Section+6-2+The+Roman+Empire

Key Words:

 * __Civil War__: Conflict between two groups within the same country.
 * __Triumvirate__: A group of three leaders.
 * __//Pax Romana//__: A time of peace in Rome from 27 B.C. to 180 A.D.

Key People:

 * __Julius Caesar__: A military officer who joined forces with a rich man and a popular officer, became consul in 59 B.C.
 * __Augustus__: A new name of Octavain, Caesar's son, after becoming absolute ruler of Rome, means "exalted one".

Key Terms:

 * The Republic Collapses:**
 * Republic started to collapse when Rome continued to expand and lower classes and the military were becoming shaky.
 * Economic Turmoil:**
 * Rich: huge estates, hundreds of slaves (1/3 of Rome's population) who were captured when their land was taken over.
 * Farmers: 1/4 of Rome's population, because of slaves, had to sell land, and become homeless, jobless, included in urban poor.
 * Two tribunes: Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus (brothers) stood up for the poor, suggested that land of the rich should be limited and that land should be given to the poor.
 * Many enemies, violent deaths:Tiberius 113 B.C., Gaius 121 B.C., Civil War began afterword.
 * Military Upheaval:**
 * As community became shaky, militial officers began to fight on their own accord, promising land, they recruited solider, replacing those who were only loyal to the Republic, and these soldiers were only loyal to their officer.
 * Julius Caesar Takes Control:**
 * Julius Caesar joined forced with Crassus and Pompey in 60 B.C., made a triumvirate.
 * After being a consul, Caesar became governor of Gaul, between 58-50 B.C., took over all of Graul, respected by his soldiers.
 * Pompey, Caesar rival, become worried when Caesar favored by Romans, told him to give up his legions and come home.
 * Defied order, in January 10, 49 B.C. he marched to Rome, scared away Pompey, defeated his army in Greece, Egypt, Asia and Spain, became dictator in 46 B.C., then for life in 44 B.C. and he was very popular with the people.
 * Caesar's Reforms:**
 * Caesar had total power as ruler, but made reforms: citizenship to those with provinces, expanded senate (adding friends), made job and more public buildings for poor, created colonies for those without land, and increased salary for soldiers.
 * Senate and nobles feared his power, Marcus and Brutus and Gaius Cassius led senators to his assassination on March 15, 44 B.C., stabbed to death.
 * Beginning of the Empire:**
 * After Caesar's death, civil war broke out, his assassins where killed, and his adopted son Octavain, general Mark Antony, politician Lepidus became new triumvirate.
 * Octavain made Lepidus retire, Octavain and Antony became rivals, Antony fell in love with Cleopatra and was accused of plotting against Rome, another civil war, and when Octavain rose victorious, the two lovers committed suicide.
 * Octavain became the lone ruler, and the new term was emperor.
 * A Vast and Powerful Empire:**
 * //Pax romana// began in Rome during Augustus' rule, peace with little fighting for 207 years!
 * Rome, during this time, was 3 million square miles, and population was between 60 and 80 million.
 * A Sound Government:**
 * Augustus, when in power: stabilized frontier, built beautiful public buildings, created a long-lasting government, and civil service, still a senate, but mostly ruled by emperors.
 * Because new government was so important for day-to-day activities, even when Augustus died (14 A.D.), Rome continued to stay stable.
 * Agriculture and Trade:**
 * Farming was very important: 90% of people involved, Romans ate their own food, and trade, Rome also had the same currency: the same coin denarius used through all the kingdom.
 * Rome traded all over the Mediterranean Sea, China, and India, protected by Rome's Navy.
 * Roads also used to trade with Persia and Southern Russia, although originally meant for the army.
 * The Roman World:**
 * Virtue of //gravitas//: discipline, strength, and loyalty, Romans also though strength, power, and usefulness over beauty, grace, and elegance.
 * Countryside: farmers, cities: merchants, soldiers, slaves, philosophers, and foreigners.
 * Slaves and Captivity:**
 * Very important to economy, very useful and needed, slaves were captured people, children born into slavery, and could be bought or sold, owners could kill, punish, set free, and reward as he wishes.
 * Used in farms as laborers, strong males would become gladiators to fight to the death for entertainment, but household slaves were better treated, some rebelled, but over 1 million slaves killed in attempt.
 * Gods and Goddesses:**
 * Worshiped the higher power //numina//, each family had their own guardian spirits, named and honored (through rituals) gods and goddess.
 * People expected to go to public worships, worshiped gods, including Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, and more, later the emperor would also be worshiped.
 * Society and Culture:**
 * Social classes were very vast, wealthy lived with no worries and spent a lot of money.
 * Under the emperor, many unemployed, government supplied only a little bit of grain, people living on the street and uncontrolled fire was very common.
 * To distract the population, the government created many free games, gladiator battles, races, mock battles, and created 150 holidays, on these days arenas would hold about 50,000 and a huge show would be presented.
 * During //pax romana//, Christianity arose, Christians were abused.