Roman EmpireRoman Empire

27 BCE- 476 CE27 BCE- 476 CE

Augustus CaesarAugustus Caesar

In 27 CE, Octavian In 27 CE, Octavian was named by the was named by the Senate consul, Senate consul, tribune, and tribune, and commander in commander in chief for life.chief for life.

He also took the He also took the name “Augustus,” name “Augustus,” which means which means “Majestic One.”“Majestic One.”

Augustus (Con’t)Augustus (Con’t)

Augustus ruled Rome for 40 years, Augustus ruled Rome for 40 years, from 27 BCE to 14 CE. from 27 BCE to 14 CE. • He began to rebuild the city of Rome.He began to rebuild the city of Rome.• He appointed governors and tax He appointed governors and tax

collectors.collectors.• He imported grain from the provinces of He imported grain from the provinces of

North Africa.North Africa.• Public works projects, such as roads, Public works projects, such as roads,

temples, and public buildings were temples, and public buildings were constructed.constructed.

Augustus (Con’t)Augustus (Con’t)

Augustus boasted that he had “found Augustus boasted that he had “found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble.”of marble.”

In 31 BCE, the Pax Romana began. In 31 BCE, the Pax Romana began. This was a peace that lasted until This was a peace that lasted until 180 CE. During this time, the Roman 180 CE. During this time, the Roman legions did not participate in any legions did not participate in any major conflicts and the people of the major conflicts and the people of the roman Empire lived and prospered.roman Empire lived and prospered.

Julio-Claudian EmperorsJulio-Claudian Emperors

From 14 to 68 CE, there were 4 From 14 to 68 CE, there were 4 people that assumed the position of people that assumed the position of emperor. These four were related to emperor. These four were related to Augustus.Augustus.• TiberiusTiberius• CaligulaCaligula• ClaudiusClaudius• NeroNero

The Good EmperorsThe Good Emperors

Twenty-eight years after Nero’s death, Twenty-eight years after Nero’s death, there were several emperors whose there were several emperors whose skill as effective administrators earned skill as effective administrators earned them the title “Good Emperors.”them the title “Good Emperors.”• NervaNerva• TrajanTrajan• HadrianHadrian• Antonius PiusAntonius Pius• Marcus AureliusMarcus Aurelius

Roman RuleRoman Rule

By 27 BCE, there were some 70 By 27 BCE, there were some 70 million people living in the Roman million people living in the Roman Empire.Empire.

To rule effectively, Augustus had to To rule effectively, Augustus had to make many changes in the make many changes in the government of Rome.government of Rome.

These were in the areas of These were in the areas of government appointments, law, and government appointments, law, and the military.the military.

Roman GovernmentRoman Government

Professional Professional governors were governors were appointed in the appointed in the provinces.provinces.

Augustus took the Augustus took the title of “Pontiflex title of “Pontiflex Maximus.” This Maximus.” This joined the political joined the political and religious and religious systems together.systems together.

Roman LawRoman Law

As more provinces were added, the As more provinces were added, the need for a system of laws grew.need for a system of laws grew.

Roman citizens were covered by the Roman citizens were covered by the jus civile, or citizens law.jus civile, or citizens law.

Non-Roman citizens were covered by Non-Roman citizens were covered by the jus gentium, or non-citizen law.the jus gentium, or non-citizen law.

Roman laws stressed the importance Roman laws stressed the importance of the state over the individual.of the state over the individual.

Roman MilitaryRoman Military

Rome had a powerful military in the Rome had a powerful military in the beginning of the empire. However, as beginning of the empire. However, as the Pax Romana continued, the cost the Pax Romana continued, the cost of maintaining a large army increased.of maintaining a large army increased.

Emperors began to reduce the Emperors began to reduce the number of Romans in the legions, number of Romans in the legions, especially in the provinces. The especially in the provinces. The allowed provincial peoples to join and allowed provincial peoples to join and protect their provinces.protect their provinces.

Rome’s EconomyRome’s Economy

50,000 miles of 50,000 miles of improved Roman improved Roman roads allowed roads allowed trade goods to trade goods to travel throughout travel throughout the empire.the empire.

Many of these Many of these roads still exist.roads still exist.

Life During the Pax RomanaLife During the Pax Romana

Increased wealth.Increased wealth. Decreased importance of family. Decreased importance of family.

Fathers lost some of their power.Fathers lost some of their power. Gap between rich and poor continued Gap between rich and poor continued

to widen.to widen. Government continued the “Bread Government continued the “Bread

and circuses” program for the poor in and circuses” program for the poor in the cities.the cities.

Life (Con’t)Life (Con’t)

Life (Con’t)Life (Con’t)

Romans Romans constructed many constructed many public works public works projects throughout projects throughout the empire.the empire.

One of the most One of the most unique was the unique was the aqueducts that aqueducts that supplied Roman supplied Roman cities with water.cities with water.

Life (Con’t)Life (Con’t)

Much of the building in the provinces Much of the building in the provinces was completed by the Roman legions.was completed by the Roman legions.

Once the provinces were secured, Once the provinces were secured, soldiers became builders to bring Rome soldiers became builders to bring Rome anywhere that Romans settled.anywhere that Romans settled.

In some cases, the Romans allowed the In some cases, the Romans allowed the royal families to remain in power as royal families to remain in power as long as they followed Roman law.long as they followed Roman law.

Life (Con’t)Life (Con’t)

Romans also preserved Greek culture Romans also preserved Greek culture and literature.and literature.

They also excelled in adapting the They also excelled in adapting the discoveries of other cultures and discoveries of other cultures and using them in different ways. using them in different ways. Examples are the arch (Etruscan), Examples are the arch (Etruscan), columns (Greeks) and medicine columns (Greeks) and medicine (Greeks).(Greeks).

Roman Contributions to Science Roman Contributions to Science and Architectureand Architecture

Road and bridge construction.Road and bridge construction. Perfected concretePerfected concrete Vaulted domesVaulted domes AmphitheatersAmphitheaters ArchesArches The Romans had no real The Romans had no real

contributions to science. What they contributions to science. What they did was gather information from did was gather information from other cultures.other cultures.

Roman ArchitectureRoman Architecture

The Pantheon The Pantheon constructed during constructed during the reign of the reign of Hadrian.Hadrian.

Built as a temple to Built as a temple to Roman gods.Roman gods.

Largest free Largest free standing dome in standing dome in the world until the the world until the 1414thth century CE. century CE.

Rise of ChristianityRise of Christianity

In 6 CE, the Romans took over Judea.In 6 CE, the Romans took over Judea. The Romans allowed the Jews to The Romans allowed the Jews to

continue their religion but treated continue their religion but treated the Jewish population cruelly.the Jewish population cruelly.

The Jews took strength in their belief The Jews took strength in their belief that a messiah would appear and that a messiah would appear and drive the Romans from their lands.drive the Romans from their lands.

Rise of Christianity (Con’t)Rise of Christianity (Con’t)

From 30-33 CE, a Jew named Jesus From 30-33 CE, a Jew named Jesus traveled throughout Judea preaching traveled throughout Judea preaching a new message. He preached that a new message. He preached that God was coming and that people God was coming and that people should act with kindness and should act with kindness and compassion and give up their sinful compassion and give up their sinful lives.lives.

The followers of Jesus believed that The followers of Jesus believed that he was the messiah.he was the messiah.

Rise of Christianity (Con’t)Rise of Christianity (Con’t)

The religious leaders of the Jewish religion The religious leaders of the Jewish religion and the Romans viewed Jesus as a rebel and the Romans viewed Jesus as a rebel and a traitor.and a traitor.

The Romans arrested Jesus in Jerusalem as The Romans arrested Jesus in Jerusalem as a political rebel and crucified him.a political rebel and crucified him.

After his death, his disciples began to After his death, his disciples began to spread his message. They began calling spread his message. They began calling Jesus “Christos” or Greek for messiah.Jesus “Christos” or Greek for messiah.

One disciple, Paul traveled throughout the One disciple, Paul traveled throughout the empire spreading the word of Jesus.empire spreading the word of Jesus.

Rise of Christianity (Con’t)Rise of Christianity (Con’t)

The religion appealed to the poor, The religion appealed to the poor, salves, and women.salves, and women.

The Romans treated the followers of The Romans treated the followers of this religion as traitors because the this religion as traitors because the Christians refused to serve in the Christians refused to serve in the roman legions or recognize the roman legions or recognize the emperor as a divine person.emperor as a divine person.

For the next 200 years, the Romans For the next 200 years, the Romans persecuted the Christians on and off.persecuted the Christians on and off.

Rise of Christianity (Con’t)Rise of Christianity (Con’t)

In 312 CE, Constantine became the In 312 CE, Constantine became the first Roman emperor to convert to first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity.Christianity.

One year later, he issued the Edict of One year later, he issued the Edict of Milan ant gave religious freedom to Milan ant gave religious freedom to all of the empire.all of the empire.

In 392 CE, the emperor Theodosius In 392 CE, the emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion made Christianity the official religion of the empire.of the empire.

Early Christian HierarchyEarly Christian Hierarchy

Why was it necessary?Why was it necessary? What model did the church use?What model did the church use? How did the position of Pope come How did the position of Pope come

about?about?

Early Church HierarchyEarly Church Hierarchy

PatriarchsPatriarchs

5 Patriarchal cities – Rome, Antioch, 5 Patriarchal cities – Rome, Antioch, Constantinople, Alexandria, JerusalemConstantinople, Alexandria, Jerusalem

ArchbishopsArchbishops

ProvincesProvinces

BishopsBishops

DioceseDiocese

PriestsPriests

ParishesParishes

The Decline and Fall of the Roman The Decline and Fall of the Roman EmpireEmpire

The Roman Empire The Roman Empire expanded to its expanded to its greatest extent greatest extent during the reign of during the reign of the emperor the emperor Trajan.Trajan.

The Roman legions The Roman legions were responsible were responsible for protecting a for protecting a border over 4000 border over 4000 miles long.miles long.

Decline and Fall (Con’t)Decline and Fall (Con’t)

The Pax Romana ended with the The Pax Romana ended with the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 CE.death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 CE.

From 192 to 284 CE, Rome was ruled From 192 to 284 CE, Rome was ruled by many different emperors, most of by many different emperors, most of them were incompetent and killed by them were incompetent and killed by the Praetorian Guards.the Praetorian Guards.

This period became known as the 2This period became known as the 2ndnd Century Crisis.Century Crisis.

Decline and Fall – 2Decline and Fall – 2ndnd Century Century CrisisCrisis

Political instabilityPolitical instability Economic DeclineEconomic Decline

• Warfare disrupted trade and profits. It Warfare disrupted trade and profits. It also destroyed farm lands.also destroyed farm lands.

• The government began minting more The government began minting more coins, which lead to inflation.coins, which lead to inflation.

• Taxes increased to pay for the larger Taxes increased to pay for the larger military needed to protect the borders military needed to protect the borders from outside invaders.from outside invaders.

Decline and Fall – Unsuccessful Decline and Fall – Unsuccessful ReformsReforms

Emperor DiocletianEmperor Diocletian• Split the empire into two; the Western Roman Split the empire into two; the Western Roman

Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire. Ruled Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire. Ruled with a co-emperor.with a co-emperor.

West capital – RomeWest capital – Rome East capital – Byzantium (Later Constantinople)East capital – Byzantium (Later Constantinople) Economic reforms – Edict of Prices – froze prices, Economic reforms – Edict of Prices – froze prices,

required fathers to teach their sons an occupation, required fathers to teach their sons an occupation, set a maximum price for goods, and required a set a maximum price for goods, and required a person to stay in the same job.person to stay in the same job.

When Diocletian retired in 305 CE, civil wars again When Diocletian retired in 305 CE, civil wars again break out.break out.

Decline and Fall – Con’t)Decline and Fall – Con’t)

Emperor Constantine assumes power Emperor Constantine assumes power in 312CE and continues Diocletian’s in 312CE and continues Diocletian’s reforms. He moved the capital to reforms. He moved the capital to Constantinople.Constantinople.

Theodosius becomes emperor in 337 Theodosius becomes emperor in 337 CE and declares that the empire be CE and declares that the empire be permanently split upon his death.permanently split upon his death.

Decline and Fall – Barbarian Decline and Fall – Barbarian InvasionsInvasions

Germanic TribesGermanic Tribes• VisigothsVisigoths• HunsHuns• VandalsVandals• FranksFranks• GothsGoths• Rome falls to Germanic tribes led by Rome falls to Germanic tribes led by

Odacer in 476 CEOdacer in 476 CE