Ancient Rome AP European History - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Ancient Rome

AP European HistorySlide2

Objectives

Explain how geography influenced the development of Rome

Discuss the evolution of Roman government

Describe the growth of the Roman Empire

Compare/Contrast the effectiveness of Roman leaders

Discuss the conditions under the

Pax

Romana

Describe the achievements of Rome

Discuss the rise and spread of Christianity

Explain the decline and fall of RomeSlide3

Geography of Rome

Italy is the familiar “boot” peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea

Mountains border Italy on the North (Alps)

The Apennines

run the length of the peninsula

The city of Rome is located on a fertile plain, its seven hills provide an advantageous lookout, and the Tiber River provides a transportation routeSlide4

Physical Geography of ItalySlide5

The Early Roman Republic

P

atricians (wealthy landowners)

controlled government through the Senate

Plebeians (common people) could not hold public office

Two consuls elected each year – directed government and commanded the army

A dictator was appointed in times of crisis

Held absolute power

Ruled for six monthsSlide6

The Roman Army

As Rome expanded it required all landowning citizens to serve

Plebeian numbers in the army increased

Strict training and discipline resulted in an effective military

Divided into legions of 6,000 soldiers

Legions were divided into smaller, more mobile unitsSlide7

The Roman LegionSlide8

Changes in Government

Plebeians demanded increased representation

Assembly of` Centuries

m

ade up of Roman army

chose a censor who registered the population

Assembly of Tribes

Made up of plebeians

Elected ten tribunes to represent them

451 BCE – drafted a law code – The Twelve Tables of Law

Over time the rights of plebeians increasedSlide9

Roman Expansion (509 BCE – 44 BCE)

Controlled Italian peninsula by 264 BCE

Punic Wars (264 BCE – 146 BCE)

First Punic War - gained Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica

Second Punic War - defeat of Hannibal

Third Punic War – destruction of Carthage

Conquered parts of Spain, southern Gaul, Macedonia, and Greece

Conquests resulted in vast amounts of tribute

Resulted in creation of

latifundia

(large estates) and many unemployedSlide10

Early Roman ExpansionSlide11

Decline of the Republic

V

ast poor population

 violence and rebellion

Senate relied upon legions to suppress violence

Popular generals built loyal armies

88 BCE Sulla victorious in civil war

 military generals would rule Rome for next 40 yearsSlide12

Rise of Julius Caesar

Popularity in Rome from military successes in Spain

60 BCE – Generals Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus formed alliance – First Triumvirate

Triumvirate soon deteriorated

49 BCE - Senate ordered Caesar to disband his army

His army entered Rome and conquered army of PompeySlide13

Rule of Caesar

Returned to Rome in 44 BCE and appointed dictator for life

Introduced a series of reforms

Distributed land to poor

Gave citizenship to people in provinces

Reduced unemployment

Increased pay for soldiers

Reduced power of Senate

Assassinated in Senate on March 15, 44 BCE Slide14

Age of Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE)

First Roman Emperor

Rome entered the

Pax

Romana

(27 BCE – 180 CE)

Golden age of peace and prosperity

Reorganized army – had soldiers settle in provinces

Used civil service system

Established a census for tax purposesSlide15

Successors to Augustus

Nero – Rome burned in 64 CE

Trajan – empire peaked in size

Hadrian – new laws protecting women, children & slaves, defensive wall across Britain

Marcus Aurelius – fought Germanic invaders on the borderSlide16

Hadrian’s WallSlide17

The

Pax

Romana

Rome became an international city

Emperors engaged in vast building projects

Roman navy protected water trade routes

Roman army protected land trade routes

Growing gap between rich and poor

Use of slaves undermined small farmers and small businesses

Expansion created economic problems – devalued coins and inflationSlide18

Greco-Roman Achievements

Art & Architecture

m

osaics

columns, arches & domes

concrete

Technology & Science

b

ridges and roads

a

queducts

Pliny the Elder – 37 volume

Natural History

Galen – medical encyclopediaSlide19

Roman MosaicSlide20

Greco-Roman Achievements

Literature

Cicero – logical argument

Horace – poetry

Virgil –

History of Rome

Tacitus – the

Annals

Law

Common standard of justice

Twelve Tables of Law

Foundation of European law codesSlide21

Rise of Christianity

Roman occupation of Israel led to increased belief in a messiah – savior from God

Gospels give an account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus attracted large crowds – stressed love of God and compassion for others

Taught using parables – short stories with simple moral lessons

Arrested by Jewish leaders and taken before Pilate – Roman official

Seen as a threat to Roman authority he received a death sentence from PilateSlide22

Spread of Christianity

Twelve apostles chosen to carry on Jesus’ teachings

Apostle Peter traveled to Rome to convert Jews to Christianity

Apostle Paul established Christian communities throughout the Roman Empire

Paul’s letters to various churches helped shape early Christian doctrine

Persecution of Christian martyrs by Roman authorities resulted in growth of convertsSlide23

Church Organization

Bishops administered larger territories called sees

Priests conducted worship services

In time the bishop of Rome became the dominant leader of the church – Pope

Organization created a strong and efficient church system with its own code of lawSlide24

Decline of the Roman Empire

Lack of a system of succession led to many civil wars

Decline in law and order

Disruption of trade

Invaders attacked the empire

Emperor Diocletian divided the Roman Empire in half

Emperor Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium – closer to the commercial center of the empireSlide25

Fall of the Roman Empire

Germanic tribes invaded Roman territory

Growing

G

ermanic tribes sought new lands

Invasion of Huns into Germanic regions

451 CE - combined Germanic & Roman force stopped Huns at Battle of Troyes in Gaul

476 CE – Germanic chief, Odoacer captured Rome



fall of western half of Roman EmpireSlide26

Causes of the Decline

Political

Loss of responsibility among Roman citizens toward government

Corrupt leaders

 lack of capable leaders

Division of the empire

 difficult to govern

Economic

Loss of tribute from newly conquered lands

Civil wars & Germanic invasions disrupted trade & taxation

Devaluing of Roman money

Heavy taxes and high unemployment

Social

Loyalty decayed

Lack of discipline and patriotism among army recruits

Epidemics and sense of hopelessness