Lecture On Rome
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Lecture On Rome Slides 1.1A-1.1E
Slide 1.1A Rome’s Beginnings: Romulus and Remus • Mythical version: • Trojan prince Aeneas discovers Latin while looking for promised land. • Romulus and Remus, sons of Latin princess and god Mars, abandoned • Romulus and Remus cared for by she-wolf, discovered by shepherd and wife. • Romulus kills Remus; becomes first king of Rome.
Slide 1.1A continued • Historical version: • Latins settled on Palatine, a fertile area with pleasant climate, around 1200 B.C. • Etruscans (“people of the sea”) of Etruria ruled Rome (Latins) for 200 years. • Romans overthrew Etruscan leaders and set up a Republic in 509 B.C.
Slide 1.1 B The Expansion of the Roman Republic: The Battle of Zama • Romans conquered and controlled all of Italy by 275 B.C. • City-state Carthage ruled much of North Africa, Spain, and Sicily • Roman conflict with Carthage started the Punic Wars. • Romans fought Carthaginians for control of Mediterranean Sea.
Slide 1.1B continued • Hannibal defeated at Zama; Carthage lost all its territories to Rome • By 146 B.C. Rome was the leading power of the Mediterranean.
Slide 1.1C The final Years of the Roman Republic: Julius Caesar • Rome’s conquests caused changes in economy and government • Large estates replaced small farms; cities became crowded • Attempts were made to improve conditions in Rome • Gracchi brothers gave land and wheat to poor.
Slide 1.1C continued • General Mariusa gave power to the army • General Sulla gave more power to the Senate • Julius Caesar built up army and took power • Conquered Britain, Libya, Egypt, Cyrenaica, Numidia, Syria, Asia Minor • Caesar assassinated by those who opposed his dictatorship
Slide 1.1D The Roman Empire: Cleopatra’s Death • After Caesar’s death, power shared by Marc Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian • Civil war broke out between Antony and Cleopatra and Octavian • Octavian won naval victory at Actium in 31. B.C.
Slide 1.1D Continued • When Antony was defeated and Egypt was made a roman province, he and Cleopatra committed suicide to avoid being paraded through Rome as captives. • Octavian became absolute ruler of Rome; He was given the title “Augustus”(honored).
Slide 1.1D Continued • As Rome’s “first citizen” Augustus ended the expansion of the empire at its defensible boundaries: English channel; Rhine, Danube, and Euphrates rivers; And Sahara desert. • Augustus introduced the “Pax Romana” a time of peace and unity for the empire
Slide 1.1E The Roman Empire: Gladiatorial Games • Augustus’ successors accepted his defensive foreign policies • Trajan, Rome’s last great conqueror, established new provinces in Dacia, Armenia, Assyria, and Mesopotamia • Empire reached its greatest height under Trajan in A.D. 117
Slide 1.1 E Continued • Five Good Emperors ruled Rome between A.D. 96 and A.D. 186 • After A.D. 186 civil wars broke out in the Empire and emperors lost control • Rome’s size was difficult to manage; Dicoletian divided it in two
Slide 1.1 E Continued • Barbarians attacked the empire from many sides • Internally, gladiatorial games were one sign of Rome’s decline.