Ch. 15 The Roman EmpireSection 1 The Rule of Augustus227 B.C. – 410 A.D.

The Rule of Augustus

• Why It’s Important• “In 27 B.C., Octavian told the Senate that he had restored the

republic, and he offered to resign as sole ruler of Rome. The Senate turned down the offer and gave him several titles. In the end, Octavian took for himself the title of Augustus, or “revered one.” That is what he is generally called in history books.

• In practice, Octavian became the first Roman emperor, or absolute ruler of an empire. His policies paved the way for more than 200 years of peace. Even after the empire collapsed, Roman influence would survive in much of the world.”

The Rule of Augustus• Augustus – Clever Politician; Ruled 41 yrs• Believed in Keeping Tradition and Bringing Back “Old Roman

Virtues”

• Strengthened His Authority By:– Getting Every Soldier to Swear Allegiance to Him– Choose Govt Officials Based on Talent, Not Birth– Gave Governors Long Terms of Office, More Pay– Ordered a Census, Or Population Count, To Tax

• Romans Fairly

– Governed Existing Empire (Did Not Expand)– Brought Peace to Rome, Patriotism, Pride

Ch. 15 The Roman Empire

Section 2 Pax Romana

Pax Romana• Pax Romana – the 200 Year Peace Augustus brought to Rome • Rome prospered & cultures mixed

• Changes in Trade & Law– Peace Brought Increased Trade– Same Coins Used Throughout Empire– No Tariffs – taxes on goods brought into the country

Changes in Roman Law• Roman Law Went Thru Major Changes During Pax Romana

– Newly Conquered Territory required Romans to write new laws fair to non-Romans

• Roman judges helped by special lawyers called juris prudentes• Developed Principles of Law Fair to All in Business

– Laws Believed to Be Just if Reasonable– (& not because the govt had the power to make people obey)

• 125 A.D. Roman Law was STANDARDIZED• Means: Legal procedures all the same in all parts of empire

• Roman Legal Principles formed the basis for law of most Western countries & of the Christian Church

Ch. 15 The Roman Empire

Section 3 Daily Life

Daily Life• Roman Rich lived in domus – or house with marble walls, colored

stone floors, w/ glass windows• Most Romans lived in apartment houses called islands six stories

high

• Roman Family– Father – Head of Household– Word Was Law

• He arranged children’s marriages to improve social position or increase wealth

– Until 12 – most Roman boys & girls went to school together• Then Poor families went to work; Rich families began formal education

Roman Family

Roman Women• Daughters of the rich got formal education, private lessons, at

home• Some women worked in or owned small shops• Wealthy women had slaves for housework• Free time let them study the arts, literature, fashion, ride chariots

Ch. 15 The Roman Empire

Section 4 Fall of Rome

Fall of the Empire• After Pax Romana ended 200 years later, Roman Empire split

apart• By 476 A.D. No Longer Existed• Reasons for the Fall of Roman Empire

– Political – Emperors Lacked Written Rules– Economic – Emperor’s Forced To Tax Citizens Heavily To Pay for Soldier– Inflation Increased – a period of ever-increasing prices– Lack of New Conquests = Lack of Gold, Precious Metals, Wealth– Money Lost Value w Less Gold– Replaced By a Barter System – exchanging goods without using money – Germanic People Began to Raid Greece and Rome – cities & farms

• Leaders Who Worked to Save Roman Empire from Collapse• Yet Rome still Declined• In 330 A.D. Emperor Constantine moved capital of Rome to the east to

city of Constantinople (present day Turkey)

• German attacks increased– Germans borrowed the Asian Hun’s military– Invention of the iron stirrup– Iron stirrups made calvary stronger than – Infantry – more powerful than Roman legions– Force of charging horses

Diocletian & Constantine I

Fall of Rome• By about 400 A.D, Rome had grown quite weak. In the winter of

406 A.D., the Rhine River froze. Groups of Germans crossed the frozen river and entered Gaul. The Romans were not able to force them back across the border.

• In 410 A.D, the Germanic chief Alaric and his soldiers invaded Rome. They burned records and looted the treasury. The Roman Senate told the people, “You can no longer rely on Rome for finance or direction. You are on your own.”

• Diocletian established official policy of rule by divine right• This means the emperor’s powers and right to rule came not from

the people but from the gods.