Roman Empire

Early Roman Empire

Octavian reestablishes political stability. For 30 years of Augustus’s reign the Roman empire was peaceful.

Administration

Government was administered through 40 provinces. The emperor directly controlled newly conquered areas. Rome and other provinces wer left to the administration of the Senate. Each province had a governor directly responsible to the emperor.

Inner provinces

Safe and secure which didn’t require military presence.

Other provinces

Managed by legates which were controlled through significant military presence.

Client kingdoms

Buffer zones between Rome and potential enemies

Law

Based on jurisprudence rather than legislation. Roman laws were constantly reinterpreted. Common code was applicable to all free men.

Basic principle of Roman law

1. Innocent until proven guilty.

2. Right to face accusers.

3. Right to appeal

Forum

Similar to agora in Greek cities. Forum serves as a marketplace and assembly place in Roman cities.

Dole

Free grain and bread handouts.

Circuses

Entertainment available for the people such as gladiatorial games, chariot races. Also public baths.

Decline of slavery

1. Lack of fresh supply of slaves due to lack of wars.

2. Frequent freeing of slaves by their masters.

Architecture

The Romans adopted many Greek styles, and borrowed the arch, vault, and dome from the near east. They were the first to extensively use concrete .

Roman architectural innovations

1. Triumphal arch

2. Basilica

3. Public bath

4. Apartment buildings

5. Amphitheaters

Amphitheaters

Held Roman sporting events, often gladiatorial games where both humans and/or animals fought.

Colosseum

Most famous architectural structure during Roman times. Finished by Titus.

Pantheon

Best preserved Roman building. Rebuilt by Hadrian. Unsure what It was used for and how it was built.

Circus Maximus

Race track in Rome. Next to colosseum. Part of “bread and circuses”.

Purpose of Roman roads

1. Improve communication.

2. Military purposes. Legions can be dispatched quickly.

3. Trade is positively impacted by roads and possession of Mediterranean sea.

Aqueduct

1. Move water

2. Found on 3 continents. Europe, Syria, Africa.

3. May have moved 200 to 300 million gallons of water through Rome daily.

4. Aqueducts gave people led poisoning which caused infertility.

Religion

Romans tolerated religion as long as people sacrificed to Roman gods.

Mithraism

Based on worship of the emperor. Popular with soldiers and only open to men. Followers looked for a advantage to get promotions in the military.

Cult of Isis

Honored Egyptian goddess and was favored by Roman women. It allowed them to participate because it offered immortality.

Pre-Christian History

Christianity isn’t first attempt at monotheism. Monotheism was first tried unsuccessfully in Egypt.

Second Temple Period

Beginning of large theocratic society in Persia. Rule by Persians, Ptolemies, Seleuicds. The Jews return to Jerusalem and build a second temple. Antiokhos IV tries to force paganism on the Jews, but the Jews defeat him.

Hasmonean Period

The Maccabees establish the hasmonean dynasty. Ends when the Romans defeat them, and establish Jerusalem as a client kingdom.

Herod

Client king under Jerusalem.Doesn’t win loyalty of his subjects and Jerusalem gets divided into factions.

Sadducees

Support the primacy of high priest, traditional, cooperate with king and Romans.

Pharisee

Faction of the rabbis, function of out synagogues and interpret religious law of old testament, strict interpretation of law.

Zealots

Not religious in motivation, but revolutionaries against foreign control of their land.

Christ

Greek word for Messiah

Messiah

The savior that the Jews expected to give them salvation, but didn’t know the form he would come in.

Jesus

self-taught rabbi. Taught reformed version of Judaism. Jesus views the god as forgiving and kind.

Judaism/Christianity Split

Titus is Roman emperor who puts an end to the Jewish revolt. Detroys Jerusalem. Christians interpret this as rejection of Jews. Jews interpret this as punishment for their sins.

Edict of Decius

States that all Romans must sacrifice to the Roman gods and receive a certificate called an ibellus stating that they had done so.

Pompeii

Pompeii was destroyed by eruption of a volcano. The remains of Pompeii give us a glimpse of everyday Roman life. The Pompeii fresco of a baker and his wife show a scroll and pen which indicates a decree of literacy.

Pax Romana

Roman peace. 200 years of peace and prosperity in Rome. From Caesar Augustus to Marcus Aurelius.

Octavian

Established Praetorian Guard. Reorganized treasury. Set precedent.

Praetorian guard

1. Only people in Rome allowed to bring weapons in.

2. Start to seize and grow in power.

Tiberius

Ruled last 11 years on an island. Ruled by terror. Murdered by Praetorian Guard.

Caligula

Mentally unbalanced due to severe fever. Thought he was pharaoh of Egypt. Named his horse on consul. Killed by Praetorian guards.

Cladius

Dropped unemployment in Rome. Died from poisoned mushrooms.

Nero

Killed his half-brother and mother. Known for responsibly handling the Roman fire.

Civil War

Year of 4 emperors. No clear succession lead to multiple emperors being placed on the throne.

Vespasian

Responsible for beginnings of colosseum.

Titus

Completed the colosseum. During his reign Pompeii was destroyed by mount Vesuvius. Destroyed Jerusalem.

Domitian

Built Arch of Titus.

Nerva

Began process of adoption and inauguration for successors. Chosen by the Senate.

Trajan

Under Trajan Rome reaches its apex. Builds forum to keep up with growing population. Creates the column of Trajan.

Hadrian

Rebuilt the pantheon. Pulls back the boundaries of the Roman empire. Built Hadrian’s wall to establish boundaries.

Antonius-Pius

Named Pius for his good behavior.

Marcus Aurelius

Philosopher king. End of pax Romana. Named Commodus as successors.

Commodus

Emperor that starts the decline period. First emperor to participate in the gladiator games.

Septimus Severus

Reorganized provinces to increase tax yield and depreciated currency. He provided good administration.

Caracalla

Unpopular with the people.

Edict of Caracalla

Made all free subjects of the Roman empire full Roman citizens. Key outcome is that all Roman citizens must pay taxes.

Ugly Period of Roman Emperors

Armies become politically important. Armies that’re stationed in different parts of the empire declare their generals as supporters. Between 50 years, 25 different emperors are recognized in Rome.

Decius

Began 1st persecution of Christians.

Aurelianus

Built permanent walls around Rome and pushed the attacking Alamanni tribes out of Italy.

Diocletian

Reforms Roman government by adding more bureaucracy. Leads to a decrease in the centralized power of the Roman government. Tries to fix the economic issues but only increases inflation. Tetrarchs are the emperors that leads certain parts of Rome and they have a sub emperor who takes control after their resignation or death.

Price Edict

Set maximum prices for goods and services in Rome. Used to control prices in Rome.

Constantine

First Christian Roman emperor. Moves the official capital to Byzantium which he named Constantinople. Gives Christianity the advantage over other religions. Christianity becomes a religion of power.

Council of Nicea

Council with Contantine and christian priests. The council produced a unified doctrine of Christianity and declared Arianism as heresy.

Arianism

Belief of Arian. Taught that Jesus was a separate but lesser god. Contradicted the Christian monotheism beliefs.

Paganism

Julian the Apostate tries to revert Roman religion to paganism. Paganism never gains popularity through Rome.

Council of Constantinople

Theodosius summons Council of Constantinople. Condemns Arianism once again. Makes Christianity the official religion of Rome.

Growing Power of The Church

The threat of excommunication becomes a weapon that the church uses against emperors. The church can use this to shape the policies of the emperor.

Political Reasons For Fall of Rome

1. No law of succession

2. Incapable and corrupt leaders.

3. Decline of loyalty of the army

4. Empire was too big

Social Reasosn for Fall of Rome

1. Decline of Roman population. Led in aqueducts and multiple epidemics largely dimished the Roman population.

2. Decline of citizens sense of civic responsibility.

3. Christianity was blamed for destroying the Roman religion.

Economic Reasons for Fall of Rome

Decreasing farm production lead to the need to import food from the west. Cretaed an unfavorable balance of trade. The Roman became buyers but not sellers.

Theodosius I

Made orthodox christianity the state religion. with his death the division of the empire became permanent. Considered last true Roman emperor. Reached an agreement between Goths and the Roman empire.

Christianity and The Fall of Rome

Christians were persecuted in the Roman empire because the religion threatened the social hierarchy.

Alamanni

Settled along the upper Rhine River. Threatened Rome’s northern frontier.

Visigoths

West Goths.

Vandals

Crossed the Rhine River to France, then Spain, then North Africa. Rebuilt the city of Carthage.

Huns

Powerful nomadic tribe of fierce cavalry warriors sweeping through Europe from Asia. They reach their height under Attila.

Invasions and Chaos

Visigoths revolted against the Romans in which the Roman legion was defeated at Adrianople. The Roman emperor Valens leads the Roman army against the Visigoths and the Roman are defeated.

Stilicho

Roman general who defeated the Visigoths along with other German tribes. Killed after the emperor Honorius was jealous.

Alaric I

King of the Visigoths and sacked Rome after the death of Stilicho.

Battle of Chalons

Battle between the Huns and the Romans. The Romans defeated the Huns.

Theories As To Why Attila doesn’t complete the invasion of Italy

1. Famine in the land resulted in Attila running out of food.

2. Plague broke out amongst Attila’s troops.

3. Pope Leo I intervened from the insistence of Emperor Valentinian.

4. Superstition: Alaric died a few months after sacking Rome. Did Attila want to do that risk?

Aetius

Murdered by emperor Valentinian III. Last capable Roman general. Romans can no longer protect the remaining empire.

Gaiseric

Leader of the Vandals who savagely sacked Rome.

Romulus Augustus

Last Roman emperor in the west.

Stilicho

Fought the Visigoth invasion of the Roman empire in the west. After his death the Romans were unable to protect themselves.

Federates

Nomadic tribes inside the Roman empire that granted autonomy. Must help the Roman empire protect the frontier and serve in the army when needed.

Results:

1. German barbarians noew ruled Italy.

2. Italy would not be united again until 19th century.

3. East would remain independent for another 1000 years.