The Roman World

1. The Roman World Chapter 13 Section 2

3. The Roman World • The Big Idea • The Romans unified parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia in one of the ancient world’s greatest civilizations. • Main Ideas • The Roman Republic was governed by elected leaders. • The Roman Empire was a time of great achievements. • The spread of Christianity began during the empire. • Various factors helped bring about the decline of Rome.

4. Main Idea 1:The Roman Republic was governed by elected leaders. Government • Rome was originally a monarchy. • In 509 BC the Romans overthrew their king and created a republic, a government in which people elect their leaders. • Rome’s leaders were advised by the Senate, a council of powerful Romans. • All Roman citizens were encouraged to vote and take part in the government. Expansion • Under the republic, Rome grew. By 100 BC the Romans ruled much of the Mediterranean world. • The Romans conquered and took over many lands. For example, they fought and defeated Carthage in North Africa.

6. The change from republic to empire began after the murder of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. Caesar’s adopted son Octavian took over the Roman world. As ruler, he was renamed Augustus, which means “honored one.” Augustus was respected for his many accomplishments: Added territory to the empire Built monuments and public buildings Improved roads Augustus’s rule was the beginning of the Pax Romana or Roman Peace, a period of peace and achievement that lasted for about 200 years. Main Idea 2:The Roman Empire was a time of great achievements.

8. Building andEngineering Great builders and engineers Many Roman buildings are still standing today. Romans also built durable roads, bridges, and aqueducts, or channels used to carry water over long distances. Language and Law Many modern languages based on Latin, the Roman language Wrote great plays, poems, and stories Roman law influenced many legal systems around the world, including that of the United States. Achievements of the Pax Romana

10. Christianity is based on the life, actions, and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Christianity began in Judea in southwest Asia but quickly spread through the rest of the Roman world. Early Christians traveled from city to city, teaching people about their beliefs. As a result, large communities of Christians formed in many Roman cities. Main Idea 3: The spread of Christianity began during the empire.

11. Christianity in the Roman World • Some Roman leaders feared that Christians would rebel against the government. • To prevent rebellion, these leaders began to persecute, or punish, Christians. • Christians practiced their religion in secret to avoid persecution. Persecution • In the 300s the emperor Constantine became a Christian. • Constantine ended persecution. Acceptance • In the 380s all non-Christian religions were banned in Rome. • Christianity became a powerful influence in the Roman world. Official Religion

12. By the late 300s, Roman society was weakening. Crime rates rose. Taxes and poverty increased. The Roman education system broke down. The government fell apart. Many people no longer felt loyal to Rome. Many factors contributed to the weakening. Main Idea 4: Various factors helped bring about the decline of Rome.

14. Government Problems For years Rome was ruled by bad emperors who were more interested in their own happiness than in ruling well. Ambitious military leaders tried to take over, but they were no better than the bad emperors. Civil wars between rival leaders added to Rome’s problems. Invasions Barbarian invaders began to attack Roman territory in the 300s and 400s. The powerful invaders defeated Roman armies and took land away from the Romans. In 476 an invading group destroyed Rome and overthrew the last emperor. Most historians consider this event the end of the Roman Empire in western Europe. Factors in Rome’s Decline