ROME Flashcards
Changes in the army & influence of military leaders
Generals began recruiting soldiers from Romes landless poor w/ promises of land Soldiers fought for pay (loot)- made them loyal to their generals, NOT the Republic: no more citizen soldiers Result = politically active generals w/ their own private armies- loyal to them Civil War used an excuse for generals to seize power from the Senate
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Named dictator after civil war against Gaius Marius
Set precedent for future generals to seize power and undermine the Republic, he did not step down after 6 months like most dictators
Model of the modern dictator
Julius Caesar
Member of the First Triumvirate along with Pompey and Crassus after the death of Sulla
Elected consul- served one year then appointed himself governor of Gaul - served 8 years
Marched his troops across the “rubicon” into Rome, Crasses fled and Pompey’s armies were defeated
Senate forced to appoint him “Dictator for life”
Due to absolute power, he was assassinated by Patrician senators who wanted to return to the ideals of the republic
Caesar’s Reforms & Contributions
Land given to poor and veteran soldiers in the provinces
Roman citizenship to conquered peoples
Public works projects to decrease unemployment
Pay increased for soldiers
Julian calendar- accurate, similar to the one we use today
Coloni
provinces
Gaius Octavianus Caesar
Emperor Augustus aka “majestic or exalted” ruler
The first true Roman emperor
Julius Caesar’s heir and adopted son at the age of 18
Part of the second triumvirate
Defeated Marc Anthony
Began over 100 years of prosperity known as the Pax Romana
Achievements of Emperor Augustus
Ended civil war- created stability
Supported the arts, sponsored the writing of Virgil’s Aeneid (legend of Rome’s beginnings)
Began building projects, built or re-built 82 temples
Increased Rome’s birthrate
Punished bachelors
Tax breaks to fams with 3 or more kids
Outlawed adultery
The Pax Romana
Rome’s Golden Age
Accomplishments of the Pax Romana
Coliseum built Aqueducts Stable Gov't Concrete, arches, domes Roads expanded Expansion of empire Trade expanded Coined money Sewers Mosaics Written History Roman Imperial Law Public Baths
Emperors after Augustus: Trajan
Good soldier, expanded empire, brought great wealth, re-built roads and many buildings and monuments
1st roman emperor born outside of Italy - from SPAIN
Emperors after Augustus: Hadrian
the “philosopher” emperor- scholarly
Wrote Meditations
Last emperor of the Pax
Had to deal with war, rebellion and plagues
Breakdown of Roman Unity
After 180 AD, Rome plunged into civil war and chaos. After the death of Marcus Arelius, Rome experienced a series of poor ruler and at one point soldiers actually auctioned off the office of Emperor then murdered the chosen one when he didn’t pay
Powerful generals and their armies competed to become emperor
Between 234 and 284 BC, over 26 emperors ruled, some only for a few months, all but one died violently.
The beginning of Rome’s End
During this time Rome’s authority weakened, crime increased, and trade was disrupted
To raise money, the emperors devalued the coinage by making copper coins with little gold. Because the money was worthless, prices and wages rose sharply and business fell, creating high inflation. To save money, emperors cut defense spending and reduced the army while attacks from invaders against the empire were increasing
Small farmers on the frontier gave their land to wealthy nobles in exchange for protection(this becomes the basis for Feudalism in Europe after Rome)
These powerful nobles ruled independently from Roman authority
Dilcletian
Eastern Roman general, became emperor and instituted harsh reforms
Divided the empire in two, ruling the wealthy eastern half directly and appointing Maximian to rule the problematic west.
He reorganized civil service to increase gov’t efficiency
He expanded the army, roads, and forts to fight invaders
He froze/fixed prices on goods and services to slow inflation
In cities, sons were required to follow their father’s occupations to ensure stability
Constantine
Good general, first Christian Roman emperor
Re-united east and west empires under his rule
Moved the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium on the Bospourus and renamed it Constantinople
Legalized Christianity and increased religious tolerance
Why move capital from Rome to Constantinople?
Constantine was a Christian and didn’t want his new capial associated with paganism and persecution of Christians
Constantinople was closer to trade routes and on the Silk Road
It was more easily defended
After Diocletian and Constantine
Corruption and violence erupted again. The empire was divided again into East and West. While the eastern Roman empire flourished, the western Roman empire (Italy) collapsed.
German invasions
During the Pax Romana, roman armies often clashed with Germanic tribes along the empires borders.Later, the wealth and warm climate and space of the Roman empire caused these tribes to move south and attack the Roman empire
The Visigoths
A Germanic tribe who were granted protection form the invading Huns within the Roman empire. Two years later, the Visigoths defeated a Roman army at the Battle of Adrianople. More battles followed and the Visigoths looted Roman cities
Alaric
Visigoth general who invaded Italy in 410 AD and sacked and looted Rome. Rome bought off Alaric by giving away a lot of Spain and Gaul
