Romans Flashcards
When was the Roman Empire established and by whom?
In 27BC, Augustus established the Roman Empire, which was from then on ruled by an absolute Emperor though there were many rebellions and plots.
When did the Roman Empire collapse?
After a crisis in the third century AD, Rome slowly declined, and the Western Empire finally collapsed in AD476.
How far did the Roman Empire extend
At it biggest it extended from Portugal to Persia (iran) and from Scotland to the Sahara desert.
It was at its biggest under the Emperor Trajan in AD101, when it may have had 100 million inhabitants
When did the Romans invade Britain
Britain was conquered by Emperor Claudius in AD43, despite fierce resistance by the chieftain Caratacus and a rebellion by Boudicca (AD60).
Emperor Claudius brought four legions and war elephants.
Most British tribal chiefs simply surrendered without a fight. Many already had connections with the Romans through trade with Gaul, which included much of what would be called France today.
The Romans invaded Britain for its wheat!
Did the Romans manage to invade Scotland
The Romans were not able to conquer Scotland – they gave up and pulled back behind Hadrian’s Wall.
Hadrian’s Wall was built to mark the northern edge of the Empire in the 120s. The wall, much of which still remains today, ran 73 miles, coast to coast from the Solway Firth in the west to Wallsend in the east.
How big was the Roman Army
The Roman Army comprised half a million men. There were about 30 legions which is the name of an army unit. Soldiers were called centurions.
Give one reason why the Roman Empire was continually expanding
The Roman Empire was continually expanding – the government needed the money from its conquests. The Empire reached its greatest extent under Trajan, who attacked Parthia, now part of Iran, but was unable to defeat them.
Why did the Romans usually win
The Romans usually won in the end because they had more money, resources and a very effective military machine.
Was is the Pax Romana and what did it mean for citizens of the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire conquered many different peoples all over southern Europe and north Africa. Roman citizens were free to go anywhere they wanted, under the ‘Pax Romana’ (the Peace of Rome). The Latin language, spoken throughout the empire, was a unifying factor.
Where did the Roman soldiers who controlled Britain come from and why
The 50,000 soldiers who garrisoned Britain included Italians, Thracians, Gauls, Frisians, Germans and Africans.
The Empire had a policy of using soldiers from outside the country to control it. This was partly so they would be more ruthless and partly to disperse any groups of warriors who might want to oppose the Empire.
Britons who signed up to the Roman Army were sent to the Rhine and the Danube.
Roman Influence - language
The Latin language still survives:
The academic names of flowers and animals.
Words such as ‘exit’ and sayings such as ‘carpe diem’, which means ‘seize the moment’.
Many schools, football clubs and coins have a Latin motto.
The names of the months and the names of the planets.
The French, Italian and Spanish languages are all based on Latin.
We still use Roman numerals, I, II, III, IV etc, on clocks, buildings etc.
Roman influence - law
The laws of many European countries are based on Roman Law.
Roman influence - politics
In the United States the Senate, which is the part of the body that makes United States law, is named after the Roman Senate.
Roman influence - architecture
The Romans invented concrete, which is still used in buildings today.
Many Roman roads, buildings and aqueducts still survive to this day.
Roman influence - religion
Christianity is the dominant religion in Europe because the Romans made it the religion of their Empire.
Fall of the Roman Empire in Britain
The numbers of Roman soldiers gradually fell as they were taken back to Rome to resist the barbarian invasions. The last Roman soldiers left the country in 410.
Roman life
check bitesize page 8
What were the Romans good at
invading countries - they had a good army mining farming road building building aqua ducts to move water
what was one benefit of the Roman invasion of Britain
The invasion stimulated the british economy.
Exports from Britain included huge amounts of metal, such as lead, silver, tin and iron, and also wheat, cloth and slaves.
What was the effect of the Roman invasion on Britain?
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What do you know about the Roman Army?
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Give some examples of Roman developments and technologies
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How was the Roman Empire ruled?
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How did the Roman Empire change Britain?
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List six reasons why the roman army was successful.
For each reason think why did it make them successful
Organisation’ ‘Weapons, Tactics and Strategy’. ‘Transport and Supplies’ ‘Camps and Forts’, ‘Discipline’ ‘Health and Fitness’
Why did the Roman Empire decline?
I will describe the reasons for the end of the Roman Empire
I will explain how the reasons link.
I will explain which reason was most important
Give five reasons why the Roman Empire declined - substantiate your reasons
5 Reasons 1 the Barbarians invaded 2 the Roman empire was divided 3 the army got weaker 4 £££ - who will pay? 5 weak and selfish emperors
What do you know about the Barbarians and how they led to the collapse of the Roman Empire?
A big problem for the Romans was the frequent attacks from the barbarians. The barbarians were a mixture of tribes such as Goths, Vandals, Franks and Saxons, and they lived in small farming settlements north of the River Danube. Although the Romans called them barbarians, they were not just wild savages: the Romans used the word ‘barbarian’ for any foreigner living outside the Empire.
The barbarian tribes were looking for new land further south, inside the frontiers of the Roman Empire, where the climate was milder. The Romans found it harder and harder to stop the barbarians. They could no longer defend their long frontiers. Finally they allowed some of the tribes to settle inside the Empire.
At the end of the fourth century a new barbarian enemy appeared. A tribe called the Huns moved from central Asia to northern Europe, looking for new land. In AD 376, about 10,000 Goths flooded into the Roman Empire to escape from the Huns. The Roman frontier collapsed. Thousands of Goths then marched south and in 410 reached the gates of Rome. For two days they ransacked the great city.
What do you know how divisions led to the collapse of the Roman Empire?
The Emperor Diocletian ruled from 284 to 305. He was strong and powerful, but even he realised that it was no longer possible for one person to control such a vast empire. He ruled from the East, and a soldier called Maximian looked after the West.
In 395 the Roman Empire finally broke into two separate pieces, each with its own emperor. The East was ruled from Constantinople. The West was ruled from Rome. Within a century, the Western Empire had collapsed. The Eastern Empire continued until the collapse of Constantinople in 1453.
What do you know about how the state of the army lead to the collapse of the roman empire
The army grew in size towards the end of the Empire as more and more soldiers were needed to defend the long Roman frontier. But the army was becoming weaker. Barbarian warriors were allowed to join the Roman army. They often fought well for the Empire, and sometimes made up as much as 60% of the Roman forces in a battle. But there were fewer Romans in the army at a time when there were more barbarian attacks on the borders of the Empire. Many Romans had grown used to peace: the empire was no longer expanding. Some Roman soldiers did not really want to fight.
How did taxes contribute to the collapse of the Roman Empire?
High taxes were needed to pay for extra soldiers to protect the frontiers. Unfortunately this came at a time when the population was declining. There were more taxes to pay, but fewer people to pay them. The rich people did not pay taxes, so the burden fell on the poor. This caused lots of problems. Some poor people refused to pay taxes. Others fought against the Empire and took part in revolts.
How did the the Emperors lead to the collapse of the Roman Empire
Perhaps if the emperors had been stronger, the Empire could have been saved. Between AD 96 and 180 there were five strong emperors who ruled the Empire well. But later on, with no fixed way of choosing the next emperor, there was nothing to stop selfish men from fighting for power. Successful generals often fought their way to power with their soldiers, and killed the ruling emperor. For example, between AD 211 and 284 there were 23 emperors, and 20 of them were murdered. Often they were more interested in getting rich and living a life of luxury, than ruling the Empire properly.
