Roman Empire Flashcards
Age of Augustus - Rome’s Golden Age - Emperors
~Roman Empire existed 500 years as a military dictatorship
~Emperors either dominated or were dominated by the army
~Some devoted to Empire’s welfare, others sought personal advantage
~Only a few were qualified
Octavian
Became known as Augustus Caesar - given titles by Senate
Augustus - sacred majesty/exalted one/ the venerable
Imperator - commander-in-chief of the Roman armies
Princep - first citizen
Augustus’ accomplishments - Maintained Peace - Army
army that was loyal to Rome not demagogues
Augustus’ Accomplishments - Maintained Peace - Stabilized Government
a) using only most qualified citizens as administrators, regardless of class
b) reduced corruption by improving local admin
c) created an efficient civil service, where people were given salaries
d) ordered complete census to ensure fair taxes
Augustus’ Accomplishments - Maintained Peace - Developed Trade and Industry
a) good system of roads built - Appian Way
b) many provinces to trade with because the empire was so large
c) no trade barriers - no tariffs or taxes
encouraged science, art, and literature
Pax Romana - 27 BC–180 AD
“Peace of Rome” - Rome gave Mediterranean world peace, law, and good gov’t
provincial governors tried not to interfere with customs and religions of areas
efficient gov’t changed people’s attitude
citizenship given to people within the empire
Greek Influence
philosophy, literature, science, architecture, language, and law
Hellenism spread by Alexander the Great around 330 BC
Roman Law
developed legal principles that still live today in many countries
all men are equal, etc.
Roman Philosophy - Epicurus - Epicureanism
1) concerned with human happiness
2) happiness is defined as freedom from pain
3) this could be achieved by living a calm, simple life
4) some people later emphasized personal enjoyment over conduct
5) came to mean a person fond of luxury and pleasure
Roman Philosophy - Zeno - Stoicism
1) stressed the ideal of the brotherhood of mankind
2) they believed that human happiness was the greatest good
3) taught that a divine lawgiver had a fixed plan for the universe
4) believed that happiness resulted from living in harmony with nature
5) you should accept what life brought
6) all people are basically alike because we all share the power of reason, including misfortune
Augustus Caesar - 31 BC – 14 AD - Augustan Age
greatest emperor, led Rome to greatness
Christ born during his reign
decreed that strict moral standards should be adhered to
Tiberius - 14 AD – 37 AD
Stepson of Augustus
good emperor, though suspicious of assassination towards end, cruel
lacked charisma of Augustus, alienated Senate with personal moodiness
left empire with secure boundaries and a healthy treasury
Jesus killed during his reign
Caligula - 37 AD – 41 AD
great grandson of Augustus and Marc Antony
Caligula means “little boot” - liked an nicknamed by the military
went mad after a few months as emperor demanded to be worshipped as god (Jupiter)
considered making his horse a consul
killed by his own praetorian guard (palace troops)
Claudius - 41 AD – 54 AD
placed in power by praetorian guard because they thought they could control him
good ruler, conquered southern Britain, learned scholar, expanded empire
limped, stammered, polio
fourth wife, Agrippina poisoned hime with mushrooms so her son Nero inherits the throne
Nero - 54 AD – 68 AD
stepson of Claudius
cruel, vain man, killed mother and wife at urging of his mistress
considered himself great actor and musician
burning of Rome occurred during his reign
Olympics-awarded himself laurels prior to events
began first large scale persecution of Christians including Peter and Paul
committed suicide before military could kill him – ordered by Senate
Year of Four Emperor - Civil War hits Rome
Galba - 68 – 69AD
Otho - 69 AD
Vitellius - 69 AD
Flavian Emperors - Vespasian - 69 AD – 79 AD
able and just ruler, plainspoken and practical soldier from Italian middle class
Jerusalem destroyed in 70 AD after Jewish uprising
thriftiness restored economy
recruited Senators from the western provinces
had loyalty of the military
Flavian Emperors - Titus - 79 AD – 81 AD
extremely popular
arch dedicated to him
Flavian Emperors - Domitian - 81 AD – 96 AD
stern ruler, tyrant, fierce persecutor of Christians
established forts and defense along Rhine and Danube Rivers
distrusted in Senate, persecuted his opponents in reign of terror
murdered in a palace conspiracy that included his wife
Five Good Emperors - Nerva - 96 AD – 98 AD
kind and honest leader
Five Good Emperors - Trajan - 98 AD – 117 AD
first emperor born in the provinces - Spain
began Pantheon temple to Roman gods
distinguished soldier and statesman – becomes one of Rome’s most beloved leaders
had aggressive wars and extended empire to farthest extent
initiated an impressive building program throughout the empire
concerned with creating social welfare system, distributed food to poor children
Five Good Emperors - Hadrian - 117 AD – 138 AD
peace and reform - administered empire well
restless traveler with passion for Greek culture - upper class was appalled by his Greek dress etc.
aloof with Senate - displeased them
reformed civil service, suppressed Jewish revolt, continued construction of roads
Hadrian’s wall built in England
disliked by wife, she publicly announced they would never have children
Five Good Emperors - Antoninus Pius - 138 AD – 161 AD
called “the father of mankind” - kindly ruler, peaceful reign
legions inactive during his reign, ill prepared for future fighting
Five Good Emperors - Marcus Aurelius - 161 AD – 180 AD
excellent, humane, energetic ruler, soldier, scholar, stoic
war dominated his reign
fought against Germanic tribes who crossed into empire
Stoic philosopher - good is determined by the state of the soul
famous book - Meditations - stoic reflections on the virtuous life
died of plague
Commodus - 180 AD – 192 AD
strange character and cruel ruler
found gladiator games in the colosseum more interesting than affairs of state
murdered by a wrestler
Barrack Emperors - 192 AD – 284 AD
turbulent, unstable time
collapse of Roman gov’t first show itself during 3rd century
lack of definitive success to throne - choice of emperors made by army
33 emperors raised to throne, all but 4 met violent deaths
Two Strong Emperors - Diocletian - 284 AD – 305 AD
stern officer ascended to throne when empire was at point of collapse
first he abolished all old forms of republican gov’t
established absolute monarchy
tried to establish set method of succession
Diocletian’s Division of the Empire
Kept empire united, but divided it into 2 administrative parts
1) each ruled by “Augustus”
2) each Augustus adopted younger man called “Caesar”
a) “Caesar” was assistant and successor
b) they shared burden of governing
c) further divided into prefectures
made himself Augustus of West, Maximian, trusted general, made Augustus of East
economic collapse - gov’t required people by law to stay in certain jobs
Two Strong Emperors - Constantine the Great - 312 AD – 337 AD
after 20 years both Augustus’ stepped down, succession plan broke down – Constantius, new West Augustus died and there were 3 claimants to throne
312 - became West Augustus - won battle of Milvian Bridge
323 - defeated East Augustus to reunite empire
same political and economic policies as Diocletian
succession to throne became hereditary
Constantine’s Accomplishments
1) founded new capital at Byzantium (later renamed Constantinople)
2) aided spread of Christianity - gave Rome Christian character in gov’t and culture
3) funds building of Roman Catholic churches throughout empire as repentance for killing bios wife
4) issued Edict of Milan 313 AD
Romulus Augustulus - 474 AD – 476 AD
last official Roman emperor of West
476 AD - deposed by German commander Odavacer
sent reps to Cosntantinople to acknowledge his authority over Italy
much of western territories already were broken up into Germanic barbarian kingdoms
Victory of Christianity
1) Edict of Milan - 313 - gave them full liberty of worship
2) Council of Nicaea - 325 - reaffirmed basic Catholic doctrines, brought internal peace to Church, Nicene Creed
3) Theodosisius officially made it state religion - 395 - harsh penalties on those who continued to worship pagan gods
Influence of Christianity
1) worship of 1 true God
2) new code of Christian morality introduced in empire
3) human dignity and the importance of people as children of God
4) equality of all humans
5) idea of the sanctity of marriage
6) dignity of labor was stressed
7) many charitable and social institutions - schools hospitals, orphanages etc.
Literature and Art - Early Golden Age of Latin Literature - 80 BC – 42 BC
Cicero - orations, essays - master of Latin prose
Caesar - commentaries, “The Gallic Wars” - simple interesting Latin style
Sallust - history, “The Conspiracy of Cataline” - historian with artistic style
Literature and Art - Later Golden Age of Latin Literature - 42 BC - 17 AD - Augustan Age
Livy - “The Annals of the Roman people” - greatest prose writer of Augustan Age
Virgil - “Aeneid”, “Eclogues” - Rome’s greatest epic poet
Horace - “Mirror of the Augustan Age”, Odes, famous lyric poet
Ovid - “Metamorphoses”, Elegies - love poetry (elegiac poetry)
Literature and Art - Silver Age of Latin Literature - 17 AD – 130 AD
Tacitus - “Germania”, “Agricola” - finest writer of Silver Age, historian, politician
Juvenal - Satire - satirized Roman vices pf the empire
Seneca - Essays, Tragedies - Stoic philosopher and dramatist
Pliny the Younger - Letters to Trajan - pictured life during Trajan’s reign
Architectural Skill
1) built massive, practical buildings - first skyscrapers - 4-5 stories
2) aqueducts
3) triumphal arches to honor great conquerors - Constantine the Great and Titus
4) bath houses with hidden furnaces to heat the water
5) amphitheaters
6) Colosseum and Pantheon
7) roads
Rome’s Contributions to Ancient Civilization
Political Unity - entire civilized world was unified under a single ruler
Legal Unity - provided a code of laws for the whole empire
Cultural Unity - Rome blended the best of Greek culture with her own and Latin became a universal language
Religious Unity - Christianity became a universal bond in the later empire
Economic Unity - a series of great linking roads, common coinage, common measures, weights, prosperous commerce
Rome’s Contributions to Modern Civilization
Political - Roman gov’t is basis or many imperial and municipal gov’t which are still basic patterns for modern gov’ts
Law - foundation for legal systems in many countries
Culture - Greco-Roman culture basis of worldwide cultures today
a) Romance languages - French, Italian,
Spanish, Romanian, Portuguese
b) 50% of English rooted in Latin
Religion - Christianity os still basic element in western civilization
Reasons for the Fall of Rome - Internal Forces of Decay
Political - heavy taxation of farmers, governors became greedy and dishonest, lack of internal control, Senate had been abolished
Economic - debasement of currency, no gold/silver to back it, economic slavery of tenet farmers, beginnings of feudalism, trade/industry decline
Social - caste system developed with excessive poverty and wealth existed
Reasons for the Fall of Rome - External Forces Germanic Barbarian Invasions - Huns
Huns - led by Attila - Asiatic Mongolian tribe that drove Germanic tribes into the empire - defeated at Chalons in 451 - empire gradually collapsed
Reasons for the Fall of Rome - External Forces Germanic Barbarian Invasions - Visigoths
led by Alaric
378 - defeated Romans at Adrianople
410 - captured Rome and founded kingdom in southern France and Spain
Reasons for the Fall of Rome - External Forces Germanic Barbarian Invasions - Vandals
led by Genseric
driven from Spain by Visigoths
founded empire in North Africa
455 - invaded and plundered Rome
eventually conquered by Eastern Roman Empire
Reasons for the Fall of Rome - External Forces Germanic Barbarian Invasions - Ostrogoths
led by Theodoric
entered Eastern Roman Empire
invaded Italy and defeated Germanic tribes
founded brief but brilliant empire in Italy
Reasons for the Fall of Rome - External Forces Germanic Barbarian Invasions - Franks
led by Clovis
450 - crossed Rhine and settled in northern Gaul
built strong kingdom
Reasons for the Fall of Rome - External Forces Germanic Barbarian Invasions - Lombards
558 - invaded Italy
conquered all but a few possessions of Eastern Empire
conquered by Charlemagne at request of Pope
36 individual dukedos
Reasons for the Fall of Rome - External Forces Germanic Barbarian Invasions - Angles-Saxons
400 - invaded and conquered Britain
Romans had already abandoned Britain
Results of Fall
Greek language was forgotten in West
Latin declined as its correct usage was neglected
Education almost disappeared
Libraries and art treasuries were scattered or destroyed
Art and sciences were neglected
Knowledge of skilled handicrafts was gradually lost
Communication became difficult as roads fell into disrepair
Commerce and industry practically ceased to exist
Cities declined or were destroyed
