Rome’s Mediterranean Rome’s Mediterranean EmpireEmpire
753 BCE – 600 CE753 BCE – 600 CE
A. Republic of Farmers; 753 – 31 BCEA. Republic of Farmers; 753 – 31 BCE
Founding (Romulus)Founding (Romulus) LandownershipLandownership Independent farmersIndependent farmers Rights/limitations for Rights/limitations for
citizenscitizens Senate – consulsSenate – consuls Patricians vs. plebiansPatricians vs. plebians Patron – client Patron – client
relationshiprelationship Women - rightsWomen - rights Pax deorumPax deorum
Compare and contrast the rights of citizens in Athens and Compare and contrast the rights of citizens in Athens and the Roman Republic.the Roman Republic.
B. Expansion in Italy and the MediterraneanB. Expansion in Italy and the Mediterranean
CausesCauses Military structureMilitary structure Extension of citizenship Extension of citizenship
(Italy)(Italy) Wars with Carthaginians Wars with Carthaginians
and Hellenistic Empires and Hellenistic Empires (264 – 146 BCE) (264 – 146 BCE)
Afraid of overextensionAfraid of overextension Direct controlDirect control Julius Caesar – GaulJulius Caesar – Gaul Local elite – taxesLocal elite – taxes Governors in the provincesGovernors in the provinces
C. Failure of the RepublicC. Failure of the Republic Loss of independent Loss of independent
farmersfarmers Powerful aristocracyPowerful aristocracy SlavesSlaves Landless men (military)Landless men (military) Powerful generals – Powerful generals –
loyalty of militaryloyalty of military DictatorsDictators
Why did the Roman Republic pursue a policy of expansion? Why did the Roman Republic pursue a policy of expansion? What were the costs of this policy?What were the costs of this policy?
D. The Roman PrincipateD. The Roman Principate Octavian (Augustus 31 Octavian (Augustus 31
– 14 BCE)– 14 BCE) Appearance of RepublicAppearance of Republic More territory (Egypt)More territory (Egypt) Equites – civil serviceEquites – civil service Immediate successionImmediate succession Armies, meritArmies, merit Legal experts – new Legal experts – new
lawslaws
E. An Urban EmpireE. An Urban Empire Big citiesBig cities Lack of cheap laborLack of cheap labor Absentee landlordsAbsentee landlords Agriculture FUNDS Agriculture FUNDS
citiescities Trade in pax RomanaTrade in pax Romana RomanizationRomanization 212 CE – citizenship 212 CE – citizenship
extended to provincesextended to provinces Emperors FROM Emperors FROM
provincesprovinces
How would you characterize the core – periphery relationship How would you characterize the core – periphery relationship in Rome during the first two centuries of the Roman in Rome during the first two centuries of the Roman principate?principate?
F. Rise of ChristianityF. Rise of Christianity
Roman control over Roman control over Palestine (unrest)Palestine (unrest)
Jesus of Nazareth (4 Jesus of Nazareth (4 BCE – 30 CE)BCE – 30 CE)
Sources/dates – Bible Sources/dates – Bible ““Historical Jesus”Historical Jesus” Paul – gentilesPaul – gentiles Jewish – Roman War Jewish – Roman War
(66 – 70 CE)(66 – 70 CE) PersecutionPersecution Mystery CultsMystery Cults
How did the Roman How did the Roman Empire both Empire both facilitate, and facilitate, and challenge, the challenge, the spread of spread of Christianity Christianity before before Constantine?Constantine?
G. Crisis (235 – 284 CE) and ChangesG. Crisis (235 – 284 CE) and Changes Roads, walls, aqueducts, Roads, walls, aqueducts,
bordersborders Third Century Crisis: Third Century Crisis:
emperors, soldiers, lack emperors, soldiers, lack of taxes, etc.of taxes, etc.
Diocletian – state Diocletian – state control of economycontrol of economy
Constantine (306 – 337 Constantine (306 – 337 CE) CE)
313 CE – Edict of Milan313 CE – Edict of Milan Capital: Rome to Capital: Rome to
ByzantiumByzantium
H. Byzantines and GermansH. Byzantines and Germans East vs. westEast vs. west Growth of ChurchGrowth of Church 325 CE – Council of Nicaea325 CE – Council of Nicaea Structure/beliefsStructure/beliefs Justinian (527 – 565 CE) – Justinian (527 – 565 CE) –
law codeslaw codes 395 CE - Separation of 395 CE - Separation of
empiresempires Germans overwhelm the Germans overwhelm the
westwest 410 CE – Visigoths sack 410 CE – Visigoths sack
Rome; 476 – last Roman Rome; 476 – last Roman emperoremperor
LanguagesLanguages
What brought about the fall of the Roman What brought about the fall of the Roman Empire?Empire?
