SOLRome Review

Mediterranean Sea

•Geographically Rome is on a peninsula in the center of which body of water?

Republic•Early Latins over threw the monarchy in 509 BC

•They established a form of Democracy

•One in which officials are elected to represent the citizens

Patricians•The rich and wealthy land owners in the Roman Republic

•Made up the minority of the population but held the majority of the power

Plebeians•Working class citizens of the Roman Empire

•Could vote but could not hold power

Tribunes•Elected officials of the Plebeians

Consuls•Highest officials of the Roman Republic

•Power was limited by a one year term

•Directed the army and government

Senate•Aristocratic branch of the Roman Republic

•300 member body

Dictator•Chosen to lead for 6 months in times of crisis–War–Famine/Disease–Natural Disasters

Twelve Tables•codified Roman Laws•Put in the forum for all to see

Legions•Military units•5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers

Carthage•Phoenician trade colony in North Africa

•Major trade rival of the Roman Republic

Punic Wars•Series of three wars fought against Carthage

•Rome won and gained trade rights in the Western Mediterranean Sea

Hannibal•Carthaginian General who terrorized the Italian Peninsula during the second Punic War

•Brought elephants over the Alps!

Reasons of the collapse of the

Roman Republic1. Huge gap between the rich and poor

2. Small family farms were put out of business by large farms who used slave labor

3. Outbreaks of civil wars

Julius Caesar•Roman General who seized power

•Became Dictator for life•Made reforms which helped the poor

•Assassinated in 44BC by the Roman Senate

Octavian/Augustus•Great nephew of Julius

Caesar•Became emperor after fighting Marc Antony for power

•Set up a civil service and rebuilt Rome’s glory

Pax Romana•Two centuries of peace and prosperity under imperial rule

•Expansion and solidification of the Roman Empire, particularly in the Near East

•Economic impact• Established uniform system of

money, which helped to expand trade

• Guaranteed safe travel and trade on Roman roads

• Promoted prosperity and stability•Social impact • Returned stability to social classes• Increased emphasis on the family•Political impact• Created a civil service• Developed a uniform rule of law

Farmers•The vast majority of Romans both in the Republic and in the Empire were what profession?

Polytheistic•Based on the Greek polytheistic religion

•Explanations of natural phenomena, human qualities, and life events

Christianity•New Faith•Had its roots in Judaism•Conflicted with polytheistic beliefs of Roman Empire

•Monotheistic•Life after death

Jesus•Jewish carpenter from Palestine

•Teachings are the foundation of Christianity

•Was proclaimed the Messiah•Conflicted with polytheistic beliefs of Roman Empire

•Seen as both Son and incarnation of God

Beliefs/Traditions• New Testament, containing accounts

of the life and teachings of Jesus, as well as writings of early Christians

• Christian doctrines established by early church councils

•Spread of Christianity• Popularity of the message• Early martyrs inspired others• Carried by the Apostles, including

Paul, throughout the Roman Empire

Constantine•converted to Christianity and made it legal.

•Also moved the Capital to Byzantium

Impact of Christianity•became the official state

religion.•became a source of moral authority.

•Loyalty to the Church became more important than loyalty to the Emperor.

•The Church became the main unifying force of Western Europe.

Colosseum•Largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire

•Used for plays, executions, gladiatorial fights

Pantheon•Temple for all Roman Gods

•Large dome with a hole at the top

•Massive columns in the front

Aqueducts•Used to bring water into cities

•Series of Arches allowed water to move from higher elevation to lower

Arch

Virgil•Wrote the epic poem Aeneid

•In Latin

System of Law•Most important Roman Achievement

•“innocent until proven guilty”

•Still used in the United States today

Internal causes of the Fall of the Roman

Empire•Too big to defend•devaluation of currency/ inflation

•Army membership started to include non-Romans, resulting in decline of discipline

•Moral decay: People’s loss of faith in Rome and the family

•Weak Emperors

External causes of the Fall of the Roman

Empire•Invasion: Attacks on borders–Germanic Tribes–Huns