1. Ancient Rome
Early Western Civilization

2. Etruscan Civilization

3. The Etruscans
The Etruscans were a group of people who were from
northern Italy.
Italy had been ruled by 7 kings and it is thought that the
last 3 were Etruscans.
The Etruscans greatly influenced the city of Rome. They
built temples, shops, roads, and homes and influenced
other aspects of Roman culture as well.

4. Etruscan Tomb Painting

5. The Apian Way

6. The Founding of Rome
The city of Rome was founded by twin brothers
Romulus and Remus in 753 B.C.E.
According to legend they were from a wealthy family
and were abandoned by their uncle.
A She-wolf took them in and raised them.
Romulus killed his brother Remus and took control as
leader of Rome.

7. The She-Wolf

8. Ancient Rome

9. Social and Political Order
P a t r ic ia n s
( I n c lu d e d )
C la im e d t o b e t h e A r is t o c r a t ic G o v e r n in g O n ly t h e y c o u ld b e
d e s c e n d e n ts o f th e C la s s C o n s u ls , o t h e r M a g is t r a t e s
o r ig in a l s e n a t o r s a n d S e n a to rs
a p p o in t e d b y t h e K in g s

10. Social and Political Order
P le b ia n s
( I n c lu d e d )
n o n - P a t r ic ia n le s s w e a lt h y A r t is a n s , M e r c h a n t s
la r g e la n d o w n e r s la n d o w n e r s a n d s m a ll fa r m e r s

11. Social and Political Order
Although both groups were Roman citizens, their
rights were different.
Both Patricians and Plebians could vote.
Both had the right to make legal contracts, and marry,
but intermarriage between the classes was not allowed.
Patricians were the only ones allowed to hold office.

12. The Republic
In the later years of the Republic the Plebians became
more powerful.
They created a new assembly (Council of Plebs) in 471.
New leaders called Tribunes protected the Plebians. A
new law allowed intermarriage.
In 278 B.C.E. the Council received the right to pass
laws for all Romans.

13. The Punic Wars
Punic is the Latin word for Phoencian. The
Phoencians controlled Carthage in earlier times.
The Romans sent an army to Sicily in order to
intervene in a local dispute. The Carthaginians
considered this an invasion of their territory.

14. The Punic Wars
241 Carthage gave up all rights to Sicily due to
Roman dominance in naval strength.
Hanibal (a Carthaginian) began the second Punic
War when he retaliated against Roman attempts to
get Spain to invade Carthage.
Hanibal led an army of 30,000- 40,000 men, 6,000
horses and elephants across the Alps and defeated
the Romans.

15. The Punic Wars
The Carthaginians, under Hannibal were not
successful in maintaining control over Roman
cities.
Rome invade Carthage and beat Hannibal and his
men. A peace treaty was signed in 201 B.C.E.
Carthage lost Spain.
50 years later Rome went to war again and this
time Rome destroyed Carthage in 146 B.C.E. and
claimed it as a Roman province called Africa.

16. Carthage

17. From Republic to Empire
Tiberius Gracchus represented interests of Rome’s
lower class. He served as Tribune.
He wanted to limit the amount of land controlled by
the Patricians.
He was assassinated in 132 B.C.E.
His brother Gaius Gracchus continued his brother’s
reforms.

18. Julius Caesar Conquers Gaul

19. Roman Fort

20. Roman Empire 117 A.D.

21. Julius Caesar
In 47 B.C.E. he seized power in Rome and was made
dictator. A short time later, in 44 B.C.E. he was
given the title dictator for life.
He made land reforms and gave land to the poor.
He increased the Senate to 900 members and then
packed it with supporters of his reforms.
He was assassinated by a group of senators in 44
B.C.E.

22. Octavian a.k.a. Augustus Caesar
Octavian became the
first Roman Emperor
in 27 B.C.E.
The Senate gave him
the title of Augustus
which meant revered
one.

23. Augustus (31 B.C.E.-14 C.E.)
He created a standing army of 150,000 men split
into legions of around 5,000 men each.
Only Roman citizens could be legionaries.
Subject peoples in the provinces and else where
could serve under the legionaries.
Augustus also created the Praetorian guard which
were his own personal guards. They numbered
about 9,000 men.

24. The Pax Romana
This is a period of peace and prosperity which
begins with Augustus and continues for 200 years.
• Augustus begins the Julio-Claudian line which
ends with Nero.
• After Nero there is a civil war and Vespasian
becomes emperor.

25. Vespasian (69-79 C.E. or
A.D.)
• He begins the Flavian line. He orders the
construction of the Colosseum for gladiatorial games.
• He puts down revolts in Gaul and Judea.
• He rotates the army in the provinces which
discourages mutiny. He also makes sure that troops
are stationed far from their homelands.

26. Good Emperors
• Hadrian (117-138 C.E.)- He strengthened the
borders of Britain. Hadrian’s Wall. Fought a
number of Jewish revolts. Much of the Jewish
population forced out of Palestine.
• Many Jews were sold into slavery. The Romans
encouraged non-Jews to settle in Palestine.

29. Good Emperors
• Antonius Pius (138-161 C.E.)- He
introduced laws that required humane
treatment of slaves. He also introduces
the legal principle of innocent until
proven guilty.

30. Good Emperors
• Marcus Aurelius ( 161-180 C.E.)- He is the
philosopher Emperor. He wages war in Germania
and successfully brings barbarian groups under
Roman control.
• He also re-introduces the idea of a co-emperor.
Aurelius names his brother as co-emperor. After
his brother’s death, he names his 17 year old son
Commodus as co-emperor.

31. Family Life in the Roman
Empire
• The family included all household members who lived
together.
• Father of the family ruled the household
• Women had considerable power in their own families
and many ran businesses and managed estates.
• Ancestor worship was extremely important to the
family.

32. Roman Family Life

33. Slavery
• Slaves made up 1/3 of the Roman population.
• Working conditions for slaves in the cities were
somewhat better.
• Laborers would often be chained together while
working in the fields.
• Spartacus’ uprising in 73 B.C.E. was the largest slave
revolt, but not the only one.

34. The Coliseum

35. Pompeii Ruins

36. Pompeii
• Etruscan town that
was conquered by
Rome.
• At the time of its
destruction it had a
population of 20,000
• A favorite resort of
wealthy Romans and
Emperors.

37. Pompeii

38. The Pantheon 128 A.D.
• Commissioned by
Emperor Hadrin
• Started in 118 A.D.
• It is a clock of sorts.
It tells the time by rays
of light hitting the
sculptures inside.

39. The Roman Empire
Other Important Roman Emperors:
Diocletian - split the empire into two haves (East and West)
Western Capital - Rome
Eastern Capital - Turkey

41. The Roman Empire
Other Important Roman Emperors:
Constantine - reunited the empire and moved the capital to
Constantinople. Adopted Christianity (Holy Roman Empire)

42. The Roman Empire
Other Important Roman Emperors:
Justinian - his code of laws quickly spread throughout all of
Europe

43. The Fall of the Roman Empire
The Eastern half of the empire lasted until 1453 AD when the
Turks conquered Constantinople. Rome was conquered by
German barbarians in 476 AD.

44. The Fall of the Roman Empire
Reasons:
Political:
1. Lack of democracy led to a loss of patriotism
2. The Empire was geographically to big
3. Lack of orderly succession led to civil wars and generals
coming to power
Economic:
1. Growing gap between the rich and the poor
2. Farmers lost land because of growing debt (Slaves)
3. Increased use of slaves led to a loss of trade and high
unemployment

45. The Fall of the Roman Empire
Reasons:
Social:
1. Wars, hunger and plague
2. Cultural decline (Sense of drift)
Military:
1. Armies were masters of the state and could make and
unmake emperors
2. Lack of trust in the Military (Mercenaries)

46. Roman Contributions
Law - The Twelve Tables (450 BC) gradually developed into
Justinian’s Code of the 6th century AD. It divided law
into civil and criminal law. Roman law was just and
humane. In principle, all people were equal. The
accused were considered to be innocent until proven
guilty. Torture was outlawed.

47. Roman Contributions
Roads - To unite the empire of over 100 million Greeks,
Egyptians, Gauls, Germans, Britains, and others, Rome
built roads for trade and protection. Latin language and
culture spread to the outlying provinces.

48. Roman Contributions
Language - “Romance” languages of Italian, French,
Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian are based on Latin.
Latin became the language of the government, church,
and schools throughout Europe. Modern law and
medicine still contain many Latin terms.

49. Roman Contributions
Builders - Roads, bridges, aqueducts, sewers, public baths,
coliseums, and basilicas (churches) were built by Roman
engineers. Romans developed concrete and used
arches and domes in their construction.

50. Roman Contributions
Literature - Virgil’s Aeneid is an epic poem modeled after
Homer’s Illiad. Ceasar’s Commentaries, on his battles in
Gaul are considered great literature.

51. The Roman “Empire”
It’s development: 1) started as a monarchy (king), 2) a
republic was formed as more people were assimilated into the
empire (vote for representatives to make decisions), 3) Empire
(rulers called Caesar), Caesars make all the decisions for the
people
It’s location: began in Italy (Rome) – the empire surrounds
the Mediterranean Sea and was large enough to unite Europe
with the Middle East (trade, common language [Latin],
common government)
The “Republic”: Type of government where citizens elect representatives who
decide on important issues (laws, taxes, etc.) – government in Rome before it
became an empire
Pax Romana: “Roman Peace”
- Began with Augustus Caesar
- 200 years of peace and prosperity (the Golden Age of Rome)

52. Contributions to our Society
Literature: Continued the Greek tradition drama, poetry, novels
Engineering: the science of making things
Architecture: copied Greek “Classical”
architecture, added round shapes
(arch and dome)
Roads: built the first great roadways, ability
to move army quickly and facilitate
trade between cities and proveniences
Arch: Replaced columns for support –
stronger than columns, could build
larger structures with more open
space
Aqueducts: Carry fresh water from the mountains
to the cities
Laws: - Applied to all people within the empire
- the basis for our legal system today
- the Twelve Tables were the written laws of Rome
Latin language: - allowed everyone in the empire to communicate with
each other
- common language of Europe for many centuries