1. What problems did Rome face?
2. What is inflation? Are suffering from inflation now due to the recession?
3. What is an economic problem?
4. Who was Constantine?
5. How did the Western Roman Empire fall?
The Roman Empire
The Republic Collapses
Economic Turmoil
• Gap between rich and poor widens as Roman Republic grows
• Farmers, former soldiers, lose to large estates; become homeless
• Two tribunes, Tiberius and Gaius, try to help poor, are murdered
• Civil war—conflict between groups within same country begins
Military Upheaval
• Military becomes less disciplined and disloyal
• Soldiers recruited from poor; show loyalty only to their generals
Julius Caesar Takes Control
• Military leader Julius Caesar elected consul in 59 B.C.
• Caesar, Crassus, Pompey form a triumvirate—a group of three rulers
• Military victories give Caesar increasing popularity and power
• Pompey fears Caesar’s growing power and challenges him
• Caesar defeats Pompey’s armies in Greece, Asia, Spain, Egypt
• Caesar is named dictator for life in 44 B.C.
Caesar’s Reforms
• Caesar makes reforms: grants wider citizenship, creates jobs for poor
• Group of senators opposes Caesar; kills him on March 15, 44 B.C.
Beginning of the Empire
• 43 B.C., Caesar’s supporters take control; become Second Triumvirate
• Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus alliance ends in jealousy, violence
• In 31 B.C., Mark Antony and Cleopatra’s forces are defeated at Actium
• Octavian accepts title of Augustus, “exalted one,” and rules Rome
A Vast and Powerful Empire -Pax Romana
• Under Augustus, Rome moves from a republic to an empire
• Power no longer resides with citizens, but a single ruler
• Rome enjoys 200 years of peace and prosperity known as Pax Romana
A Sound Government
• Augustus, Rome’s ablest ruler, creates lasting system of government
-glorifies Rome with beautiful public buildings
-sets up a civil service to administer the empire
Agriculture and Trade
• Agriculture most important industry in empire; 90% of Romans farm
• Common coin, denarius, makes trade within empire easier
• Rome has vast trading network, includes China and India
• Network of Roman roads links empire to Persia, Russia
The Roman World -Slaves and Captivity
• Slavery is a significant part of Roman life in both cities and farms
• Some slaves become gladiators; forced to fight to death
Gods and Goddesses
• Early Romans honor guardian spirits and gods Jupiter, Juno, Minerva
• Worship of emperor becomes part of official religion of Rome
Society and Culture
• Rich live well; most people are poor, receive grain from government • 150 holidays and Coliseum events created to control the masses The Fall of the Roman Empire
A Century of Crisis
The Empire Declines
• Pax Romana ends in A.D. 180 with death of emperor Marcus Aurelius
• Subsequent emperors unable to govern giant empire
Rome’s Economy Weakens
• Hostile tribes outside the empire disrupt trade
• Inflation—drop in value of money and rise in prices—weakens trade
• Overworked soil, war-torn farmland leads to food shortages
Military and Political Turmoil
• By third century A.D. Roman military in turmoil
• Soldiers loyal to commanders, not Rome; commanders fighting for throne
• Government enlists mercenaries—foreign soldiers they pay to fight
• Average citizens lose interest in the affairs of Rome
Emperors Attempt Diocletian Reforms the Empire
• In A.D. 284 Emperor Diocletian restores order, divides empire in two
• Two emperors in Greek-speaking East, Latin-speaking West
• In A.D. 305 Diocletian retires, rivals compete for power
Constantine Moves the Capital
• Constantine becomes emperor of Western Empire in A.D. 312
• Seizes Eastern Empire in A.D. 324; moves Roman capital to Byzantium
• Byzantium eventually renamed Constantinople—city of Constantine
The Western Empire Crumbles -Germanic Invasions
• Mongol nomads from Asia, the Huns, invade northern borders of empire
• Germanic tribes flee Huns, enter Roman lands, sack Rome A.D. 410
Attila the Hun
• Attila—unites the Huns in A.D. 444; plunders 70 cities in East
• Attacks Rome in 452; famine and disease prevents victory
An Empire No More
• Last Roman emperor falls to Germans in 476; end of Western Empire
• East thrives for another thousand years (Byzantine Empire)
The Republic Collapses
Economic Turmoil
• Gap between rich and poor widens as Roman Republic grows
• Farmers, former soldiers, lose to large estates; become homeless
• Two tribunes, Tiberius and Gaius, try to help poor, are murdered
• Civil war—conflict between groups within same country begins
Military Upheaval
• Military becomes less disciplined and disloyal
• Soldiers recruited from poor; show loyalty only to their generals
Julius Caesar Takes Control
• Military leader Julius Caesar elected consul in 59 B.C.
• Caesar, Crassus, Pompey form a triumvirate—a group of three rulers
• Military victories give Caesar increasing popularity and power
• Pompey fears Caesar’s growing power and challenges him
• Caesar defeats Pompey’s armies in Greece, Asia, Spain, Egypt
• Caesar is named dictator for life in 44 B.C.
Caesar’s Reforms
• Caesar makes reforms: grants wider citizenship, creates jobs for poor
• Group of senators opposes Caesar; kills him on March 15, 44 B.C.
Beginning of the Empire
• 43 B.C., Caesar’s supporters take control; become Second Triumvirate
• Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus alliance ends in jealousy, violence
• In 31 B.C., Mark Antony and Cleopatra’s forces are defeated at Actium
• Octavian accepts title of Augustus, “exalted one,” and rules Rome
A Vast and Powerful Empire -Pax Romana
• Under Augustus, Rome moves from a republic to an empire
• Power no longer resides with citizens, but a single ruler
• Rome enjoys 200 years of peace and prosperity known as Pax Romana
A Sound Government
• Augustus, Rome’s ablest ruler, creates lasting system of government
-glorifies Rome with beautiful public buildings
-sets up a civil service to administer the empire
Agriculture and Trade
• Agriculture most important industry in empire; 90% of Romans farm
• Common coin, denarius, makes trade within empire easier
• Rome has vast trading network, includes China and India
• Network of Roman roads links empire to Persia, Russia
The Roman World -Slaves and Captivity
• Slavery is a significant part of Roman life in both cities and farms
• Some slaves become gladiators; forced to fight to death
Gods and Goddesses
• Early Romans honor guardian spirits and gods Jupiter, Juno, Minerva
• Worship of emperor becomes part of official religion of Rome
Society and Culture
• Rich live well; most people are poor, receive grain from government • 150 holidays and Coliseum events created to control the masses The Fall of the Roman Empire
A Century of Crisis
The Empire Declines
• Pax Romana ends in A.D. 180 with death of emperor Marcus Aurelius
• Subsequent emperors unable to govern giant empire
Rome’s Economy Weakens
• Hostile tribes outside the empire disrupt trade
• Inflation—drop in value of money and rise in prices—weakens trade
• Overworked soil, war-torn farmland leads to food shortages
Military and Political Turmoil
• By third century A.D. Roman military in turmoil
• Soldiers loyal to commanders, not Rome; commanders fighting for throne
• Government enlists mercenaries—foreign soldiers they pay to fight
• Average citizens lose interest in the affairs of Rome
Emperors Attempt Diocletian Reforms the Empire
• In A.D. 284 Emperor Diocletian restores order, divides empire in two
• Two emperors in Greek-speaking East, Latin-speaking West
• In A.D. 305 Diocletian retires, rivals compete for power
Constantine Moves the Capital
• Constantine becomes emperor of Western Empire in A.D. 312
• Seizes Eastern Empire in A.D. 324; moves Roman capital to Byzantium
• Byzantium eventually renamed Constantinople—city of Constantine
The Western Empire Crumbles -Germanic Invasions
• Mongol nomads from Asia, the Huns, invade northern borders of empire
• Germanic tribes flee Huns, enter Roman lands, sack Rome A.D. 410
Attila the Hun
• Attila—unites the Huns in A.D. 444; plunders 70 cities in East
• Attacks Rome in 452; famine and disease prevents victory
An Empire No More
• Last Roman emperor falls to Germans in 476; end of Western Empire
• East thrives for another thousand years (Byzantine Empire)
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