Prezi Present Ancient Rome

Learning Objectives

1. Outline the government of Rome and compare it to the United States.

2. Compare and contrast patricians and plebeians.

3. Review the blending of Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman cultures. What ideas emerged from this blend? And briefly explain Roman achievements.

4. Explain the collapse of the Republic through an analysis of a large territory, economic turmoil, and military upheaval. Is the United States similar to the Roman Empire? Explain. Discuss the fall of Rome to Barbarian invaders.

5. Explain the impact that Rome had on modern life around the world and in the United States.

Ancient Rome

The Rise of Christianity

Rome's Last Emperor

Beginning of an Empire

Rome Faces Military Upheaval and Political Decay

The West was completely overwhelmed with barbarians.

The last emperor of Rome was Romulus Augustulus. This 14 year old boy would be sent into exile by a German general named Odoacer.

The Eastern half of the empire would flourish in Constantinople, where they would become known as the Byzantine Empire- an empire that would exist and keep Roman and Greek culture alive until their fall to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

Germanic tribes continued to raid villages on the outskirts of the empire, overwhelming the Roman legions.

Persia threatened Roman territory in Syria and Anatolia. They would give the Romans' their most humiliating defeat when they capture the Roman emperor Valerian in 260 A.D.

Mercenaries (foreign soldiers who fought for money) made up most armies. This caused discipline and loyalty to disappear.

Holding office in politics was once a way to earn power and money, but by 200 A.D., being in office would cost more money than one could earn.

Only armies remained interested in politics. Rome would see 50 generals become emperors of Rome between 235-284 A.D., and 26 will briefly gain approval of the senate; 25 would meet violent deaths.

Rome would take control of Judea in 6 A.D. after a series of revolts by the Jews against the Roman influence that Herod had begun to bring into the area during his rule.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem around 6 to 4 B.C. and was raised in Narareth in northern Palestine. He would begin his ministry around the age of 30. He would be arrested and sentenced to be crucified.

Apostles- one of the followers of Jesus who preached and spread his teachings.

Peter- the first apostle, helped spread Christianity throughout Palestine and Syria.

Beginnings

Civil war breaks out after Caesar's death. Caesar's grand-nephew and adopted son, Octavian, joined forces with experienced general Mark Antony, and powerful politician Lepidus to crush the assassins. They would take control of Rome in 43 B.C. and rule for 10 years as the Second Triumvirate.

The Triumvirate would end with another civil war. After Octavian forces Lepidus to retire, he and Antony form a rivalry and begin another civil war.

Octavian would take the name Augustus, or exalted one, after he defeated Antony, and would become emperor of Rome.

Earliest settlers appeared in Italy around 1000 B.C.

The Latins would establish a small settlement on the spot that would become Rome.

Attempted Reform

Each side wold be ruled by a emperor with an assistant that would be the successor to the emperor.

Diocletian would keep overall control over the empire.

The Punic Wars

Diocletian would take control of the empire in 284 A.D., and would prove to be a determined leader.

Spread Through the Empire

Greek settlers would establish colonies on the coasts of southern Italy and Sicily. The Etruscans were a people to the north of Rome. Both these civilizations would influence Rome.

Paul- apostle who had enormous influence on Christianity's development.

Pax Romana made the travel and exchange of Christianity easier, as well as common languages.

A series of rebellions from 66 A.D. to 132 A.D. would take place in the Jewish holy land, as the Jews would try to break away from Roman control. The Jews would be expelled from their homeland, this would be called the Diaspora.

Christians would be used as scapegoats for Rome's political and economic troubles. Despite this, Christianity would become a powerful religious force.

Rome and Carthage fought 3 wars between 264 and 146 B.C. for control of Sicily and the western Mediterranean.

1st Punic War- ended with defeat of Carthage. Rome obtains Sicily.

2nd Punic War- lasted 10 years. Carthage general Hannibal marched 50,000 infantry, 9,000 calvary, and 60 elephants across the Mediterranean Sea, into modern Spain and across the Alps. Once arriving in Italy, he would march his solders up and down the peninsula at will but never captured Rome. Roman general Scipio came up with a plan to attack Carthage and forced Hannibal to return to his native city, where the Romans defeated him.

Policies under Diocletian

• Doubled size of Roman army
• Controlled inflation by setting fixed prices
• Ordered farmers to remain on their lands
• Ordered workers to stay in their jobs for life
• Claimed decent from Roman Gods
• Passed decrees to persecute Christians
• Split the Roman Empire into two parts, an East Greek speaking half (Syria, Greece, Anatolia) and a West Latin speaking half (Rome, Gaul, Britannia and Spain)

Greeco-Roman Culture

Julius Caesar Takes Control

"Classical Civilization"

The Mixing of Elements of Greek, Hellenistic and Roman Culture

Learning and Literature

Latin

Fine Arts

Early Christianity

Philosophy was borrowed from the Greeks, although the Roman philosopher Zeno and his Stoicism were very influential in society.

Virgil- writer of the "Aeneid" the most famous Latin writing.

Livy wrote a historical narrative that combined history with legends.

Tacitus would write "Annals" and "Histories" which would prove to be an accurate history that showed the good and bad of Rome.

Caesar formed a triumvirate with Crassus and Pompey in 60 B.C.

Caesar will become governor of Gaul following his first year as consul and would soon become political rivals with Pompey, which would soon lead to civil war.

After returning to Rome, the senate would appoint him dictator in 46 B.C. and would govern as an absolute ruler (one who has total power).

He would be assassinated on March 15, 44 B.C. in the senate chamber by a Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius, as well as other important senators.

Latin would be the official language of the Roman Catholic Church into the 20th Century.

Latin would be adapted by different cultures into what is now known as French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian.

Half the words in English have a basis in Latin.

Third Punic War

Romans remembered the devastation Carthage brought to Rome and had their revenge against the much weaker city.

Rome would lay siege to the city. They would set the city on fire, destroying it completely and enslaving all 50,000 inhabitants.

The Republic

Move It, Move It

Influence

Roman System of Law

Christianity appealed to many because of 5 reasons-

• embraced all people
• gave hope to the powerless
• appealed to those who were repelled by the extravagances of imperial Rome
• offered a personal relationship with a loving God
• promised eternal life after death

Early Christians began to give their religion a structure. Priests would be the head of local churches, bishops would oversee many churches in an area, and the Pope would be the head of the whole church.

Paul would be said to be the first pope.

Architecture, Engineering, and Technology

Carthage must be destroyed!

A person is considered innocent until proven guilty.

Equal treatment under the law.

Historian R.H. Barrow stated "Rome never fell because it turned into something even greater, an idea, and achieved immorality."

Do you believe this?

Republic Good

Empire Bad

American Thoughts

Modern Day Gladiators

Writing Prompt:

Was Brutus a hero of the republic or a traitor?

What would you have done if you were in his position?

Cato

The burden of proof rested with the accuser rather than the accused.

A person should be punished only for actions, not thoughts.

The arch, the dome and concrete are all products of Rome.

Aqueducts were used to move fresh water into cities.

Romans built a vast network of roads that connected Rome to all parts of the empire.

Influence on the Founding Fathers

Constantine would gain control of Rome in 312 A.D. and would continue many of the policies of Diocletian. By 324, he would secure control of the East, putting Rome under one ruler.

Constantine would move the capital from Rome to the Greek city of Byzantium. The city would be renamed Constantinople after Constantine.

The city held important defensive positions in the empire and bordered the Mediterranean and Black Seas, allowing trade to be much more abundant.

Any law that seemed unreasonable or grossly unfair could be set aside.

Roman Roads + 1500 years = U.S. Interstates

What About Now? Did Rome Influence the World?

The Romans overthrew a Etruscan king, Tarquin the Proud, in 509 B.C.

They declared they would never be ruled by a king again and swore death to anybody who claimed to be king.

The Romans established a Republic, or government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote to select their leaders.

Patricians- aristocratic landowners who held most of the power.

Plebeians-the common farmers, artisans, and merchants.

Expansion Creates Problems for the Republic

A Vast and Powerful Empire

Invaders Overrun the West

From 27 B.C. to A.D. 170, the Roman Empire had peace throughout the empire. This period is called Pax Romana or "Roman Peace."

Managing a Huge Empire

An Economy Based on Agriculture and Trade

The Decline of the Roman empire occured slowly over many years but would collapse after internal problems worsened, the separation of the Western Empire from the wealthy Eastern Empire and outside invaders.

370 A.D.- The Huns would force Germanic people to invade Rome, where they would overwhelm the structures of Roman society.

The Huns were fierce Mongol nomads that destroyed everything in their path.

Franks, Burgundians, and Vandals would swarm into Gaul and met little resistance.

By the fifth century, the city of Rome would be vulnerable to attack- the first time in 600 years.

408 A.D.- Alaric, King of the Visigoths, would plunder Rome for 3 days.

Constantine Accepts Christianity

90% of people were engaged in farming

Additional foods and luxury items for the rich are obtained through trade

Roman ships would trade within the Mediterranean and cities along the sea would become wealthy.

Roman traders would use roads within the empire to trade as far as China, southern Russia, and India.

Roman borders measured more than 10,000 miles.

By the second century A.D., the empire reached from Spain to Mesopotamia, and from North Africa to Britain.

Rome used the men of the provinces as auxiliary, or support, forces. They would become citizens after they completed their military service.

A Sound Government

The Emperors and Succession

Augustus stabilized the frontier, glorified Rome with splendid public buildings, and creating a system of government that survived for centuries, that contained civil service.

After Augustus's death, the senate chose his adopted son Tiberius as his successor.

During Pax Romana, some of Rome's emperors were able and intelligent, while others such as Caligula and Nero, were either insane or unstable.

Civil war was always a possibility when an emperor died since Rome had no written law for choosing a new emperor.

This was temporarily solved by the leaders known as the Five Good Emperors, beginning with Nerva in 96 A.D., each emperor adopted a respected leader as their heir.

This ended with Marcus Aurelius, and his death in 180 A.D. would begin the decline of the empire and the end of Pax Romana.

312 A.D.- Roman emperor Constantine was fighting three rivals at once for his title. He marched to the Tiber River in Rome to battle his chief rival, and had prayed for divine help the day before his battle, and would claim he that he saw a cross of light in the heavens bearing the inscription "In this sign, conquer." He would win the battle and give credit to his success to the Christian God.

He would announce the end of the persecution of Christians the following year.

In 380, emperor Theodosius would make Christianity the empire's official religion.

Heresy- used to describe teachings that church leaders believed appeared to contradict the basic teachings of Christianity.

In an attempt to end disputes and conflicts, church leaders established a single, official standard of belief that would be complied in the New Testament.

As the Republic grew and the armies began to conquer more land, the separation between the rich and the poor grew larger.

Effects from Hannibal's invasion were still visible as many poor farmers could not afford to repair their farms, and in turn, sold these farms to the rich, where they would use slave labor to produce crops.

Much of the poor and former soldiers, who after becoming homeless and jobless, would move to the city and find little work as they had little skills.

This tension between the classes would eventually lead to the fall of the Roman Republic.

Attack of the Huns

Life in Rome

Roman Men and Women

Valued pietas (duty, religiosity, loyalty), dignitas (dignity, status, influence, prestige), virtus (valor, manliness, excellence, courage, character), and gravitas (weight, seriousness, dignity, importance.)

The eldest man had power to run the household. Controlled all property, had authority over all family members, could disown children, or banish family members.

Upper-class women ran the household and were given respect, and lower class women could work at jobs like spinner, weavers, shopkeepers, midwives or entertainers. Women would be able to own property and testify in court, but could not vote.

Children and Education

The Roman Army

Male children were favored over female children.

Daughters would receive the feminine form of their father's name.

Few children went to school, but those who did would be rich males, and school would last until adulthood at the age of 16.

Girls would be educated in the home and between the ages of 12 to 15, would be married off to a much older man.

The Collapse of the Roman Republic

The Huns would become a direct threat to the empire.

The power chieftain Attila would unite the Huns in 444 A.D.

With 100,000 soldiers, Attila would terrorize both halves of the empire, and plunder 70 cities. In 452 A.D., they would attack Rome but would be weakened by disease and famine. Pope Leo I would be able to negotiate their withdraw from Rome.

After Attila's death in 453, the Huns would no longer pose a threat but Germanic invasions would still occur.

In 455, the Vandals would sack Rome, and along with famine, the city's population would drop to 20,000.

Empire in Crisis

Two brothers, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, would lobby to reform the social classes while they were tribunes, but would be opposed by many senators.

Both would meet violent deaths, and the Republic would erupt into civil war as a result.

Two senators, Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla, would promise land and wealth to the poor, and these people would make up the two senators' armies and wage war against one another with Sulla eventually being crowned dictator.

Rivalries between generals would threaten the Republic until an ambitious and darling leader, Julius Caesar was able to emerge and bring order to Rome.

Entertainment

The rich would spend large sums of money on large houses, gardens, slaves, and luxuries- that would include large banquets that would last for hours, all while the poor would struggle to get the necessities of life.

To control the masses, the government provided free games, races, mock battles, and gladiator contests. Many of these would take place at the Colosseum, that would hold 50,000 spectators.

Rome Spreads Its Power

All citizens who owned land were required to serve in the army.

Soldiers were organized into bigger units called Legions. Legions would contain 5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers.

Each legion would contain several smaller groups comprised of 80 soldiers. These groups will be called a century. They would provide the flexibility that would make the legion deadly.

During Pax Romana, the Romans had plentiful trade, gold and silver from conquests of other lands, and farms grew enough grain to feed the cities. During the 3rd century A.D., there resources disappeared.

Overspending depleted the empire's treasuries. The Roman government will raise taxes to combat this depletion, this will cause inflation.

Inflation- drastic drop in the value of money couple with a rise in prices.

Pirates and hostile tribes disrupted trade. Soil began to lose its fertility, slave labor discouraged new innovations, and increased taxes forced poor farmers to sell their land.

Gods and Godesses

Slaves

Slaves could have counted for 1/3 of the Roman population and was vital to their economy.

Occasionally slaves would revolt but no slave rebellion was ever successful.

Early Romans worshiped powerful spirits or divine forces called numina. Closely related to these spirits were the lares, who were guardian spirits for each family.

After coming in contact with the Greeks, the Romans began to associate these spirits with human like forms and were given Roman names.

Romans slowly gain power in Italy before getting sacked by the Gauls. The Romans would recover and rebuild Rome and begin to conquer all of their neighbors and enemies.

Conquered lands would fall into three groups. Lands with fellow Latins would be full citizens.

Lands farther away would be given full citizenship except the right to vote. All other conquered lands would be considered "allies of Rome" and had to follow certain guidelines given by Rome.

Rome's location would give it easy access to the Mediterranean Sea, but the Carthage, a dominate city on the Mediterranean would interfere.