honors world history- the roman republic

1. The Roman Republic
Chapter 6,
Section 1

2. Italian Peninsula
Greeks first came to Italy in 900
BC
Greeks liked Italy’s central location
and rich, Mediterranean farmland
Italy is separated from Europe by
the Alps in the North

3. Etruscans
Etruscans dominated the Italian
Peninsula from 900-500 BC
Influenced by the Greeks; used
their alphabet
Gained control of Rome in 625 BC
and taught the Romans their
culture and technology

4. Early Rome
Rome was founded by Romulus in
753, after he killed his brother
Remus, according to legend
Consisted of 7 hills on the Latium
plain
The Etruscans drained the
marshes & built roads & the Forum

5. The Republic
Society consisted of patricians and
plebians
Patricians set up a gov’t with
executive and legislative branches
Executive- 2 consuls w/ veto power
Legislative-Senate w/ 300 patricians

6. Plebeians Gain Power
Demanded representation in gov’t
Tribunes gained veto power,
Assembly of Tribes gained law
making power
Improved social standing
Previously unwritten laws were
codified on the 12 Tables

7. Roman Religion
Romans worshipped gods
borrowed from the Greeks but
given Roman names
They also kept some of the nature
spirits they worshipped during
Etruscan rule

8. Roman Legions
The Republic faced many attacks
from neighbors
All Roman men were required to
join army
Divided soldiers into smaller
“legions” to make them more mobile
Very disciplined and well-trained

9. Roman Legions
As army conquered foes, they had
to pledge allegiance to Rome
Permanent settlements were
developed and connected by
roads

10. Carthage
Carthaginians in N. Africa were
also expanding
Conflict arose over the Sicily
1st
Punic war lasted from 264-241
with the Romans winning and
forcing the Carthaginians to pay a
large indemnity

11. 2nd
Punic War
20 years later, Hannibal led
40,000 troops through Gaul and
over the Alps (½ are killed)
Hannibal terrorized Romans,
nearly destroying army at Cannae
Scipio attacked Carthage, forcing
Hannibal to return and surrender

12. Problems in the Republic
As Rome expanded, conflict arose
from provinces paying tribute
Romans seized land and created
latifundia, plantations
Roman legions were stationed
throughout empire to quell revolts

13. Feuds
Many nobles used the large
population of unemployed to form
their own militaries
These armies provided many
nobles with a lot of power

14. Julius Caesar
In 60 BC Caesar became consul
with the help of Pompey and
Crassus-Triumvirate
Used military accomplishments in
Gaul and Germanic lands to
increase his popularity

15. Julius Caesar
Pompey ordered Caesar to give
up his army
Instead, Caesar marched into
Rome and seized power
In 45 BC, Caesar declared himself
dictator for life

16. Caesar in Power
Expanded representation in the
Senate
Provided land for landless poor
Developed the modern calendar
Julius Caesar was killed on March
15, 44 BC by Senators who
believed he had grown too strong

17. End of the Republic
With Caesar’s death, Octavian and
Antony formed a new triumvirate
Divided the Republic up among
themselves
Octavian defeated Antony in 31 BC
at Actium becoming the undisputed
ruler of Rome

18. The Roman Empire
Chapter 6,
Section 3

19. Augustus- “A city of brick
to one of marble.”
Changed name from Octavian
Rebuilt Rome
Reformed tax system and
eliminated corruption
Built new roads and public buildings
Pax Romana for 200 years

20. Julio-Claudian Emperors
The 4 successors to Augustus
Tiberius was constantly paranoid
Caligula was a sociopath and was
killed by Praetorian Guard
Claudius followed but was killed by his
wife
Nero was insane and nearly destroyed
Rome with his vanity and indulgence

21. The Good Emperors
Under Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and
Marcus Aurelius Rome reached its
peak
Trajan stretched Rome to its largest
size
Hadrian built a wall in Britain

22. Roman Rule
Made gov’t more efficient; chose
qualified leaders for provinces
Developed ideas such as “innocent
until guilty” which have formed the
basis for western & Christian law
Downsized the army too much,
making it vulnerable to attack

23. Pax Romana
Goods from all over the world
poured into Rome
Family became less important and
divorces more common
Middle class grew larger
Society became less stable

24. Engineering and
Entertainment
Roads and aqueducts were the life-
blood of Rome
Circus Maximus, Colosseum, &
public baths kept the people happy
Innovations like concrete and the
arch helped create structures like
the Pantheon

25. Education, Science, &
Literature
Borrowed much from other cultures
Most boys were educated, the
wealthy at academies
Latin was the common language
and forms the basis for today’s
Romance languages

26. Rise of Christianity
Chapter 6,
Section 4

27. Judaism in the Empire
As Rome secured Judea under
Augustus, many Jews believed a
messiah would arrive to save them
Jews revolted in 66 AD but were
defeated in 70 AD and their temple
was destroyed
Revolted again in 132 AD
Judaism in the Empire
As Rome secured Judea under
Augustus, many Jews believed a
messiah would arrive to save them
Jews revolted in 66 AD but were
defeated in 70 AD and their temple
was destroyed
Revolted again in 132 AD

28. Jesus of Nazareth
A Jew who proclaimed that God’s
rule was close at hand preached
acts of kindness
Disciples believed he was messiah
Controversy in the Jewish
community concerned Romans so
they crucified Jesus

29. Spread and Persecution
of Christianity
Disciples claimed Jesus had risen
from the dead and was the messiah
Converts like Paul spread religion
throughout Mediterranean
Peter brought Christianity to Rome
Many believers were martyred by
the Romans

30. The Early Church
According to legend, Constantine
accepted Christianity in 312 after a
battle
Said Romans could worship how
they pleased
Theodosius made Christianity
Rome’s official religion in 392

31. The Early Church
Church was set up in a hierarchy by
the 400’s and the bishop of Rome
had taken a leadership role as the
pope
Latin churches became the Roman
Catholic while Greek-influenced
churches became Eastern Orthodox

32. Roman Decline
Chapter 6,
Section 5

33. Empire’s Problem
After Marcus Aurelius, there were
28 emperors in 90 years
Instability opened Rome up to
attacks from “Barbarians”
Warfare led to poor crops, inflation,
and extreme financial hardship for
the empire

34. An Empire Divided
The west part of the Roman Empire
was being constantly attacked
Diocletian and Constantine tried to
implement reforms to slow
economic decline unsuccessfully
Theodosius decreed that the
empire should be split in 395

35. Reasons Barbarians
Attacked
Sought warmer, southern climate
Wanted Rome’s wealth
Inability of military to contain
Visigoths led to further uprisings
from Franks, Vandals, Goths,
Huns and others

36. Fall of Western Empire
Vandals destroyed Rome in 455
Franks and Goths divided Gaul
In 476, Odoacer defeated the last
Roman Emperor
This German general accepted
Latin culture and Christianity