Edict of Milan Milan granted all persons freedom to worship whatever deity (God) they pleased. It also 313 CE promised Christians legal rights and the right to organize churches. How did the Edict of Milan affect Christians? It gave them the right to publicly follow their religion. They had legal rights and the right to organize churches. Allowed it to spread more easily. Emperor Theodosius I created the Edict of Thessalonica which made Christianity Edict of the state church (or official religion) of the Roman Empire and made it the Empire's Thessalonica sole authorized religion 380 CE How did the Edict of Thessalonica affect Christians? It made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. Now that everyone followed it, nobody was being prosecuted. Summarize: How did the treatment of Christians and Christianity change throughout the second half of Rome? The treatment of Christians improved in the second half of Rome. At first, they were prosecuted for their religion and the ideas they brought. Then religious persecution was outlawed, making it easier for everyone to publicly practice their religion. Finally, it became the official religion of Rome. Part IV: A Church Hierarchy Develops As the Church (all of Christianity) grew more powerful and gained more followers, they became more organized and structured, eventually developing a hierarchy of leadership. (hierarchy=an institution/organization with different levels of authority, power, and responsibility.) CLERGY: The group of people ordained to conduct Christian services (ex: priests) Predict: How might this hierarchy of Church leadership impact political leaders (like Kings)? Political leaders might lose power. All Christians must follow the Pope, no matter where they live. The pope holds more power than political leaders, so governments might change.  Ancient Rome Notes Part I: Early Rome and the Republic THE ROMAN REPUBLIC (slide #1) 1. How is a republic different from a The Roman Republic impacted Rome by.... What are important vocabulary words to monarch? know related to the Roman Republic (& the Giving them a system of government. No one definitions)? In a republic, people choose officials to make person has too much power for too long. It decisions for them. In a monarch, the king stopped a monarchy from happening, but Republic - a system of government where holds all power. gave the upper class lots of power people choose officials to make decisions for them 2. Write a few notes down on how the Patricians - all of the members of the Roman republic functioned. government, made up of 300 senators The senate made laws and appointed Consul - appointed by the senate, supervised business of the government and controlled armies 3. What was the importance of a senator, consul and a dictator? Senators voted on issues Consoles supervised govt, controlled armies Dictator took power during war ROMAN SOCIETY (slides #2-3)  1. Explain the characteristics of both the The way Roman society was structured What are important vocabulary words to patricians and the plebeians. impacted the Romans because… know related to Roman society (& the definitions)? Patricians were upper-class citizens that Patricians made up the government and owned land. Plebians were the middle made all of the decisions. But then, the Patricians - upper class citizens class (farmers, merchants, etc) Plebians (average person) gained power through tribunes Plebeians - middle class citizens 2. What is a tribune? Tribune - people elected by Plebeians to represent them in government A person in the government that is elected by Plebians, to represent them 3. How did the plebeians gain more influence in Rome? They represented the majority of the population. Their role in government increased by vetoing laws 4. Give two ways in which Roman and Greek society were similar? They are similar because they both have a system of voting in their government.  ROMAN LAW (slide #4) 1. What was the Roman Forum? Laws impacted the Romans by… What are important vocabulary words to know related to Roman Laws (& the The marketplace of Rome Giving them a set of rules to live by. This definitions)? ensured that chaos would not break out. When people follow the laws, that helps Roman Forum - The marketplace of rome positively impact everything in Rome. 2. What were the 12 Tables and why was it so 12 Tables of Rome - The laws of Rome that monumental that these tables were written were carved into 12 stone tablets down? The laws of Rome that were carved into 12 stone tablets 3. How did the 12 Tables change plebeians' lives? It allowed the plebeians to know what the laws were. This made it so they could try to appeal a law. SUMMARY STATEMENT Rome had many big accomplishments dyring the Early Roman Republic. Firstly, the government was a Write 1-4 sentences explaining Republic, made up of senators and a consul. Then society started to adapt, forming social classes like the overall accomplishments patricians and plebians who made changes to the government and laws. Finally, the important rules of Rome and impact of Rome during were carved into 12 stone tablets and placed in the Roman Forum, for anyone to view. the Early Republic.  CRITICAL QUESTION I think that the Roman Republic was a fair system of Government. At first, only high-class patricians were part Do you think the Roman of the senate to come up with laws. Over time, this adapted. The Plebians (Middle-class) gained more power, Republic was a fair system of even earning tribunes to represent them. Additionally, people could appeal any existing law, giving the people Government? Why/Why Not more power in their government. PREDICTION I do not think this government would be effective for ruling an empire. It would not have enough control Do you think this government because of the constantly changing laws. Also, not all have equal power. Not everyone has equal power which is would be effective for ruling shown by the Senate that was made up of only patricians. an empire? Why or why not? 1. The Roman Republic Rome’s first government was a monarchy led by a king. Overtime Romans got rid of this system because they felt the king had too much power. Rome’s second form of government was a republic. In a republic, people choose officials to make decisions for them. In the early republic, the senate made laws and controlled the government. Originally, its 300 members were all patricians, or the members of the landholding upper class. Each year, the senators nominated two consuls from the patrician class. Their job was to supervise the business of the government and command the armies. Consuls, however, could only serve one term. By limiting their time in office and making them responsible to each other, Rome had a system of checks on the power of government. In the event of war the senate might choose a dictator, or ruler who had complete control over the government. Each dictator was granted the right to rule for only six months. After that time, the dictator had to give up power. 2. The Roman Republic 3. Roman Society While patricians were landholding upper class citizens of Rome who initially held all government power, there was another group of people too. Plebeians were farmers, merchants, and artisans who made up most of the population of Rome. As time went on, plebeians demanded to be a part of the government. In time, plebeians were granted the right to elect their own officials, called the tribunes. The tribunes could veto or block laws that they felt would be harmful to the plebeians of Rome. Little by little the plebeians were able to gain more access into the government of Rome 4. Roman Society Continued Roman women played a larger role in society than Greek women. They could own property, and in later Roman times, women from all classes ran a variety of businesses, from small shops to major shipyards. However, most women worked at home, raising their families, spinning, and weaving. Girls and boys from the upper and lower classes learned how to read and write. In later years, many upper class Romans hired private tutors, many of them Greek. The Romans believed in numerous Gods and Goddesses, many of whom they adopted from Greek religion. Roman mythology was similar to that of Greek mythology. The Roman calendar was full of feasts and other celebrations to honor the gods and goddesses. Throughout Rome, dozens of temples housed statues of the Gods. 5. Roman Law Code A major breakthrough for the plebeians of Rome came in 450 BC, when the government oversaw the creation of a law code for Rome. The laws were carved into 12 stone tablets and set up in the Roman Forum, the marketplace of Rome. Before the creation of the 12 Tables of Rome, plebeians felt that they did not know what the laws were because the laws were not written down. The 12 Tables of Rome The Roman Forum made it possible for the first time for plebeians to appeal (ask for a second opinion/judgement) a decision by a patrician judge. The Punic Wars and Roman Military Rome’s conquest of the Italian peninsula brought them into contact with another expanding city-state located in North Africa, Carthage. As both Rome and Carthage grew, conflict between the two groups increased. Between 264-146 BC, Rome fought three wars against Carthage, known as the Punic Wars. Rome won each war against Carthage, and by the end of the third war, Rome completely destroyed Carthage. The Romans poured salt all over the earth of Carthage so that nothing would grow there again. The Romans were now the masters of the Western Mediterranean. By 270 BC, the Romans had conquered all of Italy. They went on to conquer Carthage, Macedonia, Greece and parts of Asia Minor. They were able to do so partly because they had a strong, well-disciplined, and organized army, and they hired professional soldiers, instead of recruiting men when a war was ongoing. The Romans also treated their enemies well. Conquered people were allowed to keep their own government and customs. In return, they had to pay taxes to Rome and supply soldiers for the Roman army. Some conquered people even became Roman citizens. The Romans eventually controlled all the land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea- they called it “Mare Nostrum” or Our Sea  Julius Caesar As the Roman military conquered land and expanded, a general named Julius Caesar began rising in power. He gained fame and popularity with both the troops and the people when he led his troops to conquer Gaul (modern day France). However, the Roman Senate became fearful of his growing fame and asked Caesar to return to Rome. Instead of returning alone, however, Caesar returned with his military, and forced the Senators to declare his dictator for life. Although he never called himself emperor, and allowed the Senate to remain, in reality, he ruled as a King. Despite this, Caesar made reforms and kept the favor of the Roman people. However, his popularity again made the Senators angry. They feared that Rome’s Republic (democracy) would end if they allowed Caesar to continue to rule. Therefore, on March 15, 44 BCE, members of the Senate killed Caesar on the Senate floor. This plunged Rome into a Civil War.  10. The Roman Empire and Pax Romana After Caesar’s death, a Civil War broke out, and the winner was Caesar’s grand-nephew, Octavian. Upon his victory, he was given the title of Augustus- the Exalted One by the Senate and became the first emperor of Rome. Rome officially changed from a Republic to an Empire at this time. Even though Rome had become an Empire, the next 200 years (beginning with the rule of Augustus) were a time of peace and prosperity in Rome. We call this time the Pax Romana, or Romana Peace. During this time, Rome had many accomplishments, their military protected the land, and trade prospered.  11. Bread and Circuses During the Pax Romana, the general prosperity hid underlying social and economic problems. Many of the citizens of Rome were poor, and discontent with their leadership. However, the Roman government would provide food (bread) and entertainment to keep the people preoccupied. To the emperors who paid for them with taxes, these amusements were a way to pacify the city’s restless mobs. In much the same spirit, the government provided free grain to feed the poor. Critics warned against this policy of “bread and circuses” but few listened. Throughout the empire rich and poor alike loved spectacular forms of entertainment. At the Circus Maximus, Rome’s largest racecourse, chariots thundered around an oval course, making dangerously tight turns. Fans would bet on their favorite teams and successful charioteers were hailed as heroes. Gladiator contests were even more popular. Many gladiators were slaves who had been trained to fight. In the arena, they battled one another, either alone or in groups. Crowds cheered a skilled gladiator, and a good fighter could even win his freedom. But if a gladiator made a poor showing, sometimes the crowd turned their thumbs down, a signal that he should be killed. 12. Medicine ‘Muscles Man', A drawing based on Galen’s books about anatomy but drawn by someone else. Roman medicine was greatly influenced by earlier Greek medical practice and literature but also made its own unique contribution to the history of medicine through the work of such famous experts like Galen. Whilst there were professional doctors attached to the Roman army, for the rest of the population medicine remained a private affair. Nevertheless, many large Roman households had their own medical specialist amongst their staff and with the spread of literature on the topic, access to medical knowledge became ever wider, treatments became more well known, and surgery became more sophisticated. Galen (131-201) was a physician who learned about anatomy through the dissection of apes and pigs, clinical observation, and thorough examination of patient and symptoms. Galen was forbidden by Roman law to dissect human corpses, so his knowledge was limited to what he could learn from other animals and outward examinations of the bodies of dead gladiators and hanged criminals. 13. Roman art had a close relationship to Greek art. As you may remember, Greek people were interested in ideals: For example: What is the most beautiful man? What is the most athletic man? But the Romans were more interested in realism, what things and people really looked like in everyday life. About 200 BCE, the Romans began conquering, and this changed their art styles a great deal. As the Roman soldiers marched through Greece, they saw much Greek art in the temples, and in the cemeteries, and people's houses. The Romans thought of the Greeks as role models, and so whatever the Greeks were doing in art, the Romans wanted to do. They brought home a lot of the Greek art they saw (either by buying it or by stealing it) and they also brought back Greek sculptors (often as slaves) to make more art for them in Rome. However, the Romans did not copy Greek art exactly. The Romans just adjusted their style to fit their needs. For example, even if you had an imperfection such as a wart or wrinkles, in the art, it would show. The only characters that did not always look “real” were gods or political figures. 14  15. Roman Art: Literature The two most well known Roman authors were Virgil and Cicero. Their works, though completed before Pax Romana, were widely read during the golden age. Virgil (70 BCE- 19 BCE) was regarded by the Romans as their greatest poet, an estimation that subsequent generations have upheld. His fame rests chiefly upon the Aeneid, which tells the story of Rome’s legendary founder and proclaims the Roman mission to civilize the world under divine guidance. His reputation as a poet endures not only for the music and diction of his verse and for his skill in constructing an intricate work on the grand scale, but also because he embodied in his poetry aspects of experience and behavior that transcend history. Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BCE- 43 BCE) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, and writer who vainly tried to uphold republican principles in the final civil wars that destroyed the Roman Republic. His writings include books of rhetoric, speeches, philosophical and political treatises, and letters. 16. Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. Mosaics have been found in Roman dwellings from Britain to Dura-Europos. Splendid mosaic floors are found in Roman villas across north Africa, in places such as Carthage, and can still be seen in the extensive collection in Bardo Museum in Tunis, Tunisia. The most famous mosaics of the Roman world were created in Africa and in Syria, the two richest provinces of the Roman Empire. Many Roman mosaics are found in Tunisian museums, most of which date from the second to the seventh century CE. A section of the Alexander Mosaic, a much larger Roman work depicting a battle involving the Greek general Alexander the Great created in Pompeii around 100 BCE. 17. Achievements ENGINEERING Roads: There is an old expression, "All roads lead to Rome.” Each time a new city was conquered, a road was built connect every part of the empire back to Rome. The Romans built thousands of miles of roads. Up until about a hundred years ago, people were still using these roads, as roads! In recent years, instead of building new roads, modern engineers simply covered many of the old Roman roads with a coat of asphalt. To help people find their way, while traveling these roads, the Romans invented the milestone. The milestone usually gave the mileage to the nearest large city. Aqueducts: When you hear and see the word “aqua,” what word instantly comes to your mind? Give up? As cities grew, the ancient Romans needed more fresh water. To solve this problem, they built aqueducts. These were massive construction projects. An aqueduct is the entire conduit - from fresh water spring to town. (CONDUIT—A natural or artificial channel through which fluids may pass through). Where aqueducts had to cross valleys, some were built above ground, on arches. Most of the time, they were underground conduits, and sometimes conduits lying right on the ground. These conduits could be made of clay or wood, covered or encrusted with stone. The pipes inside the conduits, that carried the water, were made of lead. Needless to say, aqueducts allowed people to move further away from the coast. 19. Columns: The Romans recognized a good thing when they saw it. No surprise, then, that early in their history they too incorporated columns into their architecture. Once part of the Roman Empire, England, Spain, North Africa and the Middle East all share an architectural similarity that was used by the Romans. However, buildings in these areas combine both Greek and Roman (aka Greco-Roman) ideas and elements. Even though the Romans were not the first to use columns in their buildings, they did make fancier columns than the Greeks who were the first to start the trend. The ancient Romans came up with five different types of columns, which are the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite. Most of these, however, were adopted from Greek columns. Arches: The Ancient Romans, made extensive use of the arch in their construction and building. Arches could be seen throughout the Roman Empire. They were used to support roofs in buildings, to support roads, to support aqueducts for the carrying and supply of water and to support bridges. The Fall of Rome The Roman Empire’s period of greatness lasted about two hundred years. It began with the reign of Caesar Augustus in 27 BC and ended with the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD. The next few hundred years were violent times. Many different rulers came to power. Two emperors introduced reforms to stop the decay. Diocletian came to power in 284. He divided the empire into two parts to make it easier to rule. Diocletian controlled prices and forced farmers to stay on their land to help the economy. Constantine came to power in 312. He continued the reforms of Diocletian. Constantine became a Christian and ended Christian persecution. He also built a new capital, Constantinople. As a result, the eastern part of the empire became the center of power, but these improvements did not last. Historians use the year 476 to mark the fall of Rome. In fact, the empire had been declining for many years. Many factors led to the fall of Rome. As the empire expanded and acquired more territory, taxes were increased to support the government and army. In time, higher taxes wiped out the middle class, and trade and business suffered. At the same time, an influx of slaves into the empire caused widespread unemployment. The population declined because of disease and war. This in turn led to a number of social problems, such as crime, moral decay and lack of interest in the government. While the poor grew poorer the rich indulged themselves in idleness and pleasure. Few people in Rome seemed to realize, or care, that the empire was crumbling around them. Beginning about the year 200, the orderly succession to the throne that had characterized the empire throughout its history ended. Rival factions of the army fought civil wars and installed their own candidate as emperor. During one fifty-year period, twenty-six different emperors ruled from Rome. Of this number, twenty-five were murdered. Such instability in the government weakened Rome and made it vulnerable to attacks from Germanic tribes to the north. As Rome grew weaker, its army also declined. Citizens ignored their duties and refused to enlist in the army, forcing officials to recruit barbarians who had settled within the empire. The overall effect was that the army became undisciplined and ineffective. The Romans were attacked by many barbaric groups like the Vandals and the Visigoths. All of these factors contributed to the takeover of the Roman Empire in the west by a Germanic tribe in the year 476. Gradually, Germanic customs, ideas and languages replaced Roman customs.