The Roman The Roman EmpireEmpireCoach ParrishCoach Parrish

OMSOMS

Chapter 8, Section 2Chapter 8, Section 2

Ruling an EmpireRuling an Empire

When Augustus came to power, When Augustus came to power, Rome had already began to expand Rome had already began to expand its empire. Rome controlled all of its empire. Rome controlled all of the lands surrounding the the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.Mediterranean Sea.

Rome referred to the Mediterranean Rome referred to the Mediterranean Sea as Sea as mare nostrummare nostrum meaning “our meaning “our sea.” sea.”

Roman EmpireRoman Empire

Power of AugustusPower of Augustus

Augustus was an intelligent ruler Augustus was an intelligent ruler who respected the senate and who respected the senate and avoided acting like a king. (He tried avoided acting like a king. (He tried to avoid the fate of his father.)to avoid the fate of his father.)

Because the Romans were enjoying Because the Romans were enjoying wealth and prosperity, they gave wealth and prosperity, they gave Augustus as much power as he Augustus as much power as he wanted.wanted.

Augustus Caesar Augustus Caesar Statue in Vatican City, Statue in Vatican City,

RomeRome

Governing Conquered Governing Conquered PeoplesPeoples

The Romans took some conquered The Romans took some conquered people as slaves. To help govern, people as slaves. To help govern, they divided the empire into they divided the empire into provinces. provinces. ProvinceProvince – area of an – area of an empire, had a Roman governor empire, had a Roman governor supported by an army.supported by an army.

Rome kept its conquered people Rome kept its conquered people happy by allowing them to continue happy by allowing them to continue their traditions and cultures. their traditions and cultures.

The Five “Good The Five “Good Emperors”Emperors”

Once Augustus died in 14 AD, the next Once Augustus died in 14 AD, the next 82 years were spent with good, bad, and 82 years were spent with good, bad, and terrible emperors.terrible emperors.

Two of the worst were Caligula and Two of the worst were Caligula and Nero. Both were perhaps insane. Nero. Both were perhaps insane. Caligula claimed himself a god and Caligula claimed himself a god and treated the people unfairly. Nero treated the people unfairly. Nero murdered his half-brother, his mother, murdered his half-brother, his mother, and wife. Eventually Nero took his own and wife. Eventually Nero took his own life.life.

The Five “Good The Five “Good Emperors”Emperors”

In 96 AD, Rome entered the age of the good In 96 AD, Rome entered the age of the good emperors. The greatest of the five good emperors. The greatest of the five good emperors was Hadrian. His laws protected emperors was Hadrian. His laws protected women, children, and slaves. He issued a women, children, and slaves. He issued a code of laws that applied to everyone.code of laws that applied to everyone.

Hadrian also commissioned a wall to be Hadrian also commissioned a wall to be built across Brittania to keep out invaders built across Brittania to keep out invaders from the north.from the north.

The last of the good emperors was Marcus The last of the good emperors was Marcus Aurelius.Aurelius.

Hadrian’s Wall Present Hadrian’s Wall Present DayDay

Marcus AureliusMarcus Aurelius

Hadrian’s Burial PlaceHadrian’s Burial Place

Empire in DeclineEmpire in Decline

During the reign of Commodus During the reign of Commodus (Aurelius’ son), the empire began to (Aurelius’ son), the empire began to decline. Bad government, economic decline. Bad government, economic problems, and foreign invaders problems, and foreign invaders helped contribute to the fall of the helped contribute to the fall of the empire.empire.

Greek Influence on RomeGreek Influence on Rome

The Romans greatly admired Greek The Romans greatly admired Greek achievements. Historians claim that achievements. Historians claim that Hadrian spoke better Greek than Hadrian spoke better Greek than Latin (The language of Rome). Latin (The language of Rome).

Greece primarily influenced Rome in Greece primarily influenced Rome in two ways:two ways:

1.1. ReligionReligion

2.2. Building on IdeasBuilding on Ideas

ReligionReligion

Greek religion influenced Roman Greek religion influenced Roman religion. The Romans were religion. The Romans were polytheistic like the Greeks and gave polytheistic like the Greeks and gave sacrifices and gifts to their many sacrifices and gifts to their many gods.gods.

As the empire expanded, the Roman As the empire expanded, the Roman people adopted gods from other people adopted gods from other regions as well.regions as well.

Jupiter – Rome’s ZeusJupiter – Rome’s Zeus

Building on IdeasBuilding on Ideas

Like the Greeks, the Romans valued Like the Greeks, the Romans valued learning, but in different ways. The learning, but in different ways. The Romans built their empire using Romans built their empire using architecture and engineering they architecture and engineering they learned from various Greek subjects.learned from various Greek subjects.

The Roman StyleThe Roman Style

Roman statues and buildings were Roman statues and buildings were heavier and stronger in style that heavier and stronger in style that those of the Greeks. The Romans those of the Greeks. The Romans made advances using the arch. made advances using the arch. ArchArch – – curved structure used as a support curved structure used as a support over an open space.over an open space.

Romans developed the use of Romans developed the use of concrete. Concrete helped them build concrete. Concrete helped them build the world’s tallest buildings of the day.the world’s tallest buildings of the day.

Arch ExampleArch Example

ColosseumColosseum

The Romans’ most impressive structure The Romans’ most impressive structure was the Colosseum. was the Colosseum. ColosseumColosseum – site of – site of contests and combats between people contests and combats between people and between people and animals.and between people and animals.

The arena held between 50 – 70 The arena held between 50 – 70 thousand people. The walls were so thousand people. The walls were so well built, the floor could be flooded for well built, the floor could be flooded for mock naval battles. Elevators also mock naval battles. Elevators also existed to help carry animals and existed to help carry animals and people to the surface. people to the surface.

ColosseumColosseum

Exterior View Interior View

Roads and AqueductsRoads and Aqueducts

Roman engineers built roads from Rome Roman engineers built roads from Rome to every part of the empire. “All roads to every part of the empire. “All roads lead to Rome.” The roads helped both lead to Rome.” The roads helped both people and the army move quickly people and the army move quickly around the empire.around the empire.

Rome was also famous for its Rome was also famous for its aqueductsaqueducts – structures that carried water over – structures that carried water over long distances. The aqueducts help long distances. The aqueducts help supply water to the Roman cities.supply water to the Roman cities.

Roman AqueductsRoman Aqueducts